Q. What are my options for obtaining a farm loan?
") document.write("There are 3 options:
1. Your local bank
2. First Pioneer Farm Credit.
First Pioneer Farm Credit is a cooperative and supplies a full range of credit services including Real estate loans, Equipment loans, Operating loans, Country home mortgage loans
3. Farm Service Agency. The Farm Service Agency (FSA) of the U. S. Department of Agriculture makes farm ownership and operating loans. The FSA loan program is directed at agricultural producers with farming experience.
Q. My private and/or commercial bank has turned me down for a loan. Where should I go next?
") document.write("Before calling the Farm Service Agency, USDA for a loan, you should first call the First Pioneer office closest to you and talk to a loan officer. Nearly all decisions are made within a day or two, right in your local office.
Massachusetts:
Middleboro
67 Bedford Street
PO Box 720
Middleboro, MA 02346-0720
Tel: 508.946.4455
Toll free: 800.946.0506
Fax: 508.946.9788
Branch manager: William Kiernan
Email: middleboro.ma@firstpioneer.com
Connecticut:
Enfield
174 South Road
Enfield, CT 06082
Tel: 860.741.4380
Toll free: 800.562.2235
Fax: 860.253.5565
Branch manager: Steve Rickenbacher
Email: enfield.ct@firstpioneer.com
New Hampshire:
Bedford
2 Constitution Drive
Bedford, NH 03110-6010
Tel: 603.472.3554
Toll free: 800.825.3252
Fax: 603.472.8048
Branch manager: Dave Bishop
Email: bedford.nh@firstpioneer.com
Q. What is First Pioneer Farm Credit?
") document.write("First Pioneer Farm Credit is a cooperative and supplies a full range of credit services including Real estate loans, Equipment loans, Operating loans, Country home mortgage loans.
First Pioneer Credit serves people involved in the business of agriculture, including: farmers, nursery and greenhouse operators, forest products businesses, fishermen, lobstermen, part-time growers, agribusinesses and country home owners. Close to 10,000 customers in the six-state territory: New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York and New Jersey It is part of the national Farm Credit System founded in 1916 to promote the growth and prosperity of agriculture throughout the United States.
Q. How does First Pioneer Farm Credit operate a cooperative?
") document.write("When you become a First Pioneer Farm Credit borrower, you become a member of a financial cooperative with stockholder voting rights and an opportunity to share in the distribution of patronage dividends. These dividends are based on interest — or "patronage" — accrued by members to the cooperative and returned to borrowers following the end of every calendar year.
Q. Can I find more information about First Pioneer Farm Credit on the internet?
") document.write("The web site address for First Pioneer Farm Credit is firstpioneer.com
FSA has direct and guaranteed loan programs to help farmers who are temporarily unable to obtain private, and/or commercial credit. Often these are beginning farmers who have insufficient net worth to qualify for commercial credit. In other cases, those farmers who have suffered financial setbacks from natural disasters, or who have limited resources with which to establish and maintain profitable farming operations. FSA offices are listed below.
Massachusetts FSA Offices:
Berkshire County
78 Center Street, Room 208, Pittsfield, MA 01201-6171
Tel: 413-443-1776
Bristol/Norfolk County
84 Center Street, Dighton, MA 02715-1229
Tel: 508-669-6621
Franklin County
Hayburne Building, 55 Federal Street, Greenfield, MA 01301- 2545
Tel: 413-772-0384
Hampshire/Hampden County
195 Russell Street, Suite B5, Westford, MA 01886-4133
Tel: 978-692-5163
Plymouth, Barnstable, Dukes and Nantucket
15 Cranberry Highway, West Wareham, MA 02576-1504
Tel: 508-295-5151
Worcester County
Medical Arts Building, 52 Boyden Road, Room 103, Holden, MA 01520-2578
Tel: 508-892-4477
The Farm Service Agency (FSA) is considered the “lender of last resort”. To qualify for a loan through FSA you must first be turned down by a private and/or commercial lender.
Q. Are grants available for projects to enhance my farming operation?
") document.write("The Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources has several grant programs for projects to improve agricultural and farming practices. Listed below are descriptions of the programs and contact information for more details.
Agricultural Environmental Enhancement Program - Water Quality Protection Funding Available to Farmers
The Massachusetts Department Agricultural Resources Agricultural Environmental Enhancement Program (AEEP) provides funding to farmers to install a variety of water quality protection practices. Eligible practices include the installation of buffers, animal waste systems, pesticide storage facilities, fencing, culverts, seed and gutters. All farmers who actively farm five acres or more of land which could potentially impact a water resource are eligible.
For more information on the program contact the coordinator:
Susan Phinney
(617) 626-1772
Susan.Phinney@state.ma.us.
Website Here
Agricultural Marketing Grants Program
The Department’s Agricultural Marketing Grant Program provides agricultural organizations the opportunity to receive matching grant funds to assist in their promotional efforts. Grants range from $500 to $15,000. All grant recipients are required to acknowledge the Department’s support and/or use the "Massachusetts Grown…and Fresher!" or "Mass. Made with Pride" logos in order to receive grant funds.
For more information on the program contact the coordinator:
Mary Jordan
Bureau of Markets, Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources
251 Causeway Street, Suite 251
Boston, MA 02114
Phone: (617) 626-1750
Fax: (617) 626-1850
Website Here.
Agro-Environmental Technology Grant Program
The Agro Environmental Technology Grant Program stimulates expanded economic activity in the Massachusetts agricultural sector. The program encourages the development of new or alternative technologies, practices or organizational arrangements that have direct commercial application in agriculture.
Through an annual request for proposals, the Department considers funding projects that address agriculturally related environmental concerns and agricultural development opportunities.
Eligible applicants include public and private agencies and organizations, business and industry, educational institutions and local governments in Massachusetts. Individuals may apply if a commodity group, growers\' association or industry endorses the project.
For more information on the program contact the coordinator:
Susan Phinney
(617)626-1772
susan.phinney@state.ma.us
Website Here.
Aquaculture - Massachusetts Aquaculture Grants Program
In 1997, as a result of the efforts of the Massachusetts State Legislature, the Governor\'s Office, the Executive Office of Environmental Affairs and the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources, the Massachusetts Aquaculture Grants Program (MAG) was created in response to the Commonwealth\'s interest in aquaculture development and the need for diversification of fisheries and agricultural enterprises in Massachusetts. The MAG program encourages environmentally responsible aquaculture projects that can demonstrate public and industry benefit through work that will: result in the development and implementation of new technologies, products, processes or services; reduce aquaculture industry operating costs thereby increasing business profitability; increase the productivity of Massachusetts aquatic cultivation endeavors; and preserve existing jobs and/or result in new employment opportunities for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Funded projects are required to submit a final report that provides details about project development and results.
The Farm Viability Enhancement Program
The Farm Viability Enhancement Program helps farmers keep their families on the land and keep sprawl from consuming their farms. It involves strengthening the business skills of farmers, combined with diversification and environmental integrity.
For more information:
Craig Richov, Coordinator
Farm Viability Enhancement Program, Massachusetts.
Department of Agricultural Resources,
251 Causeway Street, Suite 500
Boston, MA 02114
(617)626-1725
Craig.Richov@state.ma.us
Website Here.
The Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources has a website which is located here.