Farm Tractors

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Many times, ranchers and farmers cannot acquire commercial credits from the Farm Credit System institutions, banks, or lenders for that matter. In such cases, they can opt for a farm operating loan that is offered by the United States Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency (FSA). It makes direct and guaranteed farm ownership and operating loans to farmers and ranchers who cannot obtain commercial credit from the banks, or other lenders.

When borrowers are unable to repay their loans, FSA resolves the delinquency, using various tools like debt forgiving. According to the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996, FSA cannot make loans to borrowers who have had debts forgiven previously.

Program Description

The Farm Service Agency (FSA) provides farm-operating loans to ranchers and farmers who are unable to obtain commercial, private credit for the time being. Operating loans may be used for purchasing items required for successful farm operations. The items could consist of farm equipment, livestock, seed, feed, farm chemicals, fuel, insurance, repairs, and various other operating expenses.

Both direct loans and guaranteed loans are available through the program. Eligibility for each type of loan depends on applicant qualifications. According to the terms of the guaranteed loan program, the FSA guarantees loan made by a standard agricultural lenders for about 95% of the principal loan amount.

People who have not been able to qualify for guaranteed loans can qualify for a direct loan. Other than servicing and making the direct loans, the FSA officials also provide credit counseling and supervision to borrowers. For this they should be able to justify their ability to repay as well as offer assurance for securing the loan fully. Borrowers can take a direct farm-operating loan up to $200,000.

Eligibility criterion for obtaining a farm operating loan (OL) from the Farm Service Agency (FSA)

. Should be a permanent resident or a US citizen

. Should not have a history of delinquency on any Federal debt

. Should not be responsible for loss to the Government because of a previous forgiven Federal debt

. Should have a good history of repaying debts

. Should not be included in any convictions related to controlled substance

. Should be the operator of any “family-sized farm” after loan closure

. Should not have any outstanding judgments

. Should not be able to obtain credit elsewhere

. Applicants should have sufficient money for the loan repayments and ample collateral for securing it fully. The additional eligibility criterion is also applicable and can be retrieved by contacting FSA or visiting the Farm Service Agency website directly.

Loan Terms

The duration for loan repayments for both guaranteed and direct farm operating loans cannot go beyond 7 years. While loans for livestock and equipment purchases are programmed for repayment for long periods, but cannot go over 7 years, loans for annual operating expenses are usually settled up within a year. Direct operating loan interest rates are finalized on the basis of the Government’s cost of funds. In certain circumstances, FSA can offer 4% interest rate to farmers who are unable to pay for the lender’s standard rate of interest. For almost all guaranteed loans, FSA levies an origination fee up to one percent of the guarantee.

Machinery categorized as heavy equipment include large vehicles and mobile equipments used in industrial activities such as construction, lifting of heavy material, tilling of land, digging of trenches for drains, laying of pipelines and paving of roads.

A heavy equipment technician is a skilled workman, who repairs and maintains heavy diesel engines, fuel, brake and transmission systems, electrical and other systems that are part of farm machinery, cranes bulldozers, railcars, heavy dumper trucks, excavators, pavers and many other type of such machinery. His key objective is to ensure that the machines remain in top working condition and continue to function at peak levels for a long time in line with safety norms. In view of the advanced technology used in machinery these days, these expert technicians are required to be conversant with the use of computerized diagnostic equipment, tachometers, dynamometers, ohm meters, ammeters, voltmeters specialized tools like pneumatic wrenches, operating lathes and grinding machines. An ability to work with jacks and hoists, gas cutting and welding tools in addition to the use of common hand tools such as screwdrivers, pliers and wrenches is also essential. Knowledge in electronics, hydraulics and welding technology is considered mandatory to perform well in this field.

Generally, a heavy equipment technician works indoors unless the job position is that of a field technician. The latter is required to work onsite on machines that cannot be moved to a shop. Field technicians are exposed to outdoor conditions, which include hostile weather and inadequate arrangements for meals or rest. The job involves lifting of heavy parts and carrying them in awkward positions. Though, by adhering to safety norms and working in well lighted, ventilated and heated work areas, serious accidents can be avoided, minor cuts, bruises, and burns are only to be expected in this job.

Working hours are generally 40 hours a week but might go up to 50 or even 60 hours if you are working in the farming sector during planting and harvesting seasons.

Although three to four years of on the job training earned by working as assistants under experienced technicians is considered sufficient, most employers prefer applicants who have completed a formal skill based program after graduating from high school. The candidate should be flexible with an aptitude for quick learning.

There are programs of one or two years duration leading to a certificate or an associate degree in diesel or heavy equipment mechanics. Such programs are offered by various community colleges and vocational schools. High school courses in automobile repair, physics, chemistry, and mathematics provide a strong foundation for a career as a heavy equipment technician. It is essential for technicians to be able to read and interpret service manuals in order to keep abreast of engineering changes

Ideally, a combination of formal and on the job training equips a technician with the knowledge and skills typically required for the repair and maintenance of heavy equipment. Employment opportunities for heavy equipment technicians exist in large construction and mining companies, local and federal governments, agencies that sell farm equipment, garden tractors, railcar and locomotive manufacturers and other companies operating and maintaining fleets of such equipment. As per statistics compiled in 2004, the average hourly earnings of a heavy equipment technician in the US during the year 2003-2004 ranged between $17 and $20.

• Table Of Contents: Disc One: (1) Farmer Miller Goes Into High Gear (1920s) – 20 Minutes
• (2) Farmer Henry Browne (1942) – 11 Minutes (3) Agricultural Aviation (1955) – 10 Minutes (4) Agriculture USA (1950s) – 27 Minutes
• Disc Two: (1) Seed for Tomorrow (1947) – 20 Minutes (2) Singing Wires (1951) – 22 Minutes
• (3) Amateur film: Texas Farm Family (1950s) – 11 Minutes (4) Farm Petroleum Safety (1950s) – 24 Minutes
• (5) Three Little Kittens (1938) – 10 Minutes

Product Description
This compilation features films about the history of farming and agriculture in America. Topics includes farming technology changes such as rubber tires in the 20s to new pesticides developed in the 50s, farm labor unions, WWII war effort farming, farm animals, and farm safety. Table Of Contents: Disc One: (1) Farmer Miller Goes Into High Gear (1920s) – Produced by Goodyear, this promotional film explores the rubber tire revolution for farmers when rubber tire were just emerging onto the market. This film is silent – 20 Minutes (2) Farmer Henry Browne (1942) – This is a nice portrait of an African-American farmer in Georgia during WWII – 11 Minutes (3) Agricultural Aviation (1955) – Historical footage of crop dusting and pesticide application, including up close footage of the various pests like boll weevils that damage farmer’s plants – 10 Minutes (4) Agriculture USA (1950s) – Sponsored by the USDA, this film explores the growing agriculture market in the US begining with the modern history of agriculture in America and then explores the technology and pesticides that have led to higher yields and productivity – 27 Minutes Disc Two: (1) Seed for Tomorrow (1947) – Discusses the need for unions for agricultural workers to help maintain price and wage control – 20 Minutes (2) Singing Wires (1951) – A rural American farm gets hooked up to the power grid and by golly it changes their lives for the better. Can you see the light? – 22 Minutes (3) Amateur film: Texas Farm Family (1950s) – This silent amateur film includes basic farm footage from a Texas farming family – 11 Minutes (4) Farm Petroleum Safety (1950s) – This is a wonderful farm safety film full of vivid pictures and stories of the misuses of petroleum and the proper and safe ways to use petroleum on the farm – 24 Minutes (5) Three Little Kittens (1938) – Great short film about farm life for a cat as she has a litter of three kittens – 10 Minutes

Classic Farming & Agriculture Films Two DVD Set: 1920s – 1950s US Farm Land & Ranches, Livestock Ranching, Dairy Farmers, & Farming Machinery, Equipment, Tractors And Technology History Pictures Films on 2 DVD’s