Beginning farmer and rancher credit usage by socially disadvantaged status
ISSN: 0002-1466
Article publication date: 13 January 2022
Issue publication date: 22 April 2022
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine credit usage by beginning farmers and ranchers (BFR). BFR credit usage is stratified by location (state) and by socially disadvantaged farmer and rancher (SDFR, also known as historically underserved) status. SDFR groups are defined to include women; individuals with Hispanic, Latino or Spanish Origin; individuals who identify as American Indian or Alaskan Native, Black or African American, Asian, Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander. Non-SDFR is defined as individuals who identify as non-Hispanic, White men.
Design/methodology/approach
The US Department of Agriculture’s Census of Agriculture, Agricultural Resource Management Survey (ARMS) is linked with Farm Service Agency (FSA) loan program administrative data to estimate shares of BFR operations using FSA credit. Census data provided information on population changes in total farms and BFR operations from 2012 to 2017 which are compared by SDFR status.
Findings
Results reveal differences among BFR operations active in agricultural credit markets by SDFR status and state. BFR were more common among SDFR groups as well as in regions where farms tend to be smaller, such as the Northeast, compared to a more highly agricultural upper Midwest. Among BFR, non-SDFR are more likely to utilize credit than SDFR, however, FSA appeared to be crucial in enabling BFR and especially beginning SDFR groups to access loans.
Originality/value
The results are timely and of keen interest to researchers, industry and policymakers and are expected to assist in developing and adjusting policies to effectively promote and improve BFR success in general and for beginning SDFR groups.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors appreciate the comments and suggestions of two anonymous referees. This work was supported, in part, by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture, Hatch/Multistate project, accession number 1021035; and The Farm Credit Council. However, any opinions, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the view of the US Department of Agriculture, The Farm Credit Council or the University of Arkansas.
Citation
Ahrendsen, B.L., Dodson, C.B., Short, G., Rainey, R.L. and Snell, H.A. (2022), "Beginning farmer and rancher credit usage by socially disadvantaged status", Agricultural Finance Review, Vol. 82 No. 3, pp. 464-485. https://doi.org/10.1108/AFR-05-2021-0060
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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