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Frequently Asked Questions

Click on a category below for FAQs on the respective topic. For frequently asked questions about YBS reporting, go to Frequently Asked Questions and Step-by-Step Instructions for Preparing the Young, Beginning, and Small Farmers and Ranchers Report (PDF).

General questions about FCA Risk identification Similar entity reporting Operating and strategic business planning for diversity and inclusion Flood insurance Borrower rights Collateral evaluations Disclosure and reporting rule Governance changes in 2006

General questions about FCA

1. Does FCA offer loans, grants, or scholarships?

No. But the Farm Credit System, which FCA regulates, does provide credit and other related services to agriculture and rural America. To find the FCS institution that serves your area, enter your town and state or zipcode in our Farm Credit System Lender Locator. If you still need help, call the FCA Office of Congressional and Public Affairs at 703-883-4056 or email: [email protected].

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency also offers loans. Go to the USDA Service Center Locator to find the Farm Service Agency office that serves your county.

To find out about the availability of Government grants, go to Grants.gov.

For information on scholarship programs, go to the U.S. Department of Education Federal Student Aid website.

2. How can I obtain a rural home loan?

Perhaps the Farm Credit System can help you. The FCS is a nationwide financial cooperative that lends to agriculture and rural America. FCA is the Federal agency responsible for regulating and examining the institutions of the FCS. To find the FCS institution that serves your area, enter your town and state or zipcode in our Farm Credit System Lender Locator. If you still need help, call the FCA Office of Congressional and Public Affairs at 703-883-4056 or email: [email protected].

3. How can I locate the FCS institution that serves my area?

To find the FCS institution that serves your area, enter your town and state or zipcode in our Farm Credit System Lender Locator. If you still need help, call the FCA Office of Congressional and Public Affairs at 703-883-4056 or email: [email protected].

4. I have a product/service to sell and would like to meet with an FCA staff member to find out whether my product/service would meet any of your needs. Whom should I contact?

FCA’s Office of the Chief Financial Officer handles all of the agency’s procurement opportunities. For further information, call the Procurement Division at 703-883-4077.

5. How can I obtain hard copies of an FCA publication?

Request copies from the FCA Office of Congressional and Public Affairs (Tel: 703-883-4056; Email: [email protected]). Please note that many publications are available online as pdf files. They may be downloaded or printed by Internet users.

6. Where can I review the proposed rule announced in a recent FCA news release?

Generally, you can read any proposed rule in the Federal Register within approximately 30 days of the rule’s approval by the FCA Board. The Federal Register is the official daily publication for rules, proposed rules, and notices of Federal agencies and organizations, as well as Executive orders and other presidential documents. To find items the Agency has submitted to the Federal Register since 1972, go to Federal Register Documents.

FCA provides prepublication copies of proposed and final rules upon request. Please contact the Office of Congressional and Public Affairs (Tel: 703-883-4056; Email: [email protected]) if you would like to receive a prepublication copy.

7. Do you sell farm equipment acquired through foreclosures?

No. However, the Farm Credit System, a nationwide financial cooperative that lends to agriculture and rural America, may be able to provide you with information on equipment acquired through foreclosures. To find the FCS institution that serves your area, enter your town and state or zipcode in our Farm Credit System Lender Locator. If you still need help, call the FCA Office of Congressional and Public Affairs at 703-883-4056 or email: [email protected].

8. How can I find out about employment opportunities at FCA?

Our vacancies are posted at USAJOBS.

9. Can FCA provide information about U.S. farm real estate trends?

Whatever information FCA has on U.S. farm real estate trends comes from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. You may find the website of USDA’s Economic Research Service helpful.

10. A Farm Credit System institution in which I own shares appears to no longer exist. Can you tell me if the institution was acquired by another institution? 

Yes. Over the years, many Farm Credit System institutions have merged with other institutions and undergone name changes. Please contact the FCA Office of Congressional and Public Affairs (Tel: 703-883-4056; Email: [email protected]) with the name of the institution; we will research the name and let you know what we find.

11. Is FCA part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture?

No. We were created in 1933 by the Executive order of President Franklin D. Roosevelt as an independent agency to regulate the Farm Credit System, a nationwide financial cooperative that lends to agriculture and rural America. For a few years, from 1939 to 1953, FCA was part of USDA, but the Farm Credit Act of 1953 restored the Agency’s independent status, and we remain independent today.

12. How can I comment on a pending regulation or notice?

You may submit a comment on any notice published in the Federal Register, provided the comment period has not ended. Please submit a comment only once, using only one of the following delivery options:

13. Can I read the comments others have made on regulations and notices?

Comments submitted by others are shown on our website for items open for comment or for final actions that have not been taken. See the Items Available table and click on the regulation in which you are interested.

Public comments on regulations that have already been finalized can be read at our McLean, Virginia, office. You can also obtain paper copies of comments by sending an email to [email protected]. Paper copies are subject to fees.

14. Can the public read my comment?

Yes. Your comment and the information you provide, including your name, phone number, and address, will be publicly available.

Page updated: June 05, 2022