Emery expanded her herd to 20 cows with operating loans from FSA.

By Lauren Moore, USDA

Spring planting is starting across the country when many agricultural producers are investing in their future. It is no doubt that farming and ranching is a capital-intensive business. From growing row crops to raising livestock or running a specialty operation, operating funds are essential. The stakes are even higher when it comes to purchasing a farm or ranch.

As farmers and ranchers continue to be impacted by natural disasters and the changing farm economy, farm loans become increasingly important. Fortunately, the 2018 Farm Bill provides increased loan limits and more flexibility to farm loans, which gives producers more access to credit when they need it most.

Farm loan programs from USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) offer direct and guaranteed loans to farmers and ranchers to promote, build, and sustain family farms for a thriving agricultural economy. Here are just a few examples on how our farm loans have helped agriculture operations across the country. Continue reading →

Kevin and his wife, Missy, now run a cow-calf operation in Apache County with the help of their five children.

By Shelby Johnson, Arizona FSA

As a high school student in Round Valley, Arizona, Kevin McFee worked for local ranchers and began growing a herd of his own.

From Angus to Longhorns, Kevin and his wife, Missy, now run a cow-calf operation in Apache County with the help of their five children. Before purchasing their ranch, the McFees picked up leases and bought cattle whenever they could.

“Agriculture is in my blood,” said Kevin. “It’s what I’ve always wanted to do.”

Working the Land

After years of leasing, Kevin and Missy looked into buying land of their own. With a farm ownership loan from USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA), the couple became landowners in 2011. FSA’s farm loan programs offer direct and guaranteed loans to farmers and ranchers to promote, build and sustain family farms for a thriving agricultural economy.

“It’s still a work-in-progress, but we’ve done a lot of infrastructure work since 2011,” said Kevin. “We’ve dug a lot of post holes, put in pipe lines, and built interior fences, all to get it where we want it to be.” Continue reading →

Pleasant View Farms provides feed to almost 700 farms, which includes feed purchased on the farm and bulk loads delivered to customers.

By: Dawn Pindell, FSA

Jeffrey, Louis and Jacob Lipton are owners and operators of Pleasant View Farms in Somers, Connecticut. The farm has been in the Lipton family since 1918. Originally a dairy, the farm has transitioned into growing 600 acres of small grains and 650 acres of hay.

Filling a Need

When a local grain mill went out of business a few years ago, livestock producers approached the Liptons to purchase local feed. At the time, the family was selling small amounts of bulk and bagged feed. To meet the needs of the local agriculture community, they decided to expand their sales by adding improved storage and handling facilities.

Jeffrey reached out to his local USDA Farm Service Agency office and was able to purchase a scale and grain vacuum through the Farm Storage Facility Loan Program. This program provides low-interest financing for producers to build or upgrade facilities to store eligible commodities. Continue reading →

Tammy is the sole manager of 800 acres of native and improved grasses, 80 head of cattle, and three dogs.

By: Janlyn Hannah, Farm Service Agency and Mary Collier, Natural Resources Conservation Service

Tammy Higgins is a cow/calf operator in Okemah, Oklahoma, who has met cattle market, drought, and financing obstacles head-on and come out on top. Tammy is a positive, high-energy rancher who has worked hard to extend her family’s legacy.

Ranching Roots

During Tammy’s childhood, her father’s farm was home to over 500 cows, 700 yearlings, 300 feeder pigs, and 400 sheep. A self-proclaimed cattlewoman “since the day I was born,” Tammy has been checking and feeding livestock – and driving tractors and farm trucks – for as long as she can remember.

Tammy earned her degree in ranch management from Eastern Oklahoma State University before returning to the family farm. Today, Tammy is the sole manager of 800 acres of native and improved grasses, 80 head of cattle, and three dogs with big personalities.

“For me,” Tammy reflects on her farm proudly, “it’s not a way of living, but a way of life.”

Continue reading →

The Harlows have been farming in Westminster, Vermont, for over a century.

By Lauren Moore, USDA

The Harlow family has been growing vegetables on their farm in Westminster, Vermont, for over a century.

Paul G. Harlow bought the property in 1917, where the family milked cows and sold vegetables at a roadside stand. Now, 102 years and three generations later, Harlow Farm is a certified organic operation, producing a variety of vegetables, cattle, hogs, and poultry.

Improving the Operation

From a young age, Paul helped his father around the farm. He purchased the farm from his family in 1975 after he graduated from college.

Paul remarked that the soil in the Connecticut River Valley provides “excellent growing conditions” for their vegetables. Lettuce is one of their largest crops, followed by beets, carrots, sweet corn, squash, kale, and cabbage.

The Harlow family works with USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service to implement nutrient management and pest management plans through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program. They have also added an irrigation system, pipeline, a high tunnel, and established cover crops with the program. Continue reading →

Tanner Pace utilized FSA’s Farm Storage Facility Loan program to construct a hay barn.

By Jessica Claypole, Missouri Farm Service Agency

Agriculture has always been a way of life for Tanner Pace, a Howell County, Missouri-native.

“I have been involved in agriculture in depth ever since I was a young teenager, helping put up hay in the summers and helping work the cattle whenever needed,” Tanner said. “I knew that I would be a farmer of some kind because that is what my dad had taught me and that is what his dad had taught him, so it’s just in our blood.”

After graduating from Missouri State University with a bachelor’s degree in business, Tanner decided he wanted to return to the farm to carry on the legacy. Continue reading →

Carlos rents just over four acres of farmland at ALBA’s 100-acre facility.

Carlos Gonzalez Torrez is an experienced farmworker and student at the Agriculture and Land-Based Training Association in Salinas, California. Carlos has spent many years on the farm, hand picking artichokes, strawberries, and Brussels sprouts. He’s now working with ALBA to build his own operation.

Worker to Farmer

ALBA’s mission is to create economic opportunity for limited-resource and aspiring organic farmers through education in the heart of the Salinas Valley.

New and beginning farmers receive education, experience, and support from ALBA. Carlos took ALBA’s Farmer Education Course, which provides 300 hours of bilingual classroom instruction and field-based training over one year. Graduating participants can rent farmland at ALBA for up to five years to help grow their careers.

“I came in to take the course and decided that I wanted to go out and operate on my own,” said Carlos. Continue reading →

The Staleys grew their maple syrup operation with a microloan from FSA.

By Mary Kirby, Illinois FSA

In 2007, Mike and Kim Staley purchased a farm in Elmwood, Illinois. Formerly an apple orchard, the couple decided to transition the land into a maple syrup operation after watching a documentary about how to make syrup.

“We got into this business by accident,” said Mike. “After watching the documentary, I told my wife that we should try making maple syrup, seeing as there were maple trees on our property already. She got me a starter kit for Christmas and we made 15 bottles that year.” Continue reading →

Gary chose the Oberhasli breed because of the flavor and quality of the milk. (Photo courtesy of Capream)

By Lauren Moore, Public Affairs Specialist

Gary Carder is a veteran and owner of Capream Dairy in Prescott, Arizona. This Grade-A goat dairy specializes in the production of milk, gelato, and cheese, which are sold at retail locations around the state.

Ice Cream to Gelato

Originally intending to start an ice cream business, Gary took the Ice Cream Short Course workshop at Penn State University to learn the craft. To source the milk for his ice cream, Gary purchased two Oberhasli goats and discovered the naturally low-fat content from the milk made better gelato.

“Goat ice cream is good, but goat gelato is even better,” he said. “I chose this particular breed because of the flavor and quality of the milk. Our milk is on the sweet side, so all of our products have a sweet flavor.”

Gary later added 14 females and two males to expand his herd. Capream is now home to over 200 goats. Continue reading →