USDA and University of Arkansas School of Law host webinars for Native American Farmers and Ranchers

[January 13, 2017]    USDA and the University of Arkansas School of Law Indigenous Food and Agriculture Initiative will host a series of webinars starting Dec. 20 and concluding Jan. 31 that will cover Farm Service Agency (FSA) programs and loans that will assist Native American farmers and ranchers.

The webinars will be led by faculty who specialize in business planning, market and financial risk planning, credit repair and specialized lending and appeals rights. The webinars will provide important training for producers seeking credit for farm ownership or farm operating purposes and those seeking background information for successful engagement in land fractionation lending opportunities.

Producers nationwide are invited to participate in the free webinar series. All webinars will be archived on the IFAI website at http://indigenousfoodandag.com/.  To register, please use the links provided below for each webinar in the series:

December 20, 2016, 2 p.m. Central: Business Planning to Prepare for FSA Applications

This session is designed to walk potential FSA loan applicants through the fundamental issues in business planning that will aid in their development of strong applications for loans and sustainable approaches to credit access and business performance for their food and agriculture enterprise. (Presenter: H.L. Goodwin Jr.)
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/ register/1790298878968502273

January 10, 2017, 2 p.m. Central: Credit Repair Ahead of a FSA Loan Application

This session is designed to walk potential FSA applicants through the fundamentals of monitoring their credit and developing strategic approaches to repairing their credit should adverse credit reports appear on their records. The session will also discuss the many ways potential FSA loan applicants can prevent future problems in their credit reports. (Presenter: Erin Parker)
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/ register/4806118536469839361

January 17, 2017, 2 p.m. Central: Financial Risk, Marketing Risk and Impacts on FSA Program Compliance

This program will discuss analyzing your risk in the marketplace and how you can best develop plans for handling those market risks. Your business and market plans are your keys to strategic success but they are also your tools to ensure FSA program compliance. (Presenter: H.L. Goodwin Jr.)
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/ register/5170768269287021313

January 24, 2017, 2 p.m. Central: Youth Loans and Microloans: How to Prepare for Applications and How to Avoid Default

This session will discuss Farm Service Agency youth loans and microloans. These two tools are especially essential for beginning farmers and ranchers to build your operations and build your credit. The session will focus on program requirements for accessing and debt repayment under these programs and will discuss the key concerns when planning your business around these loan opportunities. (Presenter: H.L. Goodwin Jr.)
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/ register/6659730214156205313

January 31, 2017, 2 p.m. Central: Your Rights of Appeal: Understanding the National Appeals Division When Applying for Loans and Debt Servicing

This session will introduce you to the purpose and history of the National Appeals Division and discuss the essential deadlines and process for appealing decisions made by the Farm Service Agency concerning your applications for loans and for loan servicing. Understanding your appeal rights and processes is also an essential skill when working with USDA. (Presenter: Toni Stanger) https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/ register/4300378372065196289

Questions?
Please contact your local FSA Office.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender. To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Ave., SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call [phone] (Toll-free Customer Service), [phone] (Local or Federal relay), [phone] (Relay voice users).

[USDA Farm Service Agency]