Twenty-two new categories of eligible equipment for fruit and vegetable producers are now included in the Farm Storage Facility Loan Program.
The program provides low-interest financing to producers.
“Low-interest loans can be used to build or upgrade permanent facilities to store fruits and vegetables, grains, peanuts and hay,” said Henry English, head of the Small Farm Program at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff.
Qualified facilities include grain bins, hay barns and cold storage facilities for fruits and vegetables.
Loan security requirements have also been eased for loans up to $100,000, English said. Loans up to $50,000 can be secured by only a promissory/security agreement, and some loans between $50,000 and $100,000 no longer require additional security.
For more information on the Farm Storage Facility Loan Program, contact a Farm Service Agency office. For assistance with loan applications, contact Arlanda Jacobs, Extension associate at 870-714-5531 or aj72342@gmail.com for Phillips, Lee, Monroe, St. Francis, Crittenden, Cross and Arkansas counties or Stephan Walker, multi-county agent, at 870-575-7237 or walkers@uapb.edu for Jefferson, Lincoln, Desha, Drew, Chicot, Lonoke and Pulaski counties.
Details: The UAPB Small Farm Office, 575-7246.