This loan is beneficial because many farmers do not have sufficient funds at hand to implement these practices, she said.
“I encourage producers needing capital to implement conservation measures and conserve natural resources to apply for credit through this program,” Miyasato added. “It is a great opportunity for producers to continue good stewardship of the land.”
Producers can apply for conservation loans to improve or implement conservation practices on their land as long as the practice is approved by the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service.
According to Miyasato, producers who do not currently have an existing conservation plan should contact NRCS prior to requesting conservation loan program assistance from the Farm Service Agency.
In a phone interview, Doreen Rivera, Guam’s program technician of the USDA-FSA, said the conservation loan is also available to farmers and ranchers from the CNMI.
“It can be available to them as long as they have a Natural Resource Conservation Service plan. If the farmer or rancher does not have a plan, they will have to go to the Natural Resources Conservation Service and get an approved plan,” she said.
Examples of conservation practices include the installation of conservation structures, establishment of forest cover, installation of water conservation measures, establishment or improvement of permanent pastures, implementation of manure management and the adaptation of other emerging or existing conservation practices, techniques or technologies.
Direct conservation loans of up to $300,000 are available. Guaranteed loans with limits up to $1,119,000 are also available from lenders who participate in FSA’s guaranteed loan program.
For more information, contact the Guam County FSA office at 671-472-7594 or James Eller at the Saipan NRCS office at 236-0881.
