SBA Says No to Ag Aid

Farm Groups Question SBA Loan Restrictions

Jerry Hagstrom
By  Jerry Hagstrom , DTN Political Correspondent
The Small Business Administration has a low-interest disaster loan for small businesses that has traditionally excluded agricultural enterprises in the past. Farm groups and members of Congress say changes made in legislation should open the loan program up to farms, ranches and other agricultural businesses. (DTN image from SBA.gov)

WASHINGTON (DTN) -- Farm groups and House lawmakers have charged this week that the Small Business Administration is not following congressional intent when it has excluded farmers from the Economic Injury Disaster Loan program as modified by Congress in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, Economic Security (CARES) Act.

On Tuesday, National Farmers Union President Rob Larew wrote Small Business Administrator Jovita Carranza, stating, "We are deeply concerned that SBA is not currently considering farms, ranches and most agricultural enterprises as eligible enterprises for the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program."

The EIDL program allows low-interest loans of up to $2 million to small businesses. But SBA specifically states on its website that the program is for "non-farm, private sector disaster loans." Under the CARES Act, the program was expanded and references "small agricultural cooperatives." The program also set up funds for individual grants to small businesses of up to $10,000.

NFU wrote that the group understood the EIDL program was broadened to include farm operation as well.

"NFU believes it was congressional intent to include in that expanded eligibility farms, ranches, and other agricultural enterprises. It is our understanding that most 'agricultural enterprises' are typically excluded from this program in order to avoid duplication of programs from other federal departments or agencies; in this case, to avoid duplication of disaster assistance from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

"However, the disaster relief programs offered by USDA are typically related to natural disasters, especially those related to weather events. There are not currently any disaster programs available to farmers and ranchers from USDA made available in response to the COVID-19 pandemic."

On Wednesday, a coalition of farm groups, including the American Farm Bureau Federation, wrote Carranza, "Earlier this week, the SBA posted a new EIDL website that states applicants must certify that they are 'not an agricultural enterprise (e.g., farm), other than an aquaculture enterprise, agricultural cooperative, or nursery.'"

A DTN correspondent tested the site and found that the loan application process contains the exact language that the coalition cited. The website does not allow anyone to continue if they state they are an agricultural enterprise.

The coalition added, "We believe that the clear statutory language of the CARES Act indicates that agricultural businesses can participate in the emergency EIDL program as was the intent of Congress."

"We are helping clients access funding and loan programs under the stimulus bills," Brian Kuehl, director of federal affairs for KCoe Isom, a national agricultural accounting and consulting firm told DTN.

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"We think Congress clearly intended to include ag businesses in the emergency Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program. The Small Business Administration should make that clear as soon as possible. For heavily impacted ag businesses, the ability to secure this type of financing will decide whether they can stay in business."

On Thursday, a coalition of 86 House members led by Rep. Antonio Delgado, D-N.Y., also wrote Carranza that they were "shocked and disappointed that, contrary to congressional intent, the Small Business Administration singles out farmers and agricultural businesses as ineligible for this program."

"We ask that you share the Small Business Administration (SBA)'s rationale for excluding farms from this program, including any statutory limitations on aiding farmers. We urge you to ensure that agricultural businesses and farmers are eligible to access the EIDL program, and the other small business provisions in the CARES act. Farmers need our help to make it through this pandemic while continuing to feed American families, fuel our economy, and sustain other resources which are essential to our survival."

Separately, the American Farm Bureau Federation's Market Intel service said that the Paycheck Protection Program Loan, another program run by SBA, may be of limited use to farmers.

Veronica Nigh, a Farm Bureau economist, noted that the rules say the payroll expenses cannot include salaries for foreign workers or independent contractors, which will be particularly limiting to fruit, vegetable and nut producers and the dairy sector, all of which are heavily reliant on foreign labor.

"In addition, many farm business owners rely heavily on independent contractors, also sometimes referred to as 1099 workers," she said.

The other provision of concern relates to size limitations, she said.

"If the SBA interpretation of the CARES Act is that the industry-specific number of employees and annual receipts, without any expansion, are both applicable in determining eligibility, most of production agriculture will be on the outside looking in on the benefits of this particular program," Nigh concluded.

The SBA press office did not respond to a request for comment.

MAINTAIN FOOD PRODUCTION

Farm groups also have asked the nation's governors to help maintain food production. A coalition of 35 national agricultural trade associations sent a letter to governors asking them to be supportive of agriculture as they make decisions during the coronavirus crisis.

In the letter, the groups acknowledged the need for travel and work restrictions, but asked the governors to:

-- Adopt the Homeland Security Department's recent revised definition of "critical infrastructure" that includes food, agriculture and public health businesses and supporting services.

-- Maintain and expand transportation capacity by encouraging states to provide flexibility on current load-limit restrictions, expanding trucking capacity while continuing to balance the critical need for public safety.

-- Support transportation services such as public rest areas, takeout food services and other vital services.

-- Ensure needed state testing and certification laboratories and facilities remain operational if possible, enabling the important work of maintaining food and public safety by providing access to inputs required by farmers and other applicators.

"States are in a unique position to help ensure the food chain can continue to keep shelves stocked and protect the public from health threats like rodents and mosquitos," CropLife America, which distributed the letter, said in a news release.

Jerry Hagstrom can be reached at jhagstrom@nationaljournal.com

Follow him on Twitter @hagstromreport

(CC/AG)

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Jerry Hagstrom