Frequently Asked Questions
- Does FCA offer loans, grants, or scholarships?
No. But the Farm Credit System, which FCA regulates, does provide credit and other related services to agriculture and rural America. To find the FCS institution that serves your area, contact the FCA Office of Congressional and Public Affairs (Tel: 703-883-4056; E-mail: info-line@fca.gov) and provide us with the name of your county and State; we can then direct you to the FCS institution serving your area.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency also offers loans. Go to the USDA Service Center Locator to find the Farm Service Agency office that serves your county.
To find out about the availability of Government grants, go to Grants.gov.
For information on Federal scholarship programs, go to e-Scholar at www.studentjobs.gov.
- How can I obtain a rural home loan?
Perhaps the Farm Credit System can help you. The FCS is a nationwide financial cooperative that lends to agriculture and rural America. FCA is the Federal agency responsible for regulating and examining the institutions of the FCS. If you contact the FCA Office of Congressional and Public Affairs (Tel: 703-883-4056; E-mail: info-line@fca.gov) and provide us with the name of your county and State, we will direct you to the FCS institution serving your area.
- How can I locate the FCS institution that serves my area?
Contact the FCA Office of Congressional and Public Affairs (Tel: 703-883-4056; E-mail: info-line@fca.gov) and provide us with the name of your county and State. We can then give you contact information for the FCS institution serving your area.
- I have a product/service to sell and would like to meet with an FCA staff member to find out whether my product/service would meet any of your needs. Whom should I contact?
FCA’s Office of Management Services is handling all of the Agency’s procurement opportunities. For further information, call the Personnel and Purchasing Team at 703-883-4135.
- How can I obtain hard copies of an FCA publication?
Request copies from the FCA Office of Congressional and Public Affairs (Tel: 703-883-4056; E-mail: info-line@fca.gov). Please note that many publications are available online as pdf files. They may be downloaded or printed by Internet users.
- Where can I review the proposed rule announced in a recent FCA news release?
Generally, you can read any proposed rule in the Federal Register within approximately 30 days of the rule’s approval by the FCA Board. The Federal Register is the official daily publication for rules, proposed rules, and notices of Federal agencies and organizations, as well as Executive orders and other presidential documents. To find items the Agency has submitted to the Federal Register since 1972, go to Federal Register Documents.
FCA provides prepublication copies of proposed and final rules upon request. Please contact the Office of Congressional and Public Affairs (Tel: 703-883-4056; E-mail: info-line@fca.gov) if you would like to receive a prepublication copy.
- Do you sell farm equipment acquired through foreclosures?
No. However, the Farm Credit System, a nationwide financial cooperative that lends to agriculture and rural America, may be able to provide you with information on equipment acquired through foreclosures. If you contact the FCA Office of Congressional and Public Affairs (Tel: 703-883-4056; E-mail: info-line@fca.gov) and provide the county and State in which you live, we will provide contact information for the FCS institution in your area.
- How can I find out about employment opportunities at FCA?
Our vacancies are posted at USAJOBS.
- I work for a Farm Credit System institution and am preparing a report to submit to FCA. Do you have guidelines for document preparation and submission?
Yes. See section 620.2 of the FCA Regulations. Also, a memo issued August 15, 2002, provides specific guidance concerning the electronic filing of reports. Please contact the FCA Office of Congressional and Public Affairs (Tel: 703-883-4056; E-mail: info-line@fca.gov) if you would like a copy of this memo.
- Can FCA provide information about U.S. farm real estate trends?
Whatever information FCA has on U.S. farm real estate trends comes from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. You may find the Web site of USDA’s Economic Research Service helpful.
- A Farm Credit System institution in which I own shares appears to no longer exist. Can you tell me if the institution was acquired by another institution?
Yes. Over the years, many Farm Credit System institutions have merged with other institutions and undergone name changes. Please contact the FCA Office of Congressional and Public Affairs (Tel: 703-883-4056; E-mail: info-line@fca.gov) with the name of the institution; we will research the name and let you know what we find.
- Is FCA part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture?
No. We were created in 1933 by the Executive order of President Franklin D. Roosevelt as an independent agency to regulate the Farm Credit System, a nationwide financial cooperative that lends to agriculture and rural America. For a few years, from 1939 to 1953, FCA was part of USDA, but the Farm Credit Act of 1953 restored the Agency’s independent status, and we remain independent today.
- How can I comment on a pending regulation or notice?
You may submit a comment on any notice published in the Federal Register, provided the comment period has not ended. Please submit a comment only once, using only one of the following delivery options:
- An electronic public comment form on the FCA Web site. To locate the form, follow these steps:
- Select Pending FCA Regulations and Notices and look under the heading “Regulations—Public Comment Period Open” to find the regulation in which you are interested.
- Then click on the light blue link at the top of the page related to this regulation. This link will carry you to the electronic public comment form.
- An e-mail to reg-comm@fca.gov.
- An electronic public comment form at www.regulations.gov.
- Regular mail to Gary K. Van Meter, Deputy Director, Office of Regulatory Policy, Farm Credit Administration, 1501 Farm Credit Drive, McLean, VA 22102-5090.
- A fax to 703-883-4477. (Please select this option only if no other option is convenient.)
- Can I read the comments others have made on regulations and notices?
Comments submitted by others are shown on our Web site for items open for comment or for final actions that have not been taken. See the Items Available table and click on the regulation in which you are interested.
Public comments on regulations that have already been finalized can be read at our McLean, Virginia, office. You can also obtain paper copies of comments by sending an e-mail to reg-comm@fca.gov. Paper copies are subject to fees.
- Can the public read my comment?
Yes. Your comment and the information you provide, including your name, phone number, and address, will be publicly available.