Farm Credit Administration

Board Meeting

August 13, 2020
2019 Results: 

FCA’s Annual Report on the Farm Credit System’s

Young, Beginning, and Small Farmer

Mission Performance

FCA Board Meeting

August 13, 2020

Salvatore Iannetta, Senior Policy Analyst
YBS Guidelines

Farm Credit Act

 FCS institutions must have programs to furnish sound and constructive credit and 

related services to YBS farmers and ranchers.

 Requires the reporting of YBS activities.

Regulation 614.4165 –2004

 Sets minimum YBS program components, reporting, and disclosure requirements 

for associations.

Bookletters – 2007 and 2012

 BL 040—Provides flexibility on lending opportunities for YBS farmers and ranchers.

 BL 066—Provides guidance for serving farmers who market their agricultural 

products through local or regional food systems.

Informational Memorandum – 2014 

 Provides information on opportunities to coordinate lending, training, and 

outreach with the Farm Service Agency.

Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) – 2019 3
YBS Definitions

Definitions for FCA Reporting:

 Young Farmer: 35 years of age or younger.

 Beginning Farmer: 10 years or less of farming experience.

 Small Farmer: gross annual farm sales of $250,000 or less.

Important Data Clarifications:

 YBS data is reported separately for each category.

 Borrowers may qualify under more than one category.

 Adding Y, B, and S data together does not produce 

an accurate measure of YBS lending.

 Dollar volumes include advances and commitments.

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YBS Results

Source: Annual Young, Beginning, and Small Farmer Reports submitted by each Sy stem lender through the District Banks

YBS Loans Outstanding

As of December 31, 2019

Number of loans Percentage of 

total number 

Dollar volume 

of loans in 

millions

Percentage of total volume 

Young farmers / ranchers 177,590 19.4% $31,043 11.1%

Beginning farmers / ranchers 272,654 29.8% $48,645 17.4%

Small farmers / ranchers 459,894 50.3% $51,869 18.5%

YBS Loans Made During 2019 

As of December 31, 2019

Number of loans Percentage of 

total number 

Dollar volume 

of loans in 

millions

Percentage of total volume 

Young farmers / ranchers 49,104 18.2% $10,085 11.1%

Beginning farmers / ranchers 67,088 24.9% $14,283 15.7%

Small farmers / ranchers 123,494 45.7% $14,421 15.9%

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New YBS Loan Volume

Source: Annual Young, Beginning, and Small Farmer Reports submitted by each System lender through the District Banks

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YBS Share of Total New Loan Volume

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Source: Annual Young, Beginning, and Small Farmer Reports submitted by each System lender through the District Banks
New YBS Loan Counts

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Source: Annual Young, Beginning, and Small Farmer Reports submitted by each System lender through the District Banks
YBS Share of Total New Loan Counts

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Source: Annual Young, Beginning, and Small Farmer Reports submitted by each System lender through the District Banks
YBS Initiatives Update

 Improved the Agency’s ability to track FCS service to YBS producers and identifying 

best practices used to serve YBS producers. 

 Working to modernize and reduce burden for FCS reporting of YBS lending data.

 Engaged with FCS data workgroups and attended FCS YBS focused events.

 Working with other Government Agencies for the benefit of YBS producers. 

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Thank you

Questions?

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