Resources

US Dept of Agriculture                                     http://www.usda.gov

American Dairy Goat Assn.                             http://adga.org/

American Lamb Board                                     http://americanlambboard.org

American Meat Goat Assn.                              http://www.meatgoats.com

American Sheep Industry Assn.                    http://www.sheepusa.org/

National Livestock Producers Assn.            http://www.nlpa.org/

National Lamb Feeders Assn.                        http://members.hscis.net/~nlfa-sheep/

Mohair Council of American                           http://www.mohairusa.com/

Sheep Breeds                                                     http://www.ansi.okstate.edu

Agri. Databases for Decision Support         http://www.adds.org

Market news                                                        http://www.thelivestockmarket.com

.Rural Information Center  -  Provides a customized search of programs that fit individual needs.  The entity seeking funds can contact the Center with their individual situation and the Center can help to identify what resources are available and what state or federal programs best meets the individual situation.  The Center can be contacted by:

      Telephone: 1-800-633-7701     M-F  8:00am to 4:30pm   Eastern Time

      Website:  http://www.nal.usda.gov/ric/ricpubs/small_farm_funding.htm

  Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance  - This is a comprehensive resource guide to federal government programs.  It can be obtained at many government offices or libraries.  It can also be accessed on the Internet at: http://www.cfda.gov/

  USDA, AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT RESOURCES

Rural Business-Cooperative Services

USDA administers several financial programs to help businesses succeed in rural areas.  Contact your state or local USDA Rural Development and Farm Service Agency Offices listed in the telephone book, usually in the blue pages, under: Department of Agriculture, Farm Services Agency or Rural Development.

www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/index.html

          http://www.fsa.usda.gov

         Examples of programs within USDA are listed below.

  B & I GUARANTEED LOAN PROGRAM  -  The Business and Industry Guaranteed Loan Program guarantees loans made by authorized lenders for up to 90% of loss resulting from borrower default.  The guaranteed loans are for rural areas of 50,000 people or less and can be used for working capital, machinery and equipment, buildings and real estate, and certain types of debt refinancing.  The aggregate B&I guaranteed loan amount is a maximum of $25 million to any one borrower with a maximum maturity of 7 years for working capital, 15 years for machinery and equipment, and 30 years for real estate.

  B & I DIRECT LOAN PROGRAM  -  The Business and Industry Direct Loan Program provides loans to private parties, who cannot obtain credit elsewhere.  The direct loans are for rural areas of 50,000 people or less and can be used for improving, developing, or financing business and industry, employment, and to improve the economic and environmental climate in rural communities.  The maximum aggregate B&I guaranteed loan amount is $10 million to any one borrower with a maximum maturity of 7 years for working capital, 15 years for machinery and equipment, and 30 years for real estate.