The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is improving access to credit for farmers and ranchers by making farm loan policy and technology improvements, reducing administrative burdens and strengthening financial security. These updates will increase efficiency by expediting the application process for direct loans, streamlining the process for certain guaranteed lenders who partner with USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) and laying the groundwork for an electronic interface for guaranteed loans. “One of the biggest challenges farmers and ranchers face is access to capital,” said Under Secretary Richard Fordyce. “The Trump administration is putting Farmers First by streamlining and modernizing the loan making process to get much-needed capital into the hands of farmers and ranchers who work so hard to build and preserve their legacy for generations to come. We’ve seen historic demand for farm loans over the last two years, demonstrating the importance of accessible, affordable creditforAmerica’s farmers and ranchers.” FSA makes direct and guaranteed loans to farmers and ranchers who are unable to obtain sufficient commercial credit at reasonable rates and terms. FSA farm loans can be used to purchase personal property or farmland, finance agricultural production expenses, or address day-to-day operational needs. The Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act authorizes most farm loans including farm ownership, farm operating, and emergency loans. Fast Tracking Direct Loan Applications: Following a successful pilot program, FSA is permanently implementing the Application Fast Track (AFT) process to expedite the loan application and approval process for low-risk direct loan applicants. AFT expedites the underwriting process for direct loan applicants who are least likely to default on their loans based on financial benchmarks and historical repaymentdata. Since the pilot started in 2023, an average of 23% of direct loan customers qualified for the streamlined process, which decreased the application processing time by approximately eight calendar days. This resulted in improved access to credit for borrowers and increased efficiency for FSA staff.