FVSU Hosts Technical Assistance Workshop at Wal-Mart in Columbus, Ga

On Saturday, December 9, from 10 am to 3 pm, the FVSU mobile unit will be on hand at Walmart Super Center on Airport Thruway to assist Farmers, Ranchers, and Forestland owners with completing the USDA Discrimination Financial Assistance Program application.

Section 22007 of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) provides $2.2 billion for financial assistance for farmers and ranchers who experienced discrimination by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Farm Loan Programs before January 1, 2021. The Discrimination Financial Assistance Program (DFAP) program is, in addition to other assistance, made possible through the IRA, including aid to distressed borrowers.

This application is for individuals who experienced discrimination before January 1, 2021, by USDA in its Farm Loan Programs, which the Farm Service Agency (FSA) currently administrates, and/or who are presently debtors with assigned or assumed USDA farm loan debt that was the subject of USDA discrimination that occurred before January 1, 2021. (This applies, for example, if you inherited the debt that was the subject of USDA farm lending discrimination.)

The application filing period for this program will begin July 7, 2023, and end January 13, USDA aims to distribute payments to impacted producers in early 2024. More information can be found at www.22007apply.gov.

This program is for individuals who have attempted to receive or received a farm loan. Please bring as much documentation with you as possible regarding your discrimination claim. If you no longer have documentation on file, contact your nearest Farm Service Agency (FSA) office to request copies. If copies are not currently on file at FSA, request a receipt of service. You must have some form of documentation regarding your eligibility, a copy of your application or denial letter, an affidavit from a witness, receipt of service, etc.

Feel free to call 478.210.1801 for more information.

By Wane Hailes