Funds targeting socially disadvantaged people interested in buying or operating a family farm are available through the Moore-Montgomery office of the North Carolina Farm Service Agency (FSA).

In the fiscal year ending Sept. 30, 2005, North Carolina Farm Loan Programs made 53 Socially Disadvantaged Assis-tance (SDA) loans totaling more than $9.6 million, according to the local FSA office.

This was 17.6 percent of the total loans made and 12 percent of the total dollars in loans.

In Moore County, SDA farmers benefited from $320,000 in farm loans disbursed in the 2005 fiscal year.

In Montgomery County SDA farmers benefited from $726,270 in farm loans.

"This special financing is for people who have been subjected to racial, ethnic or gender inequality without regard to their individual qualities," said William B. Rhodes, Moore-Montgomery County FSA Farm Loan Program manager. "SDA members include women, African Americans, American Indians, Hispanics, Asian and Pacific Islanders and Alaskan natives."

Rhodes said the SDA program provides direct and guaranteed assistance in the form of farm operating and farm ownership loans. Direct loans are made to applicants from FSA.

Guaranteed loans are issued by lending institutions, but typically 90 or 95 percent of the loan is guaranteed by FSA.

Operating loans may be used to purchase livestock, equipment, feed, seed, and other business-related expenses. Repay-ment terms run from one to seven years.

Ownership loans provide capital to purchase or enlarge a farm, construct or improve buildings, promote soil and water conservation and pay closing costs. Direct ownership loan terms are up to 40 years. Guaranteed loan terms are established by the lender.

Qualified candidates are provided information and assistance to develop sound management practices, analyze problems and utilize available resources essential for successful farming operations to cope with the changing agricultural environment.

SDA loan applicants do not receive automatic approval. Individuals must be U.S. citizens with a satisfactory history of meeting credit obligations, have sufficient education, training or experience managing or operating a farm, possess legal capacity to incur debt and be unable to obtain credit elsewhere.

Interested persons can contact the local FSA office at 947-5104 for more loan information.

The Moore-Montgomery County FSA office is in the Moore County Agriculture Center on Pinehurst Avenue in Carthage.