BALE Act of 2017

To amend the Agricultural Act of 1961 to modify the limitations applicable to qualified conservation loan guarantees, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Beginning Agriculturalist Lifetime Employment Act of 2017 BALE Act of 2017 2. Limitations applicable to qualified conservation loan guarantees (a) Limitations applicable to loan guarantees Subtitle A of title III of the Agricultural Act of 1961 ( 7 U.S.C. 1922 (1) by amending section 304(e) of such Act ( 7 U.S.C. 1924(e) (e) Limitations applicable to loan guarantees (1) Percentage of loan guaranteed The portion of a loan that the Secretary may guarantee under this section shall— (A) depend on the principal amount of the loan; and (B) except as provided in paragraph (2), may not exceed the percentage specified for that principal amount in the following table: Principal Amount Principal Amount Maximum $0 $2,500,000 90% $2,500,000 $2,600,000 89% $2,600,000 $2,700,000 88% $2,700,000 $2,800,000 87% $2,800,000 $2,900,000 86% $2,900,000 $3,000,000 85% $3,000,000 $3,100,000 84% $3,100,000 $3,200,000 83% $3,200,000 $3,300,000 82% $3,300,000 $3,400,000 81% $3,400,000 $3,500,000 80%. (2) Exception for certain producers In the case of a loan to a producer that is a qualified beginning farmer or rancher or a socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher (as the term is defined in section 2501(e)), the portion of the loan the Secretary may guarantee under this paragraph may not exceed the percentage specified for the principal amount of the loan in the following table: Principal Amount Principal Amount Maximum $0 $2,500,000 95% $2,500,000 $2,600,000 94% $2,600,000 $2,700,000 93% $2,700,000 $2,800,000 92% $2,800,000 $2,900,000 91% $2,900,000 $3,000,000 90% $3,000,000 $3,100,000 89% $3,100,000 $3,200,000 88% $3,200,000 $3,300,000 87% $3,300,000 $3,400,000 86% $3,400,000 $3,500,000 85%. (3) Maximum amount The Secretary may not guarantee a loan under this section in an amount that exceeds $3,500,000. (4) Annual inflation adjustment The Secretary shall annually adjust the dollar figures under paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) to reflect the change in the Prices Paid By Farmers Index (as compiled by the National Agricultural Statistics Service of the Department of Agriculture). ; and (2) in section 305(a) of such Act ( 7 U.S.C. 1925(a) (A) by striking $300,000, or, in the case of a loan guaranteed by the Secretary, $700,000 $600,000 (B) by striking 2000 2023 (b) Applicability The amendments made by this section shall apply with respect to qualified conservation loans entered into by the Secretary of Agriculture under section 304 of the Agricultural Act of 1961 ( 7 U.S.C. 1924

Summary: Beginning Agriculturalist Lifetime Employment Act of 2017 or the BALE Act of 2017 This bill amends the Agricultural Act of 1961 to revise the limits for the Department of Agriculture's (USDA's) conservation loan guarantee program. The bill replaces the existing 80% limit on the portion of a loan that USDA may guarantee with limits that range from 80%-90%, depending on the principal amount of the loan. For socially disadvantaged or beginning farmers or ranchers, the bill replaces the existing 90% limit with limits that range from 85%-95%, depending on the principal amount of the loan. USDA may not guarantee a loan under the program that exceeds $3.5 million. The bill also revises the limitations on the amount of farm ownership loans to prohibit USDA from making or insuring any loan that would cause the unpaid indebtedness of any one borrower to exceed the smaller of: (1) the value of the farm or other security; or (2) in the case of a loan other than a loan guaranteed by USDA, $600,000, with an adjustment for inflation beginning with FY2023.