Fwd: For Farmers: Land Contract Guarantee program & Rural and Farm Energy funding
Sharon Yeago
Beginning Farmer Land Contract Program Launches
Washington, DC January 19, 2012 – As of January 3, 2012, the Beginning and Socially Disadvantaged Farmer and Rancher Land Contract Guarantee Program is available nationwide. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) issued the final rule for this farm bill program in December 2011. Today FSA published a press release and a fact sheet on the program.
“The Land Contract Guarantee Program offers a good option for retiring farmers looking to work with new farmers directly, and helps beginners access the land they need to grow a viable farm,” said Juli Obudzinski, policy associate with the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC). “We applaud Secretary Vilsack for his support of this program and FSA for helping to get the word out to the farm community.”
USDA Taking Applications for Rural and Farm Energy Funding
January 20th, 2012
On January 20, USDA announced that it is taking applications for Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) funding. For FY2012, USDA has $25.4 million in budget authority for REAP, which will support at least $12.5 million in grant funding and approximately $48.5 million in loan guarantees.
USDA is taking applications for all components of the REAP program with the following deadlines:
- renewable energy system and energy efficiency improvement grant applications and combination grant and guaranteed loan applications until March 30, 2012;
- renewable energy system and energy efficiency improvement guaranteed loan only applications on a continuous basis up to June 29, 2012;
- renewable energy system feasibility study applications through March 30, 2012; and
- energy audits and renewable energy development assistance applications through February 21, 2012.
Agricultural producers and rural small businesses are eligible for the grants and loans for renewable energy systems and energy efficiency improvements. USDA announced that applicants who applied for these grants and loans in FY2011 and were determined to be eligible, but were not funded, may submit a written request to USDA to consider the FY2011 application for FY2012 funds.
--
Sharon L. Yeago
386-418-8017 phone
352-256-8115 cell
---------------------------------
"The first wealth is health."
- Ralph Waldo Emerson
"Let thy food be thy medicine and thy medicine be thy food."
- Hippocrates
--
Sharon L. Yeago
386-418-8017 phone
352-256-8115 cell
---------------------------------
"The first wealth is health."
- Ralph Waldo Emerson
"Let thy food be thy medicine and thy medicine be thy food."
- Hippocrates