What does this program do?
This program provides guaranteed loans to promote conservation practices on farms and ranches that help protect natural resources throughout the United States. Conservation loans provide access to credit for farmers and ranchers who want to implement conservation measures on their land.

Who may apply for this program?
To apply for an Farm Service Agency (FSA) Guarantee, a loan applicant must:

• Be a citizen of the United States (or legal resident alien), which includes Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and certain former Pacific Trust Territories.
• Have an acceptable credit history as determined by the lender.
• Have the legal capacity to incur responsibility for the loan obligation.
• Be unable to obtain a loan without an FSA guarantee.
• Not have caused FSA a financial loss by receiving debt forgiveness on more than 3 occasions on or prior to April 4, 1996, or any occasion after April 4, 1996, on either an FSA direct or guarantee loan.
• Be the owner-operator or tenant-operator of a family farm after the loan is closed. For an Operating loan, the producer must be the operator of a family farm after the loan is closed. For a Farm Ownership loan, the producer also needs to own the farm.
• Not be delinquent on any Federal debt.

Are there other requirements?
Conservation Loan applicants do not have to meet the “family farm” definition nor do they have to be unable to obtain a loan without an FSA guarantee. All other eligibility requirements must be met.

What are the rates and terms?

• FSA can guarantee Conservation loans up to $1,825,000; this amount is adjusted annually each Fiscal Year based on inflation.
• The term is not to exceed 30 years, or shorter period, based on the life of the security. The interest rate is negotiated between the lender and the applicant.
• Repayment terms vary accourding to the type of loan made, the collateral securing the loan, and the producer’s ability to repay.