Johnston County farmers are eligible for marketing assistance loans and loan deficiency payments.

The passage of the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 extends marketing assistance loans and loan deficiency payment provisions authorized in the Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008.

Farmers are eligible for assistance for wheat, rice, feed grains, soybeans and other oilseeds, peanuts, pulse crops, cotton, honey and wool. Assistance is available to eligible producers beginning with harvest or shearing season and extending through the program year. .

The loans provide producers’ with interim financing at or after harvest to help them meet cash flow needs without having to sell their commodities when market prices are typically at harvest-time lows. A producer who is eligible to obtain a loan, but agrees to forgo the loan, may obtain an loan deficiency payment if they are available.

For more details call 919-934-7156 ext.2, visit fsa.usda.gov/FSA or stop by the Johnston County Farm Service Agency office, 2736 N.C. 210, Smithfield.