The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Small Farm Program offers help with the paperwork associated with the farm loan application process.
Many are thinking of holiday dining this time of year, while farmers are thinking of how to provide the food. One way growers manage is through loans.
Growers use loans to operate as well as to purchase or improve their farms or ranches, said Henry English, director of the Small Farm Program at UAPB.
Obtaining a loan is not always easy or automatic, English said. Smaller growers can use the loan application services provided at UAPB.
“Now is the time to call for an appointment,” English said.”Once growers have their appointment, they should get their records in order so they have all the information to be included in the application.”
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
Growers should provide not only the name of the crops they plan to grow, but also the acreage to be devoted to each crop, yield data from three previous years to aid in making crop projections, three years of expenses associated with each crop and a balance sheet or the information needed to create one which includes all debts and assets.
Lacking some of this information should not deter beginning farmers, English said. The Extension associate will use county production data from the Cooperative Extension Service, he said.
When a producer submits an application to the Farm Service Agency, all items mentioned on a checklist, which can be found in the application package, should be included. If an item is missing or is incomplete, farmers have a limited time to submit the missing information. Failure to do so results in the application being withdrawn, and the farmer must start over. Associates will also go over the checklist with farmers to insure that their application packages are complete.
For assistance with a loan application packet, contact an Extension associate. Details: Multi-County Agent Stephan Walker, 870-575-7237 or walkers@uapb.edu for Jefferson, Desha, Lincoln and Pulaski counties; Alexis Cole, 870-630-2005 or mradcole@yahoo.com for St. Francis, Crittenden and Lee counties; Travis Collins, 870-355-7007 or Cityofeudora.collins@gmail.com for Chicot, Drew, Ashley and Desha counties; or Kandi Williams, 903-306-8663 or klwilliams4@gmail.com for Howard, Little River, Miller, Hempstead and Lafayette counties. Those elsewhere in the state may contact UAPB Small Farm Director Henry English, 870-575-7246.