Tom was not eligible for a disaster loan from it either. The SBA defines agricultural enterprises as those businesses engaged in the production of food and fiber, ranching and raising of livestock. Information provided with your application indicates that your primary business activity is the operation of a Tree Farm. Based on SBA guidelines, your business is not eligible for disaster loan assistance. That is difficult to argue with.
Timber is clearly a fiber crop.
It is hard for a Tree Farmer not to feel like the stepchild nobody wanted. On the one hand, timber growers are not eligible for assistance provided other agricultural producers through the Farm Services Agency. On the other hand, they aren't eligible for assistance from the Small Business Administration because they are an agricultural enterprise. The federal government's inconsistent view of family Tree Farmers should be resolved. Discovering this bad news was discouraging to Tom, but being of hardy Yankee stock, he commented to Sheila that they would deduct the loss from their income taxes.