Wisconsin FSA highlights marketing assistance loan (MAL) program

It’s hard to believe that fall is here, but the chill in the air proves that the seasons are definitely changing. Fall is a favorite time of year in Wisconsin— back to school, apples and fall leaves, or high school and college football. Of course, fall also means that the demands of harvest season are coming, and combines are being readied across the state. This year, fall also brings the possibility of a World Series played in Milwaukee. Stay tuned…    

With predictions of possible record yields in our state, I want to highlight FSA’s marketing assistance loan (MAL) program. This is a handy tool that gives producers marketing flexibility to sell their crops when prices are more favorable, and also frees up cash in the short term. MALs are a short-term loan on eligible commodities with terms up to nine months, using the harvested commodity as collateral. MALs are repaid at the lesser of the loan rate plus interest or the posted county price. Producers can also forfeit the commodity as full payment for the loan at maturity.

FSA farm loan staff continues to see strong interest in our direct and guaranteed ownership and operating loan products, which are offered with flexible terms and favorable loan rates. We also continue to see interest in the Farm Storage Facility Loans, which offer favorable terms on loans for building or upgrading storage and handling facilities.

To date, our dedicated staff has delivered around $315 million in natural disaster recovery and economic loss assistance to Wisconsin farmers and livestock producers through the Emergency Commodity Assistance, Emergency Livestock Relief and Supplemental Disaster Relief programs with more assistance to come.

My travels have taken me in every direction across the state to meet with FSA office staff and County Committees. What I hear consistently from our FSA staff is the high value they place on customer service. Our priority is to ensure that our producers have access to the most timely and accurate information available, and that your applications are processed quickly and accurately. That is FSA putting “Farmers First.” in action, on a daily basis.