Jimmy Stevens is the owner and operator of Stevens Produce and Grains in Whiteville, North Carolina. Photo by Linda Gerron, FSA.

The Redemption Story of a North Carolina Farmer

By: Linda Gerron, FSA North Carolina

Through no fault of their own, our nation’s farmers and ranchers have faced incredibly tough circumstances over the last few years. That includes James “Jimmy” Stevens of Whiteville, North Carolina, who is one of the more than 20,000 producers who received life-changing, transformational support from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) provided $3.1 billion for USDA to deliver expedited assistance to distressed borrowers with certain Farm Service Agency (FSA) direct and guaranteed loans whose agricultural operations were at financial risk. USDA has provided approximately $1.1 billion in immediate assistance for distressed borrowers to help make them current.

This has helped producers like Jimmy who were at risk of losing their operations due to several unprecedented challenges, including trade disruptions, a worldwide pandemic, continued impacts on input costs and markets, and more frequent, more intense, climate-induced natural disasters.

Jimmy owns and operates Stevens Produce and Grains, a business he has gradually developed since his younger years. He had the love of farming instilled at a young age since both of his parents were tobacco farmers. When he was 17 his dad passed away, and for the next 20 years, Jimmy and his mother continued farming tobacco. Over the years, his mother’s health slowly deteriorated, causing Jimmy to leave tobacco production and grow alternative crops – green beans and corn. Continue reading →

Milton and Abbie Sparks, along with children WesLeigh and Walker, have a poultry operation in Waldron, Arkansas. Photo courtesy of the Sparks family.

By: Billie Hall, Key Program Technician, Franklin County Service Center, FSA, Arkansas

Through no fault of their own, our nation’s farmers and ranchers have faced incredibly tough circumstances over the last few years. That includes Abbie and Milton Sparks of Waldron, Arkansas, who are part of the more than 20,000 producers who have received life-changing, transformational support from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Through the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), which provided $3.1 billion for USDA to provide relief for distressed borrowers with certain Farm Service Agency (FSA) direct and guaranteed loans.  USDA has provided approximately $1.1 billion in immediate assistance for distressed borrowers, including those who were behind on their USDA farm loans, to help make them current.

This has helped producers like the Sparks who were at risk of losing their operations due to several unprecedented challenges, including trade disruptions, a worldwide pandemic, continued impacts on input costs and markets, and more frequent, more intense, climate-induced natural disasters. Continue reading →

Sigifredo Morales-Martinez and his family, including daughter Yaraici Morales, raise 30 acres of blueberries in Michigan. Photo by Beth Dayson, FSA.

By: Beth Dayson, Farm Loan Program Technician, and Jessica Stroud, Farm Loan Manager, Van Buren County Service Center, FSA, Michigan

Through no fault of their own, many of our nation’s farmers and ranchers have faced incredibly tough circumstances over the last few years. That includes Sigifredo Morales-Martinez of Grand Junction, Michigan, who is one of the more than 20,000 producers who have received critical financial assistance from the U.S. Department of Agriculture that will keep them on their land. The Inflation Reduction Act provided $3.1 billion through USDA for relief to distressed borrowers along with certain Farm Service Agency direct and guaranteed loans. It will also give relief as expeditiously as possible to borrowers whose agricultural operations are at financial risk. USDA has also provided approximately $1.1 billion in immediate assistance for distressed borrowers, including those who were behind on their USDA farm loans, to help make them current.

This helped producers like Sigifredo who were at risk of losing their operations due to several unprecedented challenges, including trade disruptions, a worldwide pandemic, continued impacts on input costs and markets, and more frequent, more intense, climate-induced natural disasters.

Sigifredo has been operating a blueberry farm for 30 years where he currently manages 30 acres of blueberries. Together he and his wife have worked hard to maintain their farm while raising three daughters, Yaraici, Yailene, and Yaseen Morales. They’ve had a farm loan with FSA since 2010. Continue reading →

Andy Ordaz, along with Rosalina Nuñez, operate a vegetable farm in Virginia. Photo by Jeremey Burner, FSA.

By: Brandon Waldron, FSA, Fredericksburg Area FSA Office, Fredericksburg, Virginia

Through no fault of their own, our nation’s farmers and ranchers have faced incredibly tough circumstances over the last few years. That includes Andy Ordaz of Mechanicsville, Virginia, who is one of the more than 20,000 producers who have received life-changing, transformational support from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Through the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), which provided $3.1 billion for USDA to provide relief for distressed borrowers with certain FSA direct and guaranteed loans whose agricultural operations are at financial risk, USDA has provided approximately $1.1 billion in immediate assistance for distressed borrowers, including those who were behind on their USDA farm loans, to help make them current.

This has helped producers like Andy who were at risk of losing their operations due to several unprecedented challenges, including trade disruptions, a worldwide pandemic, continued impacts on input costs and markets, and more frequent, more intense, climate-induced natural disasters.

Andy got a love of farming from his father, Juan Carlos Ordaz-Barajas. Juan was born in Mexico and moved to the U.S. to work as a farmhand on a large vegetable farm, where he worked for 25 years. Working on the farm was a family affair as Juan had his partner and children move there to all live together. The farm’s owner thought of the Ordazs as family. When the farm’s owner passed away in 2018, his wife auctioned the equipment.  Continue reading →