- Details
- By Native News Online Staff
WASHINGTON — In addition to articles already covered by Native News Online, here is a roundup of other news released from Washington, D.C. that impacts Indian Country recently.
USDA for Farm Loan Updates
On August 7, 2024, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced critical updates to the Farm Service Agency’s (FSA) Farm Loan Programs, effective September 25, 2024.
Changes to FSA’s Farm Loan Programs specifically benefiting Tribal producers include, but are not limited to:
- Amending the definitions of:
- “Family farm” in 7 CFR 761.2 to include commercial foraging operations for the purposes of operating loan assistance where commodities are foraged on Indian land and adds definitions for “commercially foraged,” “Indian land,” and “Indian Tribe.”
- “Related by Blood or Marriage” and “Relative” in 7 CFR 761.2(b) to include additional familial relationships including: husband, wife, parent, child, brother, sister, uncle, aunt, grandparent, son, daughter, sibling, stepparent, stepson, stepdaughter, stepbrother, stepsister, half-brother, half-sister, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, father-in-law, mother-in-law, nephew, niece, cousin, grandson, granddaughter, or the spouses of any of those individuals. This will expand access to loan programs for operations owned by multiple individuals.
- “Participated in the Business Operations of Farm” to clarify that owning a farm does not necessarily mean an individual has participated in the business operations of a farm (e.g., an absentee landowner, lessor, etc.). This definition relates to direct loan eligibility which currently requires certain managerial experience.
- “Agricultural Commodity.”
- “Feasible Plan.”
- “Good Faith.”
- “Youth Loan.”
- Clarifying that the interest rate for the Microloan Program (ML), Operating Loan (OL) Program and Indian Tribal Land Acquisition Program (ITLAP) is equal to the existing OL rate and Farm Ownership Loan (FO) Program rate, but is not to exceed 5%.
- The Distressed Borrower Set-Aside (DBSA) Program will administer a new loan servicing program for financially distressed borrowers that will allow for the deferral of one annual loan installment at a reduced interest rate. Borrowers do not have to suffer a loss from a declared disaster to qualify for DBSA.
- Providing all eligible loan applicants access to flexible repayment terms which will support upfront positive cash flow that borrowers can use to increase working capital reserves and savings, including for retirement and education.
- Reducing additional loan security requirements to enable borrowers to leverage equity.
Comments on the rule must be received within 60 days of being published in the Federal Register. Comments can be submitted at www.regulations.gov under docket ID FSA-2023-0003.
More Stories Like This
Native News Weekly (August 25, 2024): D.C. BriefsUS Presidents in Their Own Words Concerning American Indians
Native News Weekly (August 4, 2024): D.C. Briefs
Tribal Nations Contribute $23.4 Billion to Oklahoma’s Economy
Church Play Depicting Navajo Medicine Man Causes an Uproar on Navajo Nation
Help us tell the stories that could save Native languages and food traditions
At a critical moment for Indian Country, Native News Online is embarking on our most ambitious reporting project yet: "Cultivating Culture," a three-year investigation into two forces shaping Native community survival—food sovereignty and language revitalization.
The devastating impact of COVID-19 accelerated the loss of Native elders and with them, irreplaceable cultural knowledge. Yet across tribal communities, innovative leaders are fighting back, reclaiming traditional food systems and breathing new life into Native languages. These aren't just cultural preservation efforts—they're powerful pathways to community health, healing, and resilience.
Our dedicated reporting team will spend three years documenting these stories through on-the-ground reporting in 18 tribal communities, producing over 200 in-depth stories, 18 podcast episodes, and multimedia content that amplifies Indigenous voices. We'll show policymakers, funders, and allies how cultural restoration directly impacts physical and mental wellness while celebrating successful models of sovereignty and self-determination.
This isn't corporate media parachuting into Indian Country for a quick story. This is sustained, relationship-based journalism by Native reporters who understand these communities. It's "Warrior Journalism"—fearless reporting that serves the 5.5 million readers who depend on us for news that mainstream media often ignores.
We need your help right now. While we've secured partial funding, we're still $450,000 short of our three-year budget. Our immediate goal is $25,000 this month to keep this critical work moving forward—funding reporter salaries, travel to remote communities, photography, and the deep reporting these stories deserve.
Every dollar directly supports Indigenous journalists telling Indigenous stories. Whether it's $5 or $50, your contribution ensures these vital narratives of resilience, innovation, and hope don't disappear into silence.
The stakes couldn't be higher. Native languages are being lost at an alarming rate. Food insecurity plagues many tribal communities. But solutions are emerging, and these stories need to be told.
Support independent Native journalism. Fund the stories that matter.
Levi Rickert (Potawatomi), Editor & Publisher
