Agriculture can be one of the most satisfying and rewarding ways to make a living. From farming and food production to forestry, agribusinesses contribute to the health of the population and security of the country. Starting and running an agricultural business involves a lot of paperwork, regulations and technical know-how. This guide provides information about government programs that help new and existing agricultural businesses start, expand, obtain financing, and comply with laws and regulations.

The U.S. Farm Service Agency (FSA) administers and manages farm commodity, credit, conservation, disaster and loan programs through a network of federal, state and county offices. The following resources describe farm loan programs provided by FSA.

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Farm Loans |   Cotton |  Dairy |  Environmental Compliance |  Farm Bill |  Fisheries  | Forestry  | Fruit & Vegetables  | Grain |  Horticulture |  International Trade |  Livestock |  Organic Food |  Pesticides |  Poultry  | Seed |  Tobacco |  Veterinary Medicine

• Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) Online Forms
  Provides an Electronic Forms Manager tool to assist users who wish to conduct transactions with AMS.

• Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Permits
  Provides information on the various permits that the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service issues as well as online access for acquiring those permits.

• Biotechnology Regulatory Services
  Covers the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service's Biotechnology Regulatory Services (BRS), which protect America's agriculture and environment using a dynamic and science-based regulatory framework that allows for the safe development and use of genetically engineered organisms.

• Commodity Food Network: How to Sell to the USDA
  Supplies a guide for vendors, food processors, and small business entrepreneurs that want to know how to sell fresh and processed products to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) for distribution to eligible recipients participating in the USDA Food Distribution Programs.

• Crop Insurance FAQs
  Answers questions from farmers about purchasing crop insurance.

• Farm Loan Programs
  Gives information about direct and guaranteed farm ownership and operating loans to family-size farmers and ranchers who cannot obtain commercial credit from a bank.

• Farmers Market Promotion Program
  Details grants issued under the Farmer-to-Consumer Direct Marketing Act of 1976 to help improve and expand domestic farmers markets, roadside stands, community-supported agriculture programs and other direct producer-to-consumer market opportunities.

• Food Safety and Inspection FAQs
  Lists commonly asked questions and answers about USDA inspection of food processing facilities.

• Grading and Certification of Agricultural Products
  Links to grading and certification of dairy products, livestock and meat, cotton, fruits and vegetables and tobacco.

• OSHA eTool: Youth In Agriculture
  Offers eTool that describes common agricultural hazards and offers potential safety solutions that both employers and young workers can utilize to prevent accidents and avoid injury on the job. It includes information from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regarding the following topics: tractors; other machinery; struck-by; falls; electrocution; confined space; chemicals; worker/picker; and organic dust.

• Tax Guide for Farmers and Agricultural Business Owners
  Links to related topics such as tax tips, financial resources, trends and statistics, forms and more.

• Wages in Agriculture
  Provides information on the obligations of employers of agricultural workers, including migrant and seasonal agricultural workers.

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Farm Loans

• Beginning Farms and Ranchers Loans
  Direct and guaranteed loans to beginning farmers and ranchers who are unable to obtain financing from commercial credit sources.

• Commodity Loans / Marketing Assistance Loans
  Marketing assistance loans provide producers interim financing at harvest time to meet cash flow needs without having to sell their commodities when market prices are typically at harvest-time lows

• Direct Farm Loans
  Loan programs for starting and operating farms and other agricultural businesses.

• Emergency Farm Loans
  Emergency loans to help producers recover from production and physical losses due to drought, flooding, other natural disasters, or quarantine.

• Farm Storage Facility Loan Program
  Provides low-interest financing for producers to build or upgrade farm storage and handling facilities.

• Guaranteed Farm Loans
  FSA guaranteed loans provide lenders with a guarantee of up to 95 percent of the loss of principal and interest on a loan. Farmers and ranchers apply to an agricultural lender, which then arranges for the guarantee.

• Rural Business and Industry Guaranteed Loans
  Loans aimed at improving economic and environmental climate in rural communities. Funds may be used for buying a business to keep it from closing; purchasing land, buildings, machinery or equipment; and related activities.

• Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers
  Makes and guarantees loans to approved socially disadvantaged applicants to buy and operate family-size farms and ranches.

• Sugar Storage Facility Loan Program
  Loans to processors of domestically-produced sugarcane and sugar beets for the construction or upgrading of storage and handling facilities for raw sugars and refined sugars.
   

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Cotton

• Agricultural Marketing Service: Cotton Program
  Covers cotton classification standards and cotton market news.

• Cotton Board
  Provides an overview on this non-profit overseeing and administering the Cotton Research & Promotion Program.

• Marketing Assistance Loans for Cotton Merchants and Producers
  Offers information on loan programs for eligible cotton merchants and producers.

• USDA Briefing Room: Cotton
  Details policy and trade issues facing the cotton industry.

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Dairy

• Agricultural Marketing Service: Dairy Program
  Gives information on standardization, grading and market news services for dairy products.

• Commercial Item Descriptions for Dairy Products Purchased by the Federal Government
  Provides quality requirements that dairy producers must meet in order to sell products to the federal government.

• Dairy Export Incentive Program
  Helps exporters of U.S. dairy products meet prevailing world prices for targeted dairy products and destinations.

• Dairy Grading Brochures
  Gives fact sheets to help dairy producers understand USDA's grading system.

• Dairy Grading Program
  Outlines USDA's grading standards for dairy products.

• Dairy Grading Standards
  Explains grading standards for individual dairy products, including cheese, butter and dry milk.

• Dairy Programs for Small Businesses
  Offers assistance to small businesses in the production and processing of milk and dairy products.

• Dairy Quality Specifications
  Details regulatory specifications concerning the quality of milk products.

• Dairy Quality Standardization Program
  Overviews USDA's dairy quality standards program and requirements.

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Environmental Compliance

• EPA National Agriculture Compliance Assistance Center
  Offers information about environmental requirements that affect the agricultural community.

• Environmental Compliance Assistance for Small Farm, Small Business
  Provides small businesses and small farms with assistance in understanding and following regulations associated with their business.

• Environmental Risk Management Plan for Agricultural Businesses
  Outlines how agricultural establishments that store, handle, or use certain toxic or flammable chemicals above threshold amounts must develop and implement a program to prevent accidental releases of those chemicals.

• Motor Vehicle Air Conditioning: Servicing Farm and Heavy-Duty Equipment
  Offers help to owners and servicers of farm and heavy-duty equipment understand how the Clean Air Act governs the servicing of MVAC-like appliances.

• Reclamation Reform Act of 1982
  Provides the relevant statute and regulations pertaining to the Reclamation Reform Act (RRA). Includes RRA fact sheets, forms, and instructions, are available for download.

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Farm Bill

• Conservation Security Program
  Explains a voluntary program authorized under the Farm Bill that provides financial and technical assistance to promote the conservation on Tribal and private working lands.

• Farm Bill 2002 Web Portal
  Outlines provisions on commodity programs, trade, conservation, credit, agricultural research, food stamps and marketing.

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Fisheries

• Antarctic Marine Living Resource Trade Permits
  Covers Catch Documentation Scheme (CDS) permits.

• Atlantic Tuna Permits: FAQs
  Lists frequently asked questions and answers about Atlantic tuna permits and commercial fishing.

• Authorizations and Permits for Protected Species (APPS)
  Outlines National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) fisheries permits and authorizations for federally-protected species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA).

• Endangered Species Permits: FAQs for Fisheries
  Details permits for organizations engaged in scientific research or conducting activities to enhance the propagation or survival of an ESA listed species that will likely result in the species being harassed, captured, harmed, possessed or killed.

• Fish and Wildlife Permit: FAQs
  Contains alphabetical index to answers to general permit questions.

• Fisheries Interactions/Protected Species Bycatch
  Explains the Office of Protected Resources, which assists the fishing industry to develop or modify fishing gear and practices to minimize bycatch and its impact.

• Groundfish Federal Fisheries Permits
  Issues permits and fishing authorizations by the Northwest Region for fisheries affecting West Coast groundfish.

• National Marine Fisheries Service Permit Shop
  Issues permits for Atlantic tunas, updated permit information, and reports recreational landings of bluefin tuna.

• Office of Protected Resources, Permits and Authorizations
  Issues permits and authorizations required under the ESA and the MMPA to conduct activities that may result in the "taking" of a protected species.

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Forestry

• Environmental Requirements for the Forestry Industry
  Offers information about environmental requirements relating specifically to establishments that operate timber tracts, tree farms, forest nurseries, and related activities.

• Guide to Exporting Solid Wood Products
  Provides guide for U.S. wood products producers interested in export markets, and an overview of the necessary steps to develop a successful export marketing strategy.

• OSHA eTool: Logging
  Contains an OSHA eTool that outlines the required and recommended work practices that can reduce logging hazards while performing manual or mechanical logging operations. The eTool describes how to develop a safety and health management plan and gives examples of generic safety and health program topics for the logging industry.

• Plant Protection and Quarantine Permit FAQs : Timber or Timber Products
  List frequently asked questions and answers for imported timber and timber products.

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Fruits and Vegetables

• Agricultural Marketing Service Fruit and Vegetable Programs
  Offers guidelines and standards related to growing and marketing fresh fruits and vegetables.

• Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Grading and Quality Certification
  Covers grade standards, inspection and certification services that facilitate the marketing of fresh fruits and vegetables.

• Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Inspection Certificate
  Provides a typical fruit/vegetable inspection certificate, broken out by major sections. The user may click on each section of the inspection certificate to get a complete explanation of its content.

• Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act Licensing
  Offers guidance for obtaining a license under the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA).

• Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act
  Explains the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA), which regulates trading practices in the marketing of fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables in interstate and foreign commerce. Under the PACA, anyone buying or selling commercial quantities of fruit and vegetables must be licensed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

• Plant Protection and Quarantine Permit FAQs: Fruits and Vegetables
  Lists frequently asked questions and answers about importing fresh fruits and vegetables.

• Processed Fruit and Vegetable Products Standards and Quality Certification
  Outlines standards and quality certification for processed fruits and vegetables.

• Product Grading and Quality Inspection Program Overview
  Offers an overview of the Agricultural Marketing Services Product Grading and Quality Inspection Program, including an explanation of how grading services are provided as well as the inspection fees for grading.

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Grain

• Exporting Grain

Details requirements that must be met by individuals or companies exporting grain, oilseeds, or related commodities from the U.S. The requirements vary based on whether the commodity is covered by the United States Grain Standards Act (USGSA) or the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (AMA).

• Grain Exporter Registration
  Explains the United States Grain Standards Act, which requires the registration of all persons engaged in the business of buying grain for sale in foreign commerce. In addition, those individuals who handle, weigh, or transport grain for sale in foreign commerce must register.

• Grain Inspection and Weighing Services
  Provides inspection services on grains, pulses, oilseeds, and processed and graded commodities to facilitate marketing of U.S. grain and other commodities from farmers to domestic and international end users.

• Grain, Rice & Pulses: Designation Information and Applications
  Provides an overview of the United States Grain Standards Act, which allows the Grain Packers, Inspection, and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) to designate persons, states, or local governments to provide official inspection and weighing services for a period up to a three years.

• Official Weighing Services
  Offers a summary of the official grain weighing process for the GIPSA.

• Plant Protection and Quarantine Permit FAQs: Rice and Rice Related Articles
  Lists frequently asked questions and answers about importing rice and rice products.

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Horticulture

• Environment Compliance Guide for Nurseries and Greenhouses
  Details the environmental requirements specifically relating to the production of many types of agricultural crops grown in nurseries and greenhouses, such as ornamental plants and specialty fruits and vegetables.

• Phytosanitary Certificates and the Import and Export of Plants and Plant Products
  Lists frequently asked questions regarding the regulations for importing plant and plant products into the U.S. and the use of phytosanitary (plant health) certificates to ensure that products imported are free of pests.

• Plant Protection and Quarantine
  Covers the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service's efforts to safeguard agriculture and natural resources from the risks associated with the entry, establishment, or spread of animal and plant pests and noxious weeds to ensure an abundant, high-quality, and varied food supply.

• Plant Variety Protection Office
  Details the Plant Variety Protection Act (PVPA), which involves issuance of Certificates of Protection. The Act provides legal intellectual property rights protection to developers of new varieties of plants which are sexually reproduced (by seed) or tuber-propagated.

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International Trade

• Agricultural Export Transportation Handbook
  Provides resources to help small- and medium-size businesses develop an international marketing plan, discover export opportunities and ship products overseas.

• Animal and Animal Product Import and Export Information
  Outlines the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service's activities and services to support the import and export of animals, animal products, and biologicals.

• Country of Origin Labeling Requirements
  Covers the 2002 Farm Bill, which requires country of origin labeling for beef, lamb, pork, fish, perishable agricultural commodities and peanuts.

• Export Credit Guarantee Programs
  Gives information on export credit guarantee programs for commercial financing of U.S. agricultural exports.

• Exporter Assistance for Agriculture and Forestry Industries
  Offers resources, products, and services that can help companies explore the potential for international sales.

• Exporter's Assistance
  Links to handbooks, training materials, videos, and market reports that help producers export their goods overseas.

• Exporter's Matrix: Handbook for U.S. Agribusinesses
  Gives guidelines to exporting food, farm and forest products.

• Exporting Dairy Products to the European Union
  Provides exporting requirements under the European Union Health Certification Program.

• Facility Guarantee Program
  Provides payment guarantees to finance commercial exports of U.S. manufactured goods and services that will be used to improve agriculture-related facilities.

• Food Export Certificate Project
  Supplies information on food export certificates which are paper or electronic documents requested by an importing nation that describes and/or attests to animal health or product safety, production, or processing methods, packaging, labeling, or specific attributes of a food/food ingredient intended for international destinations.

• Foreign Agricultural Service Fact Sheets
  Covers a variety of topics related to exporting agricultural commodities. Specific information on programs the Foreign Agricultural Service sponsors is also available.

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Livestock

• Animal Care Standards
  Details the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service's Animal Care (AC) program, which provides leadership for determining standards of humane care and treatment of animals. AC implements those standards and achieves compliance through inspection, education and cooperative efforts.

• Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy Prevention: Guidelines for Animal Feed Producers
  Outlines the FDA's guidelines for animal feed produces to prevent BSE or "mad cow" disease in livestock.

• Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFO : Final Rule
  Provides information about the Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations Final Rule.

• Live Poultry Dealer Responsibilities
  Explains the basic responsibilities for live poultry dealers as stipulated in the Packers and Stockyards Act, 1921, as amended and supplemented, and the regulations issued there under, for a complete list of legal responsibilities.

• Livestock Mandatory Reporting Compliance Information
  Gives requirements for livestock packers, livestock processors, and importers covered under the act to report specific data on livestock purchases and boxed beef and lamb sales.

• Livestock, Meat & Poultry: Regulated Entities
  Describes regulated entities' roles under the Packers and Stockyards Act.

• National Agriculture Compliance Assistance Center: Animal Feeding Operations
  Provides information about animal feeding operations.

• OSHA eTool: Poultry Processing Industry
  Offers an OSHA eTool to help identify and control major hazards that contribute to the high rates of injuries found in the poultry processing industry. This eTool focuses on hazards associated with the slaughtering, processing, and packaging of the birds. Examples used are from chicken processing, but may be applicable to other bird processing.

• Rights under the Packers and Stockyards Act
  Explains how sellers and growers are protected under the P&S Act's trust provisions and what to do if you don't get paid. Publications are also available for downloading and submission to GIPSA and to the packer or live poultry dealer who owes you for livestock or poultry as notification to preserve trust benefits.

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Organic Food

• How Retail Establishments Can Comply with National Organic Program Regulations
  Gives a retailer's guide to National Organic Program requirements, and procedures that retailers may establish to meet these requirements.

• National Organic Program FAQs
  Lists frequently asked questions regarding the National Organic Program and its requirements.

• Organic Exemption from Assessments for Marketing Promotion Activities
  Explains the 2002 Farm Bill, which directs the USDA to issue regulations exempting any person who produces and markets solely 100 percent organic products from paying assessments under a commodity promotion law.

• Organic Labeling and Compliance Information for Producers, Handlers, Processors and Retailers
  Supplies a guide to organic labeling standards for growers, producers and retailers.

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Pesticides

• Biopesticides: Environmental Regulations and Policies
  Offers an EPA guide to complying with regulations governing the use of biopesticides in agriculture.

• How to Comply with the Worker Protection Standard for Agricultural Pesticides : What Employers Need to Know
  Details the Worker Protection Standard (WPS), a regulation designed to protect agricultural workers and pesticide handlers.

• Integrated Pest Management: Environmental Regulations and Policies
  Supplies an EPA guide to integrated pest management in agriculture.

• Nutrient Management and Fertilizers
  Provides information on fertilizer use, contaminants and regulations.

• Pesticide Storage and Handling Practices on the Farm
  Explains proper handling and storage of pesticides on farmsteads. Provides a general overview of pesticide handling and storage, a risk assessment section, and recommendations for correcting problems related to pesticide storage.

• Pesticide Worker Safety and Training
  Provides information about the Worker Protection Standard intended to protect the health and safety of workers who are exposed to pesticides in the course of their jobs.

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Poultry

• Packers and Stockyards Program
  Gives general regulatory information for poultry growers and firms.

• Poultry Grading and Certification
  Outlines certification requirements. Chickens, turkeys, ducks, geese, guineas, and pigeons are all eligible for grading and certification services provided by the AMS Poultry Programs' Grading Branch.

• Poultry Quality Standards
  Details quality standards established by AMS Poultry Programs to help facilitate the marketing of poultry, rabbits, and shell eggs among buyers and sellers.

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Seed

• Seed Regulatory and Testing Services
  Covers the Federal Seed Act, which regulates the interstate shipment of agricultural and vegetable seed.

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Tobacco

• Agricultural Marketing Service Tobacco Program
  Outlines tobacco production standards and market news.
• Tobacco Quality Standards
  Provides the official U.S. grade standards for tobacco.

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Veterinary Medicine

• Center for Veterinary Biologics
  Explains the National Veterinary Accreditation Program, which certifies private veterinary practitioners to work cooperatively with federal veterinarians and state animal health officials.

• Center for Veterinary Biologics Forms and Permits
  Offers forms and permits to meet the requirements of the Virus-Serum-Toxin Act of 1913.

• National Veterinary Accreditation Program
  Covers the National Veterinary Accreditation Program, which certifies private veterinary practitioners to work cooperatively with federal veterinarians and state animal health officials.

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