New Mexico Tribal Farming Toolkit
Webinar Series
U.S. Department of Agriculture and University of Arkansas School of Law Host Webinars for Native American Farmers and Ranchers
USDA and the University of Arkansas School of Law Indigenous Food and Agriculture Initiative hosted a webinar series which covered Farm Service Agency (FSA) programs and loans that will assist Native American farmers and ranchers. The webinars are led by faculty who specialize in business planning, market and financial risk planning, credit repair and specialized lending and appeals rights. The webinars 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 are archived on the IFAI website at http://indigenousfoodandag.com/. Webinar topic areas include:
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.)
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)
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.)
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.)
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)
Persons with disabilities who require accommodations to attend or participate in this meeting should contact Rhonda O’Guinn at 501-301-3018 or Federal Relay Service at 1-800-877-8339.