[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 186 (Friday, September 25, 1998)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 51458-51488]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-25574]


      

[[Page 51457]]

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Part III





Department of Agriculture





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Rural Housing Service



Rural Business-Cooperative Service



Rural Utilities Service



Farm Service Agency



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7 CFR Part 1980



Implementation of Preferred Lender Program and Streamlining of 
Guaranteed Regulations; Proposed Rule

  Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 186 / Friday, September 25, 1998 / 
Proposed Rules  

[[Page 51458]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Housing Service
Rural Business-Cooperative Service
Rural Utilities Service
Farm Service Agency
7 CFR Part 1980
RIN: 0560-AF38


Implementation of Preferred Lender Program and Streamlining of 
Guaranteed Regulations

AGENCY: Rural Housing Service, Rural Business-Cooperative Service, 
Rural Utilities Service, and Farm Service Agency, USDA.

ACTION: Proposed rule.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This rule proposes to amend the regulations governing the Farm 
Service Agency Guaranteed Farm Loan Programs. It proposes to clarify 
and simplify the procedures to apply for, make, and service an FSA 
Guaranteed Loan. This rule also proposes to establish the Preferred 
Lender Program.

DATES: Comments on this proposed rule, or comments on alternatives to 
this proposal, must be received on or before October 26, 1998 to be 
given full consideration.
ADDRESSES: Submit written comments to the Farm Service Agency, U.S. 
Department of Agriculture, Farm Loan Programs Loan Making Division, 
Attention: Director, Room 5438-S, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, STOP 
0522, Washington, DC 20250-0522. All written comments received in 
connection with this rule will be available for public inspection 8:15 
am-4:45 pm, except holidays, at 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, 
Washington, DC 20250-0522.
    Comments on the information collection requirements of this 
proposed rule must be sent to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
or the Department at the address listed in the Paperwork Reduction Act 
section of this preamble.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steven K. Ford, Senior Loan Officer, 
Farm Service Agency; telephone: 202-720-3889; Facsimile: 202-690-1117; 
E-mail: [email protected]

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Executive Order 12866

    This rule has been determined to be significant and was reviewed by 
the Office of Management and Budget under Executive Order 12866.
    This rule substantially streamlines FSA's forms and procedures 
implementing the Guaranteed Loan Program. By making FSA's Guaranteed 
Loan Program more consistent with standard practices used within the 
lending industry, lenders will be more willing to use the program. This 
will increase the availability of commercial credit for family size 
farmers.
    FSA currently guarantees repayment on approximately 65,000 farm 
loans to 40,000 farmers. Each year, FSA receives 15,000 request for new 
loans. By reducing the application burden on lenders, and making FSA 
rules more consistent with industry practices, we expect lenders will 
increase requests for loan guarantees by 25%, or an additional $395 
million. This means an additional 3000 farmers will be able to receive 
commercial credit. These farmers would otherwise have gone without 
credit or required assistance through FSA's Direct loan programs.
    The Agency is requesting comments regarding the accuracy of the 
projected benefits described above as well as any actual benefits 
experienced by farmers or lenders affected by these program changes.

Regulatory Flexibility Act

    The Agency certifies that this rule will not have a significant 
economic impact on a substantial number of small entities as defined in 
the Regulatory Flexibility Act, Pub. L. 96-534, as amended (5 U.S.C. 
601). An insignificant number of guaranteed loan borrowers and no 
lenders are small entities. This rule does not impact the small 
entities to a greater extent than large entities.

Environmental Impact Statement

    It is the determination of the issuing agency that this action is 
not a major Federal action significantly affecting the environment. 
Therefore, in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 
1969, Pub. L. 91-190, and 7 CFR part 1940, subpart G, an Environmental 
Impact Statement is not required.

Executive Order 12988

    This proposed rule has been reviewed in accordance with E.O. 12988, 
Civil Justice Reform. In accordance with this rule: (1) All State and 
local laws and regulations that are in conflict with this rule will be 
preempted; (2) no retroactive effect will be given to this rule: and 
(3) administrative proceedings in accordance with 7 CFR parts 11 and 
780 must be exhausted before bringing suit in court challenging action 
taken under this rule unless those regulations specifically allow 
bringing suit at an earlier time.

Executive Order 12372

    For reasons set forth in the Notice to 7 CFR, part 3015, subpart V 
(48 FR 29115, June 24, 1983), the programs and activities within this 
rule are excluded from the scope of Executive Order 12372, which 
requires intergovernmental consultation with State and local officials.

Unfunded Mandates

    Title II of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (UMRA), Public 
Law 104-4, requires Federal agencies to assess the effects of their 
regulatory actions on state, local, and tribal governments or the 
private sector. Agencies generally must prepare a written statement, 
including a cost benefit analysis, for proposed and final rules with 
``Federal mandates'' that may result in expenditures of $100 million or 
more in any 1 year for State, local, or tribal governments, in the 
aggregate, or to the private sector. UMRA generally requires agencies 
to consider alternatives and adopt the more cost effective or least 
burdensome alternative that achieves the objectives of the rule.
    The rule contains no Federal mandates, as defined under title II of 
the UMRA, for State, local, and tribal governments or the private 
sector. Thus, this rule is not subject to the requirements of sections 
202 and 205 of UMRA.

Paperwork Reduction Act

    The amendments to 7 CFR part 1980 contained in this proposed rule 
make several revisions to the information collection requirements that 
were previously approved by OMB under the provisions of 44 U.S.C. 
chapter 35. Comments regarding the following issues should be sent to 
the Desk Officer for Agriculture, Office of Information and Regulatory 
Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, Washington, D.C. 20503 and to 
Steve Ford, Senior Loan Officer, USDA, FSA, Farm Loan Programs Loan 
Making Division, Farm Service Agency, USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue, 
SW, STOP 0522, Washington, D.C. 20013-0522: (a) whether the collection 
of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions 
of the agency, including whether the information will have practical 
utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of burden including 
the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (c) ways to 
enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information to be 
collected; (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of 
information on those who are to respond, including through the use of

[[Page 51459]]

appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological 
collection techniques or other forms of information technology. 
Comments regarding paperwork burden will be summarized and included in 
the request for OMB approval of the information collection. All 
comments will also become a matter of public record.
    Good cause is shown for a comment period of less than 60 days 
because of the need to accelerate the availability of assistance under 
this program. Numerous natural disasters throughout the country have 
reduced farm production and income which has resulted in deteriorating 
financial conditions for numerous producers. As a result of those 
deteriorating financial conditions, we anticipate an increased demand 
for guaranteed farm loans. The proposed streamlined regulations will 
enable the Agency to serve the needs of the financially stressed 
farmers and their lenders more quickly and efficiently; therefore it is 
justified to implement the proposed guaranteed farm loan changes as 
soon as possible.
    Title: 7 CFR 1980, subpart B, Farmer Program Loans.
    OMB Control Number: 0560-0155.
    Expiration Date of Approval: March 31, 1998.
    Type of Request: Request for Comments.
    Abstract: The information collected under OMB Control Number 0560-
0155, as identified above, is needed in order for FSA to effectively 
administer its guaranteed farm loan programs. The information is 
collected by the FSA loan official in consultation with participating 
commercial lenders. The basic objective of the guaranteed loan program 
is to provide credit to applicants who are unable to obtain credit from 
lending institutions without a guarantee. The reporting requirements 
imposed on the public by the regulations set out in 7 CFR part 1980, 
subpart B, are necessary to administer the guaranteed loan program in 
accordance with statutory requirements of the Consolidated Farm and 
Rural Development Act and are consistent with commonly performed 
lending practices. Collection of information after loans are made is 
necessary to protect the Government's financial interest.
    This proposed rule will reduce information requirements which are 
imposed on the public. Savings will be reflected in (1) reduced loan 
origination and servicing requirements under the new Preferred Lender 
program, (2) reduced application requirements for loans under $50,000, 
(3) reduced historical financial and production history requirements 
for all lenders, (4) more flexible appraisal requirements, and (5) 
simplified borrower default procedures. However, increased information 
requirements are necessary with new regulatory authorities. Additional 
financial information will be required when a lender is requesting a 
partial release, subordination, or a release from liability. This 
information was not needed previously because the authority to grant 
these actions did not exist in regulation.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for the collection of 
information in this regulation is estimated to average .71 hours per 
response.
    Respondents: Commercial Banks, Farm Credit System, farmers and 
ranchers.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 5500 lenders, 15,000 loan 
applicants.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 52.26 per lender, 1 
per loan applicant.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 212,218.75.

Discussion of the Proposed Rule

General Changes

    The regulations governing the FSA guaranteed farm loan programs are 
being totally revised in the following manner. First, the requirements 
in subpart A, of part 1980, which contains general provisions for farm 
loan guarantees, community program guarantees and business and industry 
loan guarantees, applicable to Guaranteed Farm Program Loans, will be 
incorporated into subpart B, and subpart A will no longer be applicable 
to farm loan guarantees.
    Second, Subpart B is being rewritten and reorganized into a more 
logical structure. Under current regulations, many topics are addressed 
in different locations. For example, loan collateral requirements are 
contained in sections 1980.108, 1980.175, 1980.180, and 1980.185. 
Current and proposed sections of this subpart do not correspond 
directly since it is being rewritten entirely and program rules are 
being revised throughout. Thus, the Agency has not prepared a side by 
side comparison of current and planned provisions. If a comparison is 
desired, current regulations are available by inquiring at the address 
above.
    Third, clarity, readability and structure is being improved, and 
policies are being explained or simplified. The Agency has identified 
several provisions as vague and confusing over the years through 
inquiries from lenders and Agency field personnel. Provisions have been 
added where the regulation is currently silent and to clarify those 
requirements that frequently cause confusion. However, the requirements 
for interest assistance are not being revised in this proposed rule. 
The interim rule published at 56 FR 8258-8272 (February 28, 1991) will 
be finalized in a separate final rule, and Exhibit D to subpart B of 
1980 will be removed from the Federal Register.
    Finally, specific references to use of FSA County Committees in the 
guaranteed farm loan program regulations are being eliminated. Current 
plans are to not have these committees involved in the guaranteed farm 
loan program. Should that policy change, however, the definition of 
``Agency'' is broad enough to include these committees too. Proposed 
substantive changes to program rules are discussed below by subject 
matter.

Conflict of Interest

    Lender reporting requirements for actual or potential conflicts of 
interest as currently covered by the lender's agreement are clarified. 
The Agency defines what it considers an actual or potential conflict of 
interest to be reported, based on the degree of relationship or 
association between the lender, applicant, or FSA employees. The Agency 
hopes to reduce lender confusion by clarifying what is considered a 
reportable relationship. When the Agency determines that potential 
conflicts of interest exist, the regulation provides lenders 
flexibility to develop safeguards to control potential conflicts of 
interest. This was felt to be less onerous of a burden than prohibiting 
all loans where a potential conflict of interest exists. The new 
section also restricts directors and employees of lenders and FSA 
employees from deliberations, decisions, and actions that impact loans 
where they have a personal interest. This restriction is also applied 
to defined relatives, associates and entities of the restricted 
individuals. This section was developed to clarify and enhance existing 
restrictions and enhance consistency of application. The section 
attempts to be minimally restrictive while assuring that high levels of 
objectivity are maintained in dealing with loans to directors or 
employees and their relatives and business associates.

Certified Lender Program

    An interim rule was published on June 24, 1994, [58 FR 34302-34342] 
to implement a Certified Lender Program (CLP) for Guaranteed Operating 
loans (OL) as required by Sec. 339(c) of the Consolidated Farm and 
Rural Development Act (Act). This Act did not

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include Farm Ownership (FO) or Soil and Water (SW) loans in the CLP nor 
did it address the relationship between the Approved Lender Program 
(ALP) and the CLP. The primary benefits to being a CLP were (1) the 
ability to certify to, rather than provide, supporting documentation 
for loan requests, (2) reduced application requirements, (3) faster 
Agency response times, and (4) streamlined line of credit procedures.
    The CLP was established largely due to problems with the ALP. The 
ALP provided lenders with a less burdensome application, but did not 
establish a strict set of criteria for eligibility as the CLP does. 
This caused several Agency offices to over-scrutinize the ALP 
applications, resulting in excessive paperwork and unacceptably lengthy 
processing times. We propose to expand the CLP under the general rule 
making authority of Sec. 339(a) of the Act to include FO loans. The 
Agency supports expansion to cover SW loans, but has removed all 
references to guaranteed SW loans because the Agency has not received 
appropriations for SW loans since 1994 and does not anticipate future 
appropriations for these guaranteed loans. Almost all lenders active in 
the guaranteed loan program make and service both OL and FO loans. If 
the Agency trusts the lender to properly make an OL loan, it is 
difficult to justify imposing additional requirements on the lender for 
an FO loan. The risk for the Agency is not increased by incorporating 
FO loans into the CLP. The performance of CLP lenders has been good. 
Losses on Guaranteed OL loans made by Standard Eligible lenders has 
averaged 1.47 percent, while losses in the CLP averaged only .78 
percent. The decision processes are very similar for OL and FO loans. 
Requiring a separate application process and additional documentation 
for FO loans from CLP lenders reduces lender acceptability of the 
guaranteed loan program.
    The criteria for lenders to gain and retain CLP status also are 
clarified in the proposed rule. Only one change to the criteria for 
having status revoked is being proposed with this rule--failure to 
repurchase a loan that was sold on the secondary market upon request 
from the holder. A vibrant secondary market for FSA guarantees is 
integral to the continued growth and effectiveness of our program. In 
order to protect the integrity of the secondary market for FSA 
guaranteed loans, the Agency has adhered to a policy of universal 
buyback from holders upon default, when the original lender refuses to 
do so. Unfortunately, this Agency policy has resulted in some lenders 
using the secondary market as a means to avert risk rather than as a 
liquidity or earnings tool as intended. The Agency has little recourse 
for inadequate handling of a loan when a lender refuses to repurchase 
from holders. Also, the borrower is denied the benefit of loan 
servicing actions unless the guaranteed portion is not held by the 
Government. Therefore, the Agency proposes that a Certified or 
Preferred lender repurchase a defaulted loan or a loan that needs 
servicing from a holder in order to maintain that status.

Approved Lender Program

    Since the CLP provides FSA's best lenders with additional authority 
and less paperwork, there is no longer a need for the less effective 
ALP, and we propose to eliminate the program. The Agency cannot 
reasonably offer lenders enough different combinations of benefits, 
such as faster approval time, reduced application requirements, and 
increased authorities to differentiate between four levels of lender 
status (standard eligible, approved, certified, and preferred). The 
application process will be less confusing and burdensome to the 
lenders and Agency employees with fewer levels of lender status. 
Therefore, the Agency will no longer enter into new ALP agreements and 
expiring agreements will not be renewed. ALP lenders may continue to 
participate in the program as Standard Eligible Lenders or qualify for 
CLP or Preferred Lender Program (PLP) status.

Certified and Preferred Lender Programs

    Section 339(d) of the Act requires the Agency to implement a 
Preferred Lender Program (PLP). The statutory provision also requires 
the Agency to automatically approve loans not acted upon within 14 days 
of receipt of an application from a Preferred lender. Provisions of 
that section also require CLP loans to be acted upon by the Agency 
within 14 days; however, the Agency is not penalized for failure to act 
within that time period. Additional statutory provisions related to 
being a Preferred Lender include an 80 percent guarantee, permitting 
the lender to make all decisions concerning credit worthiness, the 
closing, monitoring, collection and liquidation of loans and to provide 
appropriate certifications that the borrower is in compliance with all 
requirements of law and regulation. In contrast, statutory provisions 
for the CLP permit Certified Lenders to make certifications regarding 
creditworthiness, repayment ability, and adequacy of collateral, but do 
not give the lender the authority to make all decisions on these issues 
or the closing, collection and liquidation of guaranteed loans.
    The PLP lender will be given the maximum authority possible. The 
Agency cannot, however, give the lender authority to approve FSA 
guaranteed loans without prior Agency review. Section 339(c)(5) of the 
Act maintains the Agency's responsibility to certify eligibility, 
review financial information, and otherwise assess an application. 
Therefore, approval authority must remain with the Agency.
    Because of the automatic approval provisions, the requirements to 
become a PLP lender will be more strict, but will follow closely with 
the CLP criteria and cover experience with, and knowledge of the 
program and performance measured through losses and quality of 
applications and servicing. Section 339(d) of the Act requires PLP 
lenders to establish knowledge of, experience under, and demonstrate 
proficiency in the CLP program before obtaining PLP status. The Agency 
proposes for PLP lenders to have made a minimum of 20 CLP loans and 
have a loss rate of not more than 3 percent. This compares with 10 
guaranteed loans and no more than a 7 percent loss rate to hold CLP 
status. This PLP loss rate is established at a level that will permit 
the Agency to grant PLP status to one percent of its approximately 2500 
lenders that make guaranteed farm loans each year.
    The approval of CLP status has been based primarily on these 
objective quantity and loss rate criteria with minimal reliance on loan 
origination and servicing performance. CLP criteria will be 
strengthened in this proposed rule to require the lender to have 
submitted substantially complete and correct applications and serviced 
guaranteed loans according to Agency regulations.
    For PLP, in addition to the objective quantity and loss rate 
criteria, even stronger performance criteria are proposed for loan 
origination and servicing quality. Through Agency review of previous 
applications and lender file reviews, the Agency must determine that 
there have been no major errors and no recurring minor errors in the 
loan applications submitted as a CLP lender. Major errors are those 
which could directly affect the soundness of a loan. In addition, PLP 
lenders must have a history of using the guaranteed program for new 
loans, instead of refinancing the lender's existing debts. While the 
Agency does not want to restrict lenders from using the program for 
authorized purposes, we are concerned about lenders using the

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program excessively to reduce their existing exposure. This may also 
reflect lender capability to assess loan quality.
    The main difference between PLP lenders and other lenders will be 
the Agency's approval of the lender's credit management system when PLP 
status is granted. In the past, the Agency has required its Approved 
and Certified lenders to process and service loans and maintain their 
files according to the same set of Agency regulations. PLP lenders, 
however, will be allowed to propose to the Agency how they intend to 
process and service loans. The Agency will review and approve these 
proposals to assure that the lender is utilizing prudent lending 
practices and is protecting the Government's interests. Loan 
documentation, underwriting rules and processes, and servicing 
procedures will differ between PLP lenders. Since these are the 
industry's elite lenders, the Agency is allowing them this additional 
flexibility.
    The items to be submitted to the Agency with the loan application 
will be substantially simplified for PLP lenders. The PLP lender's 
credit management system will outline what procedures that lender will 
follow to originate guaranteed loans. A guarantee request may consist 
of a one page FSA loan application form and a complete loan narrative. 
The narrative, outlining the 5 ``C's'' of credit; character, capacity, 
collateral, capital, and conditions, must provide the necessary 
information to permit FSA to adequately assess the application. The PLP 
is certifying that the loan was processed as proposed in their 
application for PLP status. In addition, the PLP lender will receive an 
automatic approval of the guarantee if no response is given within 14 
calendar days, as required by the Act. This approval will be contingent 
on the availability of funds, as are all Agency approvals now.
    In the case of servicing activities, a similar policy is proposed. 
PLP lenders will service the account in accordance with their agreement 
with the Agency at the time of PLP certification. CLP lenders are given 
reduced paperwork burdens and greater authority in the following areas: 
CLP lenders only perform annual analyses if needed based on the 
financial strength of the borrower, and only a narrative analysis need 
be submitted to the Agency. They are not required to notify the Agency 
upon completion of construction, repair, or land development. The 
Agency also will consider CLP and PLP lenders' request for 
subordination, partial release, or transfer and assumption within 14 
(versus 30 for standard eligible lenders) calendar days from the 
receipt of a complete request. CLP lenders must obtain Agency prior 
written approval of restructuring only in the case of writedown. For 
other restructuring actions, the CLP lender need only provide 
certification of regulatory compliance, a narrative and copies of any 
calculations.
    All of the changes to a lender's loan servicing authorities made by 
this rule are intended to be retroactive, unless otherwise noted in the 
rule. After the effective date of this rule, servicing authority will 
be based on the lender's status and the requirements of this rule 
without regard for the date the loan was closed. That is to say that a 
lender's authority to conduct servicing activities, obtain Agency 
concurrence, or provide the Agency documentation and reports on a 
particular loan at a given time, is based on the lender's status when 
they desire to take the action and not based on the lender's status at 
the time the loan was closed. When a lender is awarded Preferred 
status, they must certify that they have serviced the loans in their 
portfolio as required by the applicable regulations, servicing 
agreements, and loan agreements. If a status is revoked, future actions 
on a loan will be as required for standard eligible lenders, although 
the loan may have been closed while Preferred status was in effect.

Lender Eligibility

    The Agency is considering allowing certain non-traditional 
financial entities to be eligible to make FSA guaranteed loans. 
Currently, a lender must be regulated by a State or Federal government 
body, such as the State banking commissioner, the Federal Reserve, or 
the Office of Thrift Supervision. We also guarantee loans made by 
Government Sponsored Enterprises, like the Farm Credit System and state 
agencies, such as the Vermont Economic Development Authority. This 
requirement was initially broad enough to permit most major 
agricultural lending organizations to participate in the Guaranteed 
loan program. Recently, however, certain nontraditional lenders, such 
as machinery manufacturers, agricultural supply firms, and others have 
acquired a significant share of the agricultural credit market. To 
assist us in considering this proposal, we are specifically asking for 
comments regarding the reasons for or against such action and any 
limitations the Agency should include.
    The Agency will also add a requirement that lenders agree to 
provide credit information to consumer and commercial credit reporting 
agencies, as appropriate. This requirement is mandated by the Debt 
Collection Improvement Act of 1996 (31 U.S.C. 3711).

Year 2000 Compliance

    The Agency is considering adding a requirement that lenders have 
computer systems which are Year 2000 compliant. This requirement is 
needed because of the potential risk to the Agency from lenders 
servicing Guaranteed loans using inadequate computer systems. The 
Agency is requesting comments on the impact of such a requirement.

Loan Application Forms and Regulations

    The Agency plans to further shorten its guaranteed application form 
and reduce application requirements to minimize burden on all lenders 
applying for guarantees and their borrowers. Several requirements have 
been eliminated such as the need for the lender to submit copies of all 
leases and contracts, and the requirement to submit detailed legal 
documentation on all entity borrowers. In addition to requirements for 
individuals, entity borrowers will only be required to submit a list of 
members with personal balance sheets. Corporate charters, joint 
operation agreements, articles of incorporation, etc, will no longer be 
required. The Agency believes lending standards are sufficiently 
established to permit the lender to review the customary documents and 
determine their effect on the soundness of a loan. It is the lender's 
responsibility to ensure the loan applicant has authority to operate in 
their state and they have the security interest in the items of 
collateral they propose.
    The amount of historical documentation will be reduced to conform 
closer to industry standards. Currently, the Agency requires 5 years of 
financial and production documentation, while most commercial 
agricultural lenders use 3 years of financial records and many do not 
rely on production records at all. While some additional requirements 
are necessary because of the additional risk inherent in a loan 
requiring a guarantee, the additional material that has been requested 
does not significantly improve the quality of the loan officers' 
decisions. This is indicated by strong loan portfolio performance of 
experienced private industry lenders who do not use the additional 
information. This rule proposes that lenders with CLP or PLP status 
will not be required to obtain specific documentation on an applicant's 
production history. CLP and PLP lenders are certifying that the cash 
flow

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budget in the application is based on the loan applicant's history. 
Since these are proven lenders, the Agency will not dictate whether 
this is to be based on production records, income statements, or a 
combination of the two. The Agency also proposes to reduce the 
requirement for financial records from 5 to 3 years to reflect industry 
standards.
    The Agency feels that the documentation requirements needed to 
support the loan decision generally should be left to the lender's 
judgment and prudent credit administration practices. However, for 
lenders that are less active in the guaranteed program, those without 
CLP or PLP status, the Agency needs more documentation to complete an 
adequate analysis. Reduction of the documentation requirements should 
increase participation in the guaranteed program, reduce demand for 
more costly direct loans, and provide funding to areas currently under 
served. Therefore, we choose to retain the requirement for obtaining 
both production and financial records, but reduce the amount required 
to 3 years.
    The Agency also plans to further reduce the application 
requirements for small loans as directed by 333A(g) of the Act. When 
implementing this change for loans under $50,000, the Agency did not 
reduce the amount of documentation the lender must obtain, it only 
reduced the documentation the lender must submit to the Agency. It is 
not reasonable for the Agency to require the lender to put the same 
time and effort into a $25,000 loan as a $400,000 loan. Lenders find it 
more difficult to justify their processing costs for the income 
received on small loans, therefore, they avoid small loans and leave 
the smaller farmers under served. The Agency proposes to reduce the 
verification and historical documentation requirements on these small 
loans. However, the lender would be required to perform at least the 
same level of documentation and review as they do on their non-
guaranteed loans under $50,000, and complete an application form with a 
cash flow budget and balance sheet. Supporting financial and production 
history and verifications would not be required unless the lender 
obtains this for their non-guaranteed loans. This reduced documentation 
requirement will increase the availability of credit to small farmers. 
Should the lender begin to experience increased loss claims, we have 
included a provision to permit the Agency to require full financial and 
production documentation and verification at its discretion to make 
eligibility and approval decisions.

Packager Requirements

    Many parts of the country are served by management consultants, 
record keeping firms, and similar companies that actively promote the 
guaranteed loan program. These firms or individuals are often hired by 
producers and lenders to provide assistance on debt and financial 
management and assemble or ``package'' FSA guaranteed loan 
applications. The Agency is concerned about loan packagers charging 
excessive fees to prepare guaranteed loan applications. Therefore, it 
proposes to restrict loan processing or packaging fees to those charged 
non-guaranteed customers for similar transactions. The Agency has had a 
long-standing limitation on fees charged by lenders, but has had no 
similar requirement for fees charged by independent loan packagers. The 
Agency recognizes the benefits loan packagers provide and knows that 
most are reasonably priced. We also recognize the variation in costs in 
different parts of the country due to appraisal requirements and 
competition among packagers. However, with the simplified forms, 
reduced application requirements, and software packages available, 
lenders should be able to process guaranteed applications in the same 
manner that they do other agricultural loans. Also, Agency personnel 
are able to assist lenders and loan applicants in completing 
applications through the Market Placement Program at no charge.

Environmental Requirements

    Various environmental requirements have been clarified to better 
define Agency and lender responsibilities and update program 
regulations to reflect statutory and regulatory changes regarding 
floodplains. Pursuant to the National Flood Insurance Reform Act of 
1994 and implementing regulations, 60 FR 35286--35289 (July 6, 1995), 
the Agency is requiring the lender to use the standard flood hazard 
determination form to decide whether improved real estate or mobile 
home security is located in a floodplain. The Agency, not the lender, 
is responsible for compliance with the National Environmental Policy 
Act and must diligently seek the information it needs to comply. The 
lender has the responsibility to properly monitor a loan applicant's 
operation as it relates to environmental laws. A guarantee remains 
valid only so long as the lender acts prudently. The lender must 
provide Agency officials with any information on the loan applicant's 
operation that may impact compliance with environmental and other laws. 
The final determination on National Environmental Policy Act issues are 
required to be made by the Agency.
    A provision will be added concerning lender requirements in 
relation to hazardous substances. Lenders must perform ``due 
diligence'' in evaluating any real estate security for contamination 
from the release of hazardous substances, petroleum products, or other 
environmental hazards and determining the effect of such contamination 
on the security value of the property. This change is necessary to 
assure accurate valuation of security for guaranteed loans. Hazardous 
waste contamination may substantially lower the value of any real 
estate security and may be hidden or overlooked. Evidence of due 
diligence must be shown by the most current version of the American 
Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM) Transaction Screen 
Questionnaire, supplemented as necessary by the ASTM Phase I 
Environmental Site Assessments form, or similar documentation. Lenders 
will maintain due diligence documentation in the applicant or borrower 
loan file and provide the Agency with copies upon request.

Loan Limits

    No changes are proposed by this rule to the existing statutory 
limits of $300,000 for the Guaranteed FO program and $400,000 for the 
Guaranteed OL program--$700,000 combined.

Collateral

    The Agency plans to consolidate and add flexibility to its 
collateral regulations. Over the years, additional collateral 
requirements were adopted for certain loans to address specific 
situations. This has culminated in a very confusing, and often 
conflicting regulation. We plan to reduce these detailed constraints to 
a clearer, more flexible set of requirements. The type of security for 
each loan has been clarified to permit any collateral as long as the 
life and depreciation rate of the collateral will not cause the loan to 
be undersecured. The amount of collateral required and basic 
restrictions that protect the government's interest will not be 
reduced. In fact, the more flexible guidance may lead to more secure 
loans as lenders use collateral which is appropriate for the situation 
without being constrained by regulatory requirements. The Agency 
anticipates that the proposed change will result in increased 
participation in the guaranteed program and decreased

[[Page 51463]]

demand on FSA's more costly direct loan program.
    The Agency also will have authority to grant an exception to any of 
the security requirements if the repayment of the loan will not be 
impaired and the proposed action is in the Government's best interest. 
This will permit quality guaranteed loans to be made without 
jeopardizing the Government's interest.
    The Agency has removed the requirement that all nonessential real 
estate assets be liquidated to receive a Guaranteed FO loan. This 
requirement was unnecessary and often put the lender and government in 
a difficult position of defining which assets were nonessential. The 
borrower will still be required to pledge the assets as collateral for 
the loan, and the assets will be considered when evaluating the ability 
to obtain credit without a guarantee.

Appraisals

    The Agency proposes to permit approval of loans subject to the 
lenders obtaining an acceptable appraisal. In many areas of the 
country, appraisals are expensive and loan applicants are reluctant to 
incur this expense without some indication that the other factors of 
the loan proposal are acceptable. The lender and Agency would continue 
to be protected by the approval condition specifying the security 
required and minimum appraised value.
    Also, the Agency proposes to bring its appraisal standards more in 
line with the private lending industry. FSA will raise its threshold to 
require a State Certified General Appraiser on real estate transactions 
from $100,000 to $250,000. Loans under $250,000 must have an appraisal 
using all three conventional approaches to value, and the appraiser 
must be acceptable to the agency. This change will permit the lenders 
greater use of their normal practices.

Lender's Forms

    The Agency proposes to clarify its restriction against notes that 
contain a ``payment on demand'' clause. The lender's promissory note 
must still set forth a schedule of payments; however, the lender does 
not need to modify the ``boiler plate'' language commonly used in the 
industry.

Use of Line of Credit Funds

    This rule proposes to revise the use of guaranteed line of credit 
funds in two areas. First, the Agency proposes to allow lenders to 
advance funds from a line of credit for a borrower to make term debt 
payments on capital items. This change is being made as a result of 
input from participating lenders who have indicated that current 
restrictions on this practice are contrary to normal industry practice. 
Many farm borrowers have automobile loans and debts with manufacturers' 
credit arms with payment schedules that often do not conform to the 
farm operation's cash flow cycle. Lenders have indicated that they 
would like to have the option of making such regularly occurring 
payments with lines of credit, instead of having to release crop 
proceeds, or refinance the loan with a guaranteed loan note. Such 
purpose is permissible under Sec. 312(b) of the Act as an essential 
operating expense or other farm, ranch or home need. This change will 
be applicable to future lines of credit, as well as those outstanding 
as of the effective date of this rule, with regard to subsequent years' 
advances.
    Second, this rule specifies that total advances on a line of credit 
cannot exceed the total projected credit needs indicated on the plan. 
This requirement is implicit in current regulations through use of the 
``total credit needs'' column on plans that must be submitted with a 
request for guarantee. However, there is some confusion regarding this 
requirement, and some lenders continue to readvance on lines of credit 
in excess of the planned expenses with no reasonable prospects of 
repayment. This leaves the Agency vulnerable to unnecessary loss claim 
payments. This requirement will apply to all current and future lines 
of credit upon publication of this rule in final.

Loan Underwriting Criteria

    For many years, the Agency has relied solely on the projected cash 
flow to determine whether a loan applicant has the financial strength 
to qualify for a loan, with the single determining factor being the 
ability to develop what the Agency has defined as a positive cash flow. 
The Agency is concerned that the single, typical year's projection does 
not adequately analyze a loan applicant's financial position, 
considering solvency, liquidity, and profitability. In many cases the 
Agency does observe and evaluate these items, but does not use them 
directly in the approval process. The Agency believes more 
comprehensive guidelines incorporating a loan applicant's balance sheet 
and past income statement measures should be incorporated into the 
approval process. Comments are requested regarding the Agency adopting 
more comprehensive underwriting criteria, the Agency's definition of 
positive cash flow, and the potential for use of credit screens.

Discussion of Loan Servicing Regulation Changes

Delinquent Account Servicing
    In order to reduce the reporting burden on lenders and the review 
burden on Agency personnel, this rule proposes a simplified procedure 
for lenders to follow when a guaranteed borrower defaults on their 
loan. The lender must meet with a borrower within 30 days after default 
and determine a course of action to correct the delinquency within 90 
days. The lender must inform FSA of their plans and may consult FSA 
officials for regulatory interpretations and ideas. However, since the 
Agency is not directly involved with servicing the loan, it is no 
longer mandatory for FSA officials to be involved in initial 
discussions following default. Also, a separate written summary of the 
default meeting is not required and may be provided on the regular 
default report due within 45 days of the default and every 60 days 
thereafter. Agency personnel will still be available to lenders for 
advice on complicated cases, procedural matters or regulatory guidance. 
This change will apply to all loans after it becomes effective.
    Also, the Agency is removing the requirement that the delinquency 
be beyond the borrower's control because the requirement is viewed as 
superfluous. The Agency can find no example of a case when it would 
benefit a borrower to not make an installment as agreed when they have 
the capability to do so. Nonetheless, the lender in such a case would 
have the option of not requesting Agency concurrence with a 
restructuring action, should they feel that the borrower has exhibited 
a lack of good faith and the loan should be liquidated instead.
Agency Repurchase of Loans
    The Agency recognizes the importance of the secondary market as a 
source of capital for rural credit. In this rule, we attempt to make 
several modifications to current policies and procedures that are 
intended to improve the working relationship between secondary market 
participants, lenders, and the Agency.
    First, for all loans guaranteed after publication of this rule in 
final, the Agency will require a lender to repurchase the guaranteed 
portion of the loan unless they are physically or financially unable to 
complete repurchase. If a lender does not repurchase, or refuses to 
repurchase when they were able to, the lender's future involvement in 
the Agency's guaranteed loan program may be

[[Page 51464]]

jeopardized. Furthermore, the Agency plans to apply this requirement 
retroactively as a condition for maintenance of Preferred or Certified 
Lender status. Both for loans currently sold on the secondary market 
and those sold after this rule is final, status will be revoked if the 
lender does not repurchase a loan when requested.
    Second, the Agency plans to provide a method for the Government to 
continue as holder of a loan when it has purchased the guaranteed 
portion from a secondary market holder and reimbursement from the 
lender is not practical. Currently, after the Agency repurchases a 
guaranteed loan from a secondary market holder, the lender generally 
must liquidate the loan to compensate the Agency for the repurchase. In 
some cases, the borrower may pay the loan current or file for 
bankruptcy protection while the repurchase is being processed. Thus, 
liquidation becomes inappropriate. Regardless, under current provisions 
the lender is required to purchase the loan back from the Agency. Under 
the proposed change, the Agency will be able to allow lenders to 
continue to receive payments on a repurchased guaranteed loan held by 
the Government and forward those payments to FSA, as long as the 
account remains current or in compliance with an approved bankruptcy 
plan. This change will allow the Agency to keep the loan performing, 
keep the affected farmers in business, and avoid the losses associated 
with legal action to recover the repurchase expense.
    Third, in conjunction with this change, the Agency proposes to 
allow the lender to purchase the guaranteed portion from the Agency 
without recourse at the Agency's discretion.
Bankruptcy Fees
    The Agency intends to allow the guarantee to cover a lender's 
reasonable legal fees in bankruptcy. Legal fees, when a borrower files 
under Chapter 7 of the bankruptcy code, will be deducted from the 
proceeds of the liquidation of the collateral after discharge. Lender 
attorney fees incurred when a borrower files under Chapter 11, 12, and 
13 will be paid in the same percentage as the guarantee.
    Currently, regulations do not authorize the Agency to pay 
attorney's fees in reorganization bankruptcies. Legal fees in 
reorganizations were considered ``normal'' servicing costs similar to 
farm visits, filing fees, documentation, and overhead and are the 
lender's responsibility. However, program lenders have suggested that 
the nature of a guarantee should be to protect the lender against any 
additional expenses or loss that occurs when a borrower defaults, which 
includes the filing under Chapter 11, 12, or 13 of the bankruptcy code. 
The Agency agrees. Lenders should be very actively involved in the 
bankruptcy legal proceedings to assure that collateral is protected, 
plans are realistic, and actions taken are not adverse to the interests 
of the borrower or the Government under the guaranteed loan.
    Currently, the Agency allows legal fees necessary to repossess or 
foreclose collateral to be deducted as liquidation costs from 
collateral proceeds whether the liquidation is forcible, voluntary, or 
as the result of liquidation under Chapter 7 of the bankruptcy code. 
Reimbursement of most of the attorney fees by the Agency will provide 
incentive for lenders to closely monitor all cases that are in 
bankruptcy. Still, the Agency will not guarantee legal fees in any 
bankruptcy action if those fees are frivolous, unreasonable or 
exorbitant. Furthermore, the Agency will not include as part of any 
loss payment a lender's legal fees resulting from a lender liability 
suit or similar action.
Appraisal Expenses
    Currently, the lender and FSA share equally in the cost of 
appraisals obtained for liquidation purposes. The Agency is proposing 
to allow appraisal fees to be deducted from liquidation proceeds in the 
case of liquidation and allow the cost of appraisals for bankruptcies 
to be included on the bankruptcy loss claim as applicable. Lenders will 
still be required to bear the cost of appraisals necessary in 
connection with normal servicing, such as releases, reamortization or 
writedown.
    This change is being proposed for a number of reasons. First, this 
will reduce the burden on lenders by no longer requiring that a special 
form be completed to obtain reimbursement of the Government's share of 
the appraisal expense. Second, this will make payment of the fee for an 
appraisal consistent with Agency regulations governing payment of other 
expenses associated with liquidation. Finally, this change will 
encourage lenders to obtain an appraisal to document that the amount 
being obtained in the liquidation represents market value.
Partial Releases
    This rule proposes to clarify provisions for partial releases of 
guaranteed loan collateral. Current regulations allow lenders to 
release security only when full market value is received or when 
replacement or substitute collateral is obtained. The Agency feels that 
this proposed change is justified for a number of reasons. First, the 
Agency has begun to receive more frequent requests for concurrence with 
releases of security without consideration and many of these requests 
are reasonable. For example, FSA regularly receives requests for 
concurrence to the release of an acre or so of land from real estate 
security for the borrower's child to construct a dwelling. Second, many 
guaranteed loans are over 10 years old and may be secured by items that 
have served their useful life and are now valueless. These items could 
be released without damaging the lender's security position. Third, the 
rise in farm asset values and income may have reduced the risk of loss 
on a guaranteed loan substantially. The lack of release provisions 
often prevents guaranteed lenders from doing ``business as usual'' and 
may place them at a competitive disadvantage. Without these provisions, 
the release request may be affected only by refinancing with a new 
loan, or through an action that would place the guarantee at risk.
    In order to protect the interest of the Government, this proposal 
will allow releases only in farming operations where there is 
substantial equity (loan to value ratio of .75 or less) or in which 
approval would not increase the Government's exposure on its guarantee. 
Also, releases are intended to be for reasonable purposes, and 
generally releases of income-generating assets will be prohibited. For 
example, a partial release of productive cropland, with no 
consideration, simply because the borrower would like to have the 
property free of a mortgage or deed of trust would not be a valid 
request, regardless of whether the borrower's cash flow and security 
exceeded the requirements contained in this proposal. Also, while it is 
expected that a partial release of a residence may be necessary in 
conjunction with release of liability of a divorced spouse, it is not 
intended that these provisions be used to allow a member of the farm 
family to be given acreage, equipment, mineral rights, and other 
business assets without paying consideration.
Subordinations
    The Agency also plans to provide authority to approve a lender's 
request to subordinate a guaranteed loan in certain situations. This 
proposal is being made for similar reasons as discussed above for 
partial releases. This authority will be limited to subordinations 
requested by a guaranteed lender to facilitate outside financing for 
lower-

[[Page 51465]]

risk guaranteed borrowers who have the opportunity to refinance higher 
interest debt or otherwise improve their situation. The rule proposes 
to allow subordinations when the Agency determines that a subordination 
will reduce the risk of loss to the Government. It is anticipated that 
such subordinations will be seldom and only approved at the National 
office level of the Agency.
Rescheduling Lines of Credit
    The Agency intends to clearly state that when a line of credit loan 
is rescheduled, subsequent advances on the line of credit are not 
authorized. This will eliminate the partial rescheduling and advancing 
of line of credit loans. Current regulations are silent on this issue. 
Many lenders reschedule unpaid portions of lines of credit over a 
period of years but continue to make advances against the portion of 
the line of credit that was previously paid. This practice often 
results in the borrower not having adequate funding under the original 
line of credit, increased financial stress on the operation, and 
ultimately a loss claim. The line of credit should not take on a dual 
role of providing short-term and intermediate term credit. This 
proposal provides that rescheduled lines of credit will still not be 
allowed to be sold to secondary market purchasers, despite multi-year 
terms.
Shared Appreciation Agreements
    The Agency also proposes to clarify policy and procedures for 
handling Shared Appreciation Agreements (SAA) that expire or are 
triggered. Current regulations allow the recapture amount to be 
rescheduled or reamortized if the borrower is unable to pay the 
recapture amount at the expiration date of the agreement. This rule 
proposes that upon recapture at any time, the lender may pay the Agency 
its pro rata share of the recapture due in a lump sum and pursue 
collection of the recapture from the borrower, or forward the Agency 
its pro-rata share of each payment. If the lender reamortizes the 
recapture debt, such debt will be covered by the guarantee only if the 
lender pays the Agency its pro rata share of the recapture amount 
first. This proposed policy will reduce the burden on lenders by making 
the treatment of recapture more flexible and encourage lenders to 
accept installment payments on recapture amounts instead of liquidating 
the account.
Release of Liability
    The Agency plans to establish specific criteria under which lenders 
may release guaranteed borrowers from personal liability. This proposal 
is being made as a result of the advancing age of a portion of the 
Agency's guaranteed loan portfolio and the Agency's experiences with 
the silence of current regulations. Lack of clear provisions with 
regard to releasing obligors in cases of divorce, bankruptcy, 
liquidation or withdrawal from the operation has resulted in a lack of 
flexibility that reduces lender satisfaction with the program. In many 
instances of divorce, a spouse will convey all interest in the farming 
operation to the remaining spouse. Often this creates a need for a new 
guaranteed loan, use of scarce loan funds, and the payment of a 
guarantee fee, when a release of liability would have been a sound and 
reasonable alternative.
    Approval of release of liability will be based on the strength of 
the remaining party, determined by criteria proposed in this rule. The 
withdrawing party will not have to document total lack of assets and 
income from which to collect, if the remaining party meets the 
established criteria. However, some restriction will apply. First, 
releases are not to be extended to dissolution of the farming 
operation. This is because guaranteed loans are to be made to eligible 
family farmers. When a party is quitting the operation and the 
remaining party does not plan to continue the farming operation, the 
objectives of the program are not met. Second, restrictions are 
proposed on releases of entity principals when the withdrawal of that 
principal may result in the legal dissolution of the entity to which 
the loans were made. The more appropriate action in those cases would 
be a transfer of the security to, and assumption of the debt by, the 
new entity or remaining party.
Consolidations of Loans
    The Agency proposes to restrict the consolidation of loans made 
prior to October 1, 1991, to only those made before that date. 
Likewise, loans made on or after October 1, 1991, may only be 
consolidated with loans made on or after that date. This is due to 
restrictions placed on loan subsidies as a result of the Federal Credit 
Reform Act of 1990 and appropriation laws. The Agency has no budgetary 
authority to provide Interest Assistance for servicing purposes for 
those loans made after October 1, 1991, which do not have Interest 
Assistance obligated when the loan is made. Therefore, if loans made 
without Interest Assistance are consolidated with those loans that are 
eligible for Interest Assistance, the older loan loses Interest 
Assistance eligibility. Office of Management and Budget rules governing 
the Agency's loan subsidies dictate that when consolidation takes place 
the most recent loan made is the budgetary cost factor used to 
determine funding priorities for that loan. This action is proposed in 
order to reduce the likelihood of the lender and borrower inadvertently 
losing the Interest Assistance option. The Agency would appreciate any 
public comments concerning whether the benefits of a consolidation 
would outweigh those of interest assistance eligibility.
Final Loss Claims
    Currently, the Agency accepts final loss claims on the ultimate 
disposition of the real property only if the Agency approves the 
request and documentation is provided that this method results in cost 
savings to the Government. The Agency proposes to allow the lender to 
request a final payment based on receiving full appraised value at the 
time they receive title to the real property, or based on final 
disposition after deducting the expenses associated with the receipt, 
maintenance and sale of the property. This gives the lender flexibility 
and encourages proper maintenance of the inventory property. The Agency 
will reduce the final loss claim for any loss caused by the lender's 
negligent servicing of the account.
Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT)
    The liquidation section of this proposed rule will be revised to 
address recent legislation of EFT payments. The Federal Financial 
Management Act of 1994, as amended, (31 U.S.C. 3332) generally requires 
Federal agencies to make payments to recipients by EFT. The statute 
further provides that recipients designate one or more financial 
institutions or other authorized agents to which any Agency payments 
will be made and provide the Agency information as necessary for them 
to receive EFT payments through each institution or agent designated. 
Lenders may be recipients of EFT payments under this proposed rule; 
therefore, they must designate the institutions or agents and provide 
other necessary information to carry out EFT payment.
Balloon Payments With Restructuring
    The Agency proposes to prohibit reamortization of loans with a 
balloon payment. Current regulations are silent where reamortization is 
concerned. Since Agency servicing regulations allow for Interest 
Assistance, a deferral, or a writedown of the loan, the arguments often 
stated for balloon payments have little relevance to

[[Page 51466]]

guaranteed loans. Reamortizing with a balloon payment schedule becomes 
self-defeating by requiring additional servicing at a definite point in 
the future. The Agency has found that balloon payments are often used 
when a guaranteed borrower's cash flow is insufficient to make an 
amortized principal and interest payment over normal or allowable terms 
for reamortization of the loan. However, even when a borrower suffers a 
setback that requires reamortization, future cash flow should still be 
sufficient to cover interest accrual and a meaningful principal 
reduction in the loan. If that level of cash flow is not achieved, 
other servicing options that may be more beneficial, such as a deferral 
or writedown, must be considered. Further, balloon payments are often a 
means for lenders to impose a restricted term on those borrowers deemed 
higher risk. This may result in the denial of servicing options and 
possibly liquidation or the need for refinancing with another lender 
when the balloon becomes due. To simplify the procedure and provide for 
the development of meaningful plans of operation that protect both the 
borrower and the Government, the Agency will prohibit restructuring 
plans from including balloon payments.
Interest Assistance and Writedowns
    This rule will prohibit Interest Assistance when a guaranteed loan 
is being written down. Guaranteed write downs are based upon the 
present value of the future projected income available for payment on 
the loan. If Interest Assistance is approved on a loan at the time of 
the writedown, the calculations will result in a reduced writedown, 
based on the interest subsidy being provided in future years. However, 
Interest Assistance is awarded on an annual basis and its future 
availability is in question. Moreover, although the writedown loss 
payment may be reduced through the use of Interest Assistance, this 
initial loss claim savings is offset by the processing and payment of a 
subsidy over a possible multiple-year term. Again, the requirements for 
interest assistance are not being revised in this proposed rule. The 
interim rule published at 56 FR 8258-8272 (February 28, 1991) will be 
finalized in a separate final rule, and Exhibit D to subpart B of 1980 
will be removed from the Federal Register.
Feasible Plan versus Positive Cash Flow
    The Agency proposes to provide a regulatory distinction between 
actions requiring a debt service margin and those that do not. Ideally, 
a guaranteed loan borrower would continually have sufficient resources 
to meet all of their obligations, plus have an excess that would allow 
for economic setbacks and replenishment of depleted assets or 
replacement of capital items. Current regulations define positive cash 
flow as having a Term Debt and Capital Lease Coverage Ratio (TDCLCR) of 
1.10, meaning the borrower has a .10 or 10 percent cushion after 
meeting all obligations. Strict interpretation of this provision may 
result in liquidation of a borrower who can demonstrate the ability to 
make a restructured payment. However, the Agency did not intend to 
require that borrowers requiring guaranteed loan servicing have an 
excess margin. Therefore, this rule defines a feasible plan as a TDCLCR 
of 1.00 and establishes this as the minimum requirement for loan 
servicing actions. However, the Agency recommends loans be restructured 
to allow for a 10 percent cushion. The Agency is requesting comments on 
this recommendation. A feasible plan will also be the minimum required 
for renewed advances on a line of credit, renewal of Interest 
Assistance and calculation of present value. This requirement will 
allow restructuring of all loans that have repayment ability. Current 
regulations are not clear as to what margin is required for 
restructuring or writing down, however, the Agency believes that to 
require a margin for restructuring was never the intent of the program 
and would require lenders to put numerous potentially successful 
borrowers out of business and increase government loss payments on 
loans.

List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 1980

    Agriculture, Loan programs--Agriculture.

    Accordingly, it is proposed that 7 CFR chapter XVIII be amended as 
follows:

PART 1980--GENERAL

    1. The authority citation for part 1980 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 5 U.S.C. 301; 7 U.S.C. 1989 and 42 U.S.C. 1480.

Subpart A--General

    2. Revise Sec. 1980.1 to read as follows:


Sec. 1980.1  Purpose.

    This subpart contains the general regulations and prescribed forms 
which are applicable to Community Programs Guaranteed Loans under 
subpart I of this part.
    3. Amend Sec. 1980.6 as follows:
    a. Remove in paragraph (a) the definitions of ``Conditional 
Commitment (Farmer Programs) (Form FmHA or its successor agency under 
Public Law 103-354 1980-15),'' ``Contract of Guarantee (Line of Credit) 
(Form FmHA or its successor agency under Public Law 103-354 1980-27),'' 
''Guaranteed line of credit,'' ``Insured loans,'' and ``Line of credit 
agreement'';
    b. Remove in paragraph (a), in the definition of ``Guaranteed 
loan,'' the phrase ``or Form FmHA 1980-38,'';
    c. Remove in paragraph (b), the abbreviations ``ASCS,'' ``CLP,'' 
``EM,'' ``FO,'' ``OL,'' ``OL-Y,'' ``RL,'' and ``SW''; and
    d. In paragraph (a), remove the definition of ``Lender's Agreement 
(Forms FmHA or its successor agency under Public Law 103-354 449-35 or 
1980-38)'' and add a new definition to read as follows:


Sec. 1980.6  Definitions and abbreviations.

    (a) * * *
    Lender's Agreement (Form RD 449-35). The signed agreement between 
Rural Development and the lender setting forth the lender's loan 
responsibilities when the Loan Note Guarantee is issued.
* * * * *


Sec. 1980.11  [Amended]

    4. Amend Sec. 1980.11 as follows:
    a. In the first sentence, remove the phrase ``and Contract of 
Guarantee'' and revise the word ``constitute'' to read ``constitutes'';
    b. In the second sentence, remove the phrase ``,Contract of 
Guarantee'';
    c. In the fifth sentence, remove the phrase ``or Contract of 
Guarantee''; and
    d. Remove the third and sixth sentences.
    5. Amend Sec. 1980.13 as follows:
    a. In the introductory text to paragraph (b), remove the fourth 
sentence; and
    b. Revise paragraph (b)(4) to read as follows:


Sec. 1980.13  Eligible lenders.

* * * * *
    (b) * * *
    (4) Conflict of interest. The Agency shall determine whether such 
ownership or business dealings are sufficient to likely result in a 
conflict of interest. All lenders will, for each proposed loan, inform 
the Agency in writing and furnish such additional evidence as the 
Agency requested as to whether and the extent for those loans covered 
by Form RD 449-35, the lender or its principal officers (including 
immediate family) or the borrower or its principals or officers 
(including immediate family) hold any stock or

[[Page 51467]]

other evidence of ownership in the other.
* * * * *
    6. Amend the fourth sentence of the introductory paragraph of Sec.  
1980.20(a) to read as follows:


Sec. 1980.20  Loan Guarantee Limits.

    (a) * * * Also, the maximum loss covered by Form FmHA 449-34 
(available in any Agency office) can never exceed the lesser of:
* * * * *
    7. Revise Sec. 1980.21 to read as follows:


Sec. 1980.21  Guarantee fee.

    The fee will be the applicable rate multiplied by the principal 
loan amount multiplied by the percent of guarantee, paid one time only 
at the time the Loan Note Guarantee is issued.
    (a) The fee will be paid to the Agency by the lender and is 
nonreturnable. The lender may pass on the fee to the borrower.
    (b) Guarantee fee rates are specified in exhibit K of Rural 
Development Instruction 440.1 (available in any Rural Development 
Office).
    8. Amend Sec. 1980.22 as follows:
    a. In the introductory text of paragraph (b) and in paragraph 
(b)(3), remove the phrase ``or Contract of Guarantee''; and
    b. Revise paragraph (a) to read as follows:


Sec. 1980.22  Charges and fees by lender.

    (a) Routine charges and fees. The lender may establish the charges 
and fees for the loan, provided they are the same as those charged 
other applicants for similar types of transactions. ``Similar types of 
transactions'' means those transactions involving the same type of loan 
requested for which a non-guaranteed loan applicant would be assessed 
charges and fees.
* * * * *


Sec. 1980.46  [Removed and reserved]

    9. Sec. 1980.46 is removed and reserved.


Sec. 1980.60  [Amended]

    10. Amend Sec. 1980.60 as follows:
    a. In the heading, remove the phrase ``or Contract of Guarantee'';
    b. In the introductory text of paragraph (a) in the second 
sentence, remove the phrase ``For all other loans, Form FmHA or its 
successor agency under Public Law 103-354'' and in its place add 
``Form'' and remove the first sentence;
    c. In paragraph (a)(1), remove the phrases ``or line of credit'' 
and ``or Conditional Commitment for Contract of Guarantee'';
    d. In paragraphs (a)(6) and (a)(7), remove the phrases ``or line of 
credit'';
    e. In paragraph (a)(9), remove the phrase ``joint operation, (for 
Farmer Program loans only),'';
    f. In paragraphs (a)(10) and (a)(11), remove the phrases ``or 
Conditional Commitment for Contract of Guarantee'';
    g. In paragraph (a)(12), remove the second sentence;
    h. In paragraph (b), remove the phrase ``or Contract of 
Guarantee''; and
    i. In paragraph (c), remove the phrase at the end ``or Form FmHA or 
its successor agency under Public Law 103-354 1980-38''.


Sec. 1980.61  [Amended]

    11. Amend Sec. 1980.61 as follows:
    a. In the heading, remove the phrase ``, Contract of Guarantee'';
    b. In the first sentence of paragraph (a)(1), remove the phrase 
``Except for Farmer Programs loans, the'' and add in its place ``The'';
    c. Remove paragraph (a)(2) in its entirety and redesignate 
paragraph (a)(3) as paragraph (a)(2), respectively;
    d. In newly redesignated paragraph (a)(2), remove the phrase ``or 
Contract of Guarantee;''
    e. In paragraph (b)(1) remove the phrase ``or Form FmHA or its 
successor agency under Public Law 103-354 1980-38'';
    f. In paragraphs (b)(3) and (4), remove the phrases ``or 
Sec. 1980.119 of subpart B of this part'';
    g. Remove paragraph (c) and redesignate paragraphs (d) through (h) 
as paragraphs (c) through (g), respectively;
    h. In newly redesignated paragraph (c), remove the last sentence;
    i. In newly redesignated paragraph (d), remove the phrase ``or 
Contract of Guarantee'' from the first sentence;
    j. In newly redesignated paragraph (f), remove the phrase ``or 
Contract of Guarantee''
    k. In newly redesignated paragraph (g), remove the phrases ``or 
Form FmHA or its successor agency under Public Law 103-354 1980-38'' 
and ``the Contract of Guarantee,'' from the last sentence.


Sec. 1980.62  [Amended]

    12. Amend Sec. 1980.62 as follows:
    a. In the first and third sentences, remove the phrase ``or 
Sec. 1980.119 of subpart B of this part''; and
    b. Remove the last sentence.


Sec. 1980.63  [Amended]

    13. Amend Sec. 1980.63(a) to remove the phrase ``or I.D.6. of Form 
FmHA or its successor agency under Public Law 103-354 1980-38''.


Sec. 1980.64  [Amended]

    14. Amend Sec. 1980.64 as follows:
    a. In paragraph (a), remove the phrase ``or paragraph I.D.6. of 
Form FmHA or its successor agency under Public Law 103-354 1980-38''; 
and
    b. In paragraph (b), remove the two occurrences of the phrase ``or 
line of credit.''


Sec. 1980.65  [Amended]

    15. Amend Sec. 1980.65 to remove the phrase ``, or for Farmer 
Programs Loans, Sec. 1980.136 of subpart B of this part''.


Sec. 1980.66  [Amended]

    16. Amend Sec. 1980.66 to remove the phrase ``, or paragraph 
I.D.6.(b) of Form FmHA or its successor agency under Public Law 103-354 
1980-38''.


Sec. 1980.67  [Amended]

    17. Amend Sec. 1980.67 as follows:
    a. In paragraph (a), remove the first sentence; and
    b. In paragraph (b), remove the phrase ``or line of credit''.


Sec. 1980.68  [Amended]

    18. Amend Sec. 1980.68 as follows:
    a. In the heading, remove the phrase ``or Contract of Guarantee'';
    b. In the first sentence, remove the phrase ``or Contract(s) of 
Guarantee'';
    c. In the second sentence in the parentheticals, remove the phrase 
``, or paragraph 6 of Form FmHA or its successor agency under Public 
Law 103-354 1980-27'';
    d. In the third sentence, remove the phrases ``or line(s) of 
credit,'' ``or Contract(s) of Guarantee,'' and ``or Form FmHA or its 
successor agency under Public Law 103-354 1980-27''; and
    e. Remove the last two sentences.


Sec. 1980.83  [Amended]

    19. Amend Sec. 1980.83 to remove the second sentence.


Sec. 1980.84  [Amended]

    20. Amend Sec. 1980.84 as follows:
    a. Remove the phrases ``Contract of Guarantee'' and ``or Contract 
of Guarantee'' from the first sentence of paragraph (b)(1)(iv);
    b. Remove the phrase ``Contract of Guarantee'' from paragraph 
(b)(1)(v); and
    c. Remove the phrase ``or Sec. 1980.119 of subpart B of this part'' 
from the first and fourth sentences in paragraph (b)(4).

Appendices D-L to Subpart A  [Removed]

    21. Amend part 1980, subpart A to remove Appendices D through L.
    22. In subpart B, Sec. 1980.101 is revised to read as follows:


Sec. 1980.101  Introduction.

    (a) Scope. This subpart contains regulations governing Operating 
Loans

[[Page 51468]]

and Farm Ownership loans guaranteed by the Farm Service Agency. This 
subpart applies to lenders, holders, borrowers, Agency personnel, and 
other parties involved in making, guaranteeing, holding, servicing, or 
liquidating such loans.
    (b) Policy. The Agency issues guarantees on loans made to qualified 
loan applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national 
origin, marital status, age, or physical or mental handicap, provided 
the loan applicant can enter into a legal and binding contract, or 
whether all or part of the applicant's income derives from any public 
assistance program or whether the applicant, in good faith, exercises 
any rights under the Consumer Protection Act.
    (c) Lender list and classification.
    (1) The Agency maintains a current list of lenders who express a 
desire to participate in the guaranteed loan program. This list is made 
available to farmers upon request.
    (2) Lenders who participate in the Agency guaranteed loan program 
will be classified into one of the following categories:
    (i) Standard Eligible Lender under Sec. 1980.105,
    (ii) Certified Lender, or
    (iii) Preferred Lender under Sec. 1980.106.
    (d) Type of Guarantee. There are two types of guarantees issued 
under the Farm Loan Programs Guaranteed Loan Program:
    (1) Loan Note Guarantee. A Loan Note Guarantee is used for a loan 
of fixed amount and term.
    (2) Contract of Guarantee. A Contract of Guarantee is only 
available for Operating Loan lines of credit. The Contract of Guarantee 
has a fixed term, but no fixed amount. The principal amount outstanding 
at any time, however, may not exceed the line of credit ceiling 
contained in the contract.
    (e) Termination of Loan Note Guarantee or Contract of Guarantee. 
The Loan Note or Contract of Guarantee will automatically terminate as 
follows:
    (1) Upon full payment of the guaranteed loan. A zero balance within 
the period authorized for advances on a line of credit will not 
terminate the contract of guarantee;
    (2) Upon payment of a final loss claim; or
    (3) Upon written notice from the lender to the Agency that a 
guarantee is no longer desired provided the lender holds all of the 
guaranteed portion of the loan. The Loan Note or Contract of Guarantee 
will be returned to the Agency office for cancellation within 30 days 
of the date of the notice by the lender.
    23. Sections 1980.102 through 1980.105 are added to read as 
follows:


Sec. 1980.102  Abbreviations and definitions.

    (a) Abbreviations:

CLP--Certified Lender Program
CONACT--Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1921 et 
seq.)
EPA--Environmental Protection Agency
EIS--Environmental Impact Statement
EM--Emergency loans
FO--Farm Ownership loans
FSA--Farm Service Agency
OL--Operating loans
PLP--Preferred Lender Program
SW--Soil and Water
USDA--United States Department of Agriculture

    (b) Definitions:
    Additional security. Collateral in excess of that needed to fully 
secure the loan.
    Agency. The Farm Service Agency, including its employees and state 
and area committee members, and any successor agency.
    Allonge. An attachment or an addendum to a note.
    Applicant. For guaranteed loans, the lender requesting a guarantee 
is the applicant. The party applying to the lender for a loan will be 
considered the loan applicant.
    Aquaculture. The husbandry of aquatic organisms in a controlled or 
selected environment. An aquatic organism is any fish, amphibian, 
reptile, or aquatic plant. An aquaculture operation is considered to be 
farm only if it is conducted on the grounds which the loan applicant 
owns, leases, or has an exclusive right to use. An exclusive right to 
use must be evidenced by a permit issued to the loan applicant and the 
permit must specifically identify the waters available to be used by 
the loan applicant only.
    Assignment of guaranteed portion. A process by which the lender 
transfers the right to receive payments or income on the guaranteed 
loan to another party, usually in return for payment in the amount of 
the loan's guaranteed principal. The lender retains the unguaranteed 
portion in its portfolio and receives a fee from the purchaser or 
assignee to service the loan, and receive and remit payments according 
to a written assignment agreement. This assignment can be reassigned or 
sold multiple times.
    Average farm customers. Those conventional farm borrowers who are 
required to pledge their crops, livestock, and other chattel and real 
estate security for the loan. This does not include those high-risk 
farmers with limited security and management ability who are generally 
charged a higher interest rate by conventional agricultural lenders. 
Also, this does not include those low-risk farm customers who obtain 
financing on a secured or unsecured basis, who have as collateral 
items, such as savings accounts, time deposits, certificates of 
deposit, stocks and bonds, and life insurance, which they are able to 
pledge for the loan.
    Beginning farmer or rancher. A beginning farmer or rancher is an 
individual or entity who:
    (1) Meets the loan eligibility requirements for OL or FO loan 
assistance, as applicable, in accordance with this subpart;
    (2) Has not operated a farm or ranch, or who has operated a farm or 
ranch for not more than 10 years. This requirement applies to all 
members of an entity;
    (3) Will materially and substantially participate in the operation 
of the farm or ranch:
    (i) In the case of a loan made to an individual, individually or 
with the immediate family, material and substantial participation 
requires that the individual provide substantial day-to-day labor and 
management of the farm or ranch, consistent with the practices in the 
county or State where the farm is located.
    (ii) In the case of a loan made to an entity, all members must 
materially and substantially participate in the operation of the farm 
or ranch. Material and substantial participation requires that the 
individual provide some amount of the management, or labor and 
management necessary for day-to-day activities, such that if the 
individual did not provide these inputs, operation of the farm or ranch 
would be seriously impaired;
    (4) Agrees to participate in any loan assessment, borrower 
training, and financial management programs required by Agency 
regulations;
    (5) Does not own real farm or ranch property or who, directly or 
through interests in family farm entities owns real farm or ranch 
property, the aggregate acreage of which does not exceed 25 percent of 
the average farm or ranch acreage of the farms or ranches in the county 
where the property is located. If the farm is located in more than one 
county, the average farm acreage of the county where the loan 
applicant's residence is located will be used in the calculation. If 
the loan applicant's residence is not located on the farm or if the 
loan applicant is an entity, the average farm acreage of the

[[Page 51469]]

county where the major portion of the farm is located will be used. The 
average county farm or ranch acreage will be determined from the most 
recent Census of Agriculture developed by the U.S. Department of 
Commerce, Bureau of the Census or USDA;
    (6) Demonstrates that the available resources of the loan applicant 
and spouse (if any) are not sufficient to enable the loan applicant to 
enter or continue farming or ranching on a viable scale; and
    (7) In the case of an entity:
    (i) All the members are related by blood or marriage; and
    (ii) All the stockholders in a corporation are beginning farmers or 
ranchers.
    Borrower. An individual or entity which has outstanding obligations 
to the lender under any Agency loan program. A borrower includes all 
parties liable for Agency debt, including collection-only borrowers, 
except those whose total loan and accounts have been voluntarily or 
involuntarily foreclosed or liquidated, or who have been discharged of 
all Agency debt.
    Collateral. Property pledged as security for a loan to ensure 
repayment of an obligation.
    Conditional Commitment. The Agency's commitment to the lender that 
the material it has submitted is approved subject to the completion of 
all conditions and requirements contained therein.
    Consolidation. The combination of outstanding principal and 
interest balance of two or more OL loans.
    Controlled. When a director or employee has more than a 50 percent 
ownership in the entity or, the director or employee, together with 
relatives of the director or employee, have more than a 50 percent 
ownership.
    Cooperative. An entity which has farming as its purpose and whose 
members have agreed to share the profits of the farming enterprise. The 
entity must be recognized as a farm cooperative by the laws of the 
State in which the entity will operate a farm.
    Cosigner. A party who joins in the execution of a promissory note 
to assure its repayment. The cosigner becomes jointly and severally 
liable to comply with the terms of the note. In the case of an entity 
loan applicant, the cosigner cannot be a member, partner, joint 
operator, or stockholder of the entity.
    Debt writedown. To reduce the amount of the borrower's debt to that 
amount that is determined to be collectible based on an analysis of the 
security value and the borrower's ability to pay.
    Deferral. A postponement of the payment of interest or principal or 
both.Principal may be deferred in whole or in part.
    Direct loan. A loan made to a borrower and serviced by the Agency 
as lender.
    Entity. Cooperatives, corporations, partnerships, or joint 
operations.
    Family farm. A farm which:
    (1) Produces agricultural commodities for sale in sufficient 
quantities so that it is recognized in the community as a farm rather 
than a rural residence;
    (2) Provides enough agricultural income by itself, including rented 
land, or together with any other dependable income to enable the 
borrower to:
    (i) Pay necessary family living and operating expenses;
    (ii) Maintain essential chattel and real property; and
    (iii) Pay debts;
    (3) Is managed by:
    (i) The borrower when a loan is made to an individual; or,
    (ii) The members, stockholders, partners, or joint operators 
responsible for operating the farm when a loan is made to an entity;
    (4) Has a substantial amount of the labor requirement for the farm 
and nonfarm enterprise provided by:
    (i) The borrower and the borrower's immediate family for a loan 
made to an individual; or
    (ii) The members, stockholders, partners, or joint operators 
responsible for operating the farm, along with the families of these 
individuals, for a loan made to an entity; and
    (5) May use a reasonable amount of full-time hired labor and 
seasonal labor during peak load periods.
    Farm. A tract or tracts of land, improvements, and other 
appurtenances which are used or will be used in the production of 
crops, livestock, or aquaculture products for sale in sufficient 
quantities so that the property is recognized as a farm rather than a 
rural residence. The term ``farm'' also includes any such land and 
improvements and facilities used in a nonfarm enterprise. It may also 
include the residence which, although physically separate from the farm 
acreage, is ordinarily treated as part of the farm in the local 
community.
    Feasible plan. A plan for loan servicing purposes which shows the 
elements of ``positive cash flow'' except that the minimum acceptable 
``Term Debt and Capital Lease Coverage Ratio'' is 1.0 rather than 1.1 
required for ``positive cash flow.'' However, it is strongly 
recommended that any servicing action provide for a Term Debt and 
Capital Lease Coverage Ratio of 1.1.
    Financially viable operation. A financially viable operation is one 
which, with Agency assistance, is projected to improve its financial 
condition over a period of time to the point that the operator can 
obtain commercial credit without further Agency direct or guaranteed 
assistance. A borrower that will meet the Agency classification of 
``commercial,'' as defined in Agency Instruction 2006-W, available in 
any Agency office, will be considered to be financially viable. Such an 
operation must generate sufficient income to:
    (1) Meet annual operating expenses and debt payments as they become 
due;
    (2) Meet basic family living expenses to the extent they are not 
met by dependable nonfarm income;
    (3) Provide for replacement of capital items; and
    (4) Provide for long-term financial growth.
    Fish. Any aquatic, gilled animal commonly known as ``fish'' as well 
as mollusks, or crustaceans (or other invertebrates) produced under 
controlled conditions (that is, feeding, tending, harvesting, and such 
other activities as are necessary to properly raise and market the 
products) in ponds, lakes, streams, or similar holding areas.
    Fixture. Generally a chattel item attached to real estate in such a 
way that it cannot be removed without defacing or dismantling the 
structure, or substantially damaging the structure itself.
    Graduation. The Agency's determination that a borrower on a direct 
loan, is financially stable enough to refinance that loan with a 
commercial lender with or without a guarantee.
    Guaranteed loan. A loan made and serviced by a lender for which the 
Agency has entered into a Lenders Agreement and for which the Agency 
has issued a Loan Note Guarantee. This term also includes lines of 
credit except where otherwise indicated.
    Hazard insurance. Includes fire, windstorm, lightning, hail, 
explosion, riot, civil commotion, aircraft, vehicles, smoke, builder's 
risk, public liability, property damage, flood or mudslide, workers 
compensation, or any similar insurance that is available and needed to 
protect the security, or that is required by law.
    Holder. The person or organization other than the lender who holds 
all or a part of the guaranteed portion of an Agency guaranteed loan 
but who has no servicing responsibilities. When the lender assigns a 
part of the guaranteed loan to an assignee, the assignee becomes a 
holder when an Assignment form is executed.

[[Page 51470]]

    In-house expenses. Expenses associated with credit management and 
loan servicing. In-house expenses include, but are not limited to: 
employee salaries, staff lawyers, travel, supplies, and overhead.
    Joint operation. Individuals that have agreed to operate a farm or 
farms together as a business unit. The real and personal property is 
owned separately or jointly by the individuals. For example, husband 
and wife who apply for a loan together will be considered a joint 
operation. Joint operations include limited liability companies having 
more than one member.
    Land development. Items such as terracing, clearing, leveling, 
fencing, drainage and irrigation systems, ponds, forestation, permanent 
pastures, perennial hay crops, basic soil amendments, and other items 
of land improvements which conserve or permanently enhance 
productivity.
    Lender. The organization making and servicing the loan or advancing 
and servicing the line of credit which is guaranteed under the 
provisions of Agency regulations. The lender is also the party 
requesting a guarantee.
    Lender's Agreement. The appropriate Agency form executed by the 
Agency and the lender setting forth the general loan responsibilities 
of the lender and agency when the Loan Note Guarantee or Contract of 
Guarantee is issued.
    Lien. A legally enforceable hold or claim on the property of 
another obtained as security for the repayment of indebtedness or an 
encumbrance on property to enforce payment of an obligation.
    Liquidation expenses. The cost of an appraisal, environmental 
assessment, outside attorney fees and other costs incurred as a direct 
result of liquidating the security for the guaranteed loan. Liquidation 
fees do not include in-house expenses.
    Loan or Line of Credit Agreement. A document which contains certain 
lender and borrower agreements, conditions, limitations, and 
responsibilities in a process of credit extension and acceptance in a 
loan format where loan principal balance may fluctuate throughout the 
term of the document.
    Loan Applicant. The party applying to a lender for a guaranteed 
loan or line of credit.
    Loss Claim. A request made to the Agency by a lender to receive a 
reimbursement based on a percentage of the lender's loss on a loan 
covered by an Agency guarantee.
    Majority interest. Any individual or a combination of individuals 
owning more than a 50 percent interest in a cooperative, corporation, 
joint operation, or partnership.
    Market value. The amount which an informed and willing buyer would 
pay an informed and willing but not forced seller in a completely 
voluntary sale.
    Mortgage. An instrument giving the lender a security interest or 
lien on real or personal property of any kind.
    Negligent servicing. The failure to perform those services which 
would be considered normal industry standards of loan management or 
failure to comply with any servicing requirement of this subpart. The 
term includes the concept of a failure to act or failure to act timely 
consistent with actions of a reasonable lender in loan making, 
servicing, and collection.
    Net recovery value. The estimated future value of security property 
that has been taken into inventory, exposed to prevailing market 
conditions and sold based on the properties highest and best use at the 
time of the sale less the Government's costs of liquidation, property 
maintenance, and disposition.
    Nonessential asset. Assets in which the borrower has an ownership 
interest that do not contribute an income to pay essential family 
living expenses or maintain a sound farming operation, and are not 
exempt from judgment creditors.
    Participation. A loan arrangement where a primary or lead lender is 
typically the lender of record but the loan funds may be provided by 
one or more other lenders due to loan size or other factors. Typically, 
participating lenders share in the interest income or profit on the 
loan based on the relative amount of the loan funds provided after 
deducting the servicing fees of the primary or lead lender.
    Partnership. Any entity consisting of two or more individuals who 
have agreed to operate a farm as one business unit. The entity must be 
recognized as a partnership by the laws of the State in which the 
entity will operate and must be authorized to own both real estate and 
personal property and to incur debts in its own name.
    Positive cash flow. The ability of a borrower's operation to 
demonstrate: a Term Debt and Capital Lease Coverage Ratio of at least 
1.1; and a Capital Replacement and Term Debt Repayment Margin equal to 
or greater than any planned capital asset purchases not financed. The 
Term Debt and Capital Lease Coverage Ratio and the Capital Replacement 
and Term Debt Repayment Margin are calculated in the following manner:
    (1) Add projected net farm operating income, projected annual 
nonfarm income, projected capital depreciation and amortization 
expenses, scheduled annual interest on term debt, and scheduled annual 
interest on capital leases.
    (i) Net farm operating income is the gross income generated by a 
farming operation annually, minus all yearly operating expenses 
(including withdrawals from entities for living expenses), operating 
loan interest, interest on term debt and capital lease payments, and 
depreciation and amortization expenses. Net farm operating income does 
not include off-farm income and social security taxes, carryover debt 
and delinquent interest.
    (ii) Depreciation and amortization expenses are an annual 
allocation of the cost or other basic value of tangible capital assets, 
less salvage value, over the estimated life of the unit (which may be a 
group of assets), in a systematic and rational manner.
    (iii) Capital leases are agreements under which the lessee 
effectively acquires ownership of the asset being leased. A lease is a 
capital lease if it meets any one of the following criteria:
    (A) The lease transfers ownership of the property to the lessee at 
the end of the lease term.
    (B) The lessee has the right to purchase the property for 
significantly less than its market value at the end of the lease.
    (C) The term of the lease is at least 75 percent of the estimated 
economic life of the leased property.
    (D) The present value of the minimum lease payments equals or 
exceeds 90 percent of the fair market value of the leased property.
    (2) Subtract from this sum projected annual income and social 
security tax payments, including any delinquent taxes, and family 
living expenses. The difference is the Balance Available for Term Debt 
Repayment.
    (i) Family living expenses are any withdrawals from income to 
provide for needs of family members.
    (ii) Family members are considered to be the immediate members of 
the family residing in the same household with the individual borrower, 
or, in the case of an entity, with the operator.
    (3) Divide the Balance Available for Term Debt Repayment by the sum 
of the annual scheduled principal and interest payments on term debt, 
plus the annual scheduled principal and interest payments on capital 
leases, excluding delinquent installments. The quotient is the Term 
Debt and Capital Lease Coverage Ratio.
    (4) Add the Balance Available for Term Debt Repayment to any cash 
carryover from the preceding year.

[[Page 51471]]

    (5) Subtract from this sum the amount of the Total Annual Scheduled 
Term Debt and Capital Lease Payments, and any debt carried over from 
the previous year. The difference is the Capital Replacement and Term 
Debt Repayment Margin.
    Potential liquidation value. The amount of the lender's protective 
bid at the foreclosure sale. Potential liquidation value is determined 
by an independent appraiser using comparables from other forced 
liquidation sales.
    Present value. The present worth of a future stream of payments 
discounted to the current date.
    Primary security. The minimum amount of collateral needed to fully 
secure a proposed loan.
    Principals of borrowers. Includes owners, officers, directors, 
entities and others directly involved in the operation and management 
of a business.
    Protective advances. Advances made by a lender to protect or 
preserve the collateral itself from loss or deterioration. Protective 
advances include but are not limited to:
    (1) Payment of delinquent taxes,
    (2) Annual assessments,
    (3) Ground rents,
    (4) Hazard or flood insurance premiums against or affecting the 
collateral,
    (5) Harvesting costs,
    (6) Other expenses needed for emergency measures to protect the 
collateral.
    Reamortization. To rearrange the rates or terms, or both, of a loan 
made for real estate purposes.
    Related by blood or marriage. Individuals who are connected to one 
another as husband, wife, parent, child, brother, or sister.
    Relative. An individual or spouse and anyone having the following 
relationship to either: parent, son, daughter, sibling, stepparent, 
stepson, stepdaughter, stepbrother, stepsister, half brother, half 
sister, uncle, aunt, nephew, niece, grandparent, granddaughter, 
grandson, and the spouses of the foregoing.
    Rescheduling. To rewrite the rates and terms of a single note or 
line of credit Agreement which acknowledges indebtedness for a loan 
made for operating purposes.
    Restructuring. Changing terms of a debt through either a 
consolidation, rescheduling, reamortization, deferral, or writedown or 
a combination thereof.
    Sale of guaranteed portion. See Assignment of guaranteed portion.
    Security. Property of any kind subject to a real or personal 
property lien. Any reference to ``collateral'' or ``security property'' 
shall be considered a reference to the term ``security.''
    Shared Appreciation Agreement. This agreement requires the borrower 
to repay the lender all or a portion of the debt written down in 
conjunction with a Debt Writedown when the agreement is triggered or 
expires and there is an increase in value of the real estate that 
secured the loans.
    State. The major political subdivision of the United States and the 
organization of program delivery for the Agency.
    Subsequent loans. Any loans processed by the Agency after an 
initial loan has been made to the same borrower.
    Transfer and assumption. The conveyance by a debtor to an assuming 
party of the assets, collateral, and liabilities of the loan in return 
for the assuming party's binding promise to pay the debt outstanding.
    United States. The United States itself, each of the several 
States, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands of the 
United States, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the 
Northern Mariana Islands.
    Veteran. Any person who served in the active military, naval, or 
air service during the Spanish-American War, the Mexican border period, 
World War I, World War II, the Korean conflict, the Vietnam era, the 
Persian Gulf War, or the period beginning on the date of any future 
declaration of war by the Congress and ending on the date prescribed by 
Presidential proclamation or concurrent resolution of the Congress.


Sec. 1980.103  Full faith and credit.

    (a) Fraud and misrepresentation. The Loan Note Guarantee and 
Contract of Guarantee constitute obligations supported by the full 
faith and credit of the United States. The Agency may contest the 
guarantee only in cases of fraud or misrepresentation by a lender or 
holder, in which:
    (1) The lender or holder had actual knowledge of the fraud or 
misrepresentation at the time it became the lender or holder, or
    (2) The lender or holder participated in or condoned the fraud or 
misrepresentation.
    (b) Lender violations. The Loan Note Guarantee or Contract of 
Guarantee cannot be enforced by the lender, regardless of when the 
Agency discovers the violation, to the extent that the loss is a result 
of:
    (1) Violation of usury laws;
    (2) Negligent servicing;
    (3) Failure to obtain the required security; or,
    (4) Failure to use loan funds for purposes specifically approved by 
the Agency.
    (c) Enforcement by holder. The guarantee and right to require 
purchase will be directly enforceable by the holder even if:
    (1) The Loan Note Guarantee or Contract of Guarantee is contestable 
based on the lender's fraud or misrepresentation; or
    (2) The Loan Note Guarantee is unenforceable by the lender based on 
a lender violation.


Sec. 1980.104  Appeals.

    (a) The loan applicant or borrower and lender must generally 
jointly execute the written request for review of an alleged adverse 
decision made by Agency. However, in cases where the Agency has denied 
or reduced the amount of the final loss payment, the decision may be 
appealed by the lender only.
    (b) A decision made by the lender adverse to the borrower is not a 
decision by the Agency, whether or not concurred in by the Agency, and 
may not be appealed.
    (c) Appeals will be handled in accordance with parts 11 and 780 of 
this title.


Sec. 1980.105  Eligibility and substitution of lenders.

    (a) General. To participate in FSA Guaranteed Farm Loan Programs, a 
lender must meet the eligibility criteria in this section. The Standard 
Eligible Lender must demonstrate eligibility for each guarantee request 
submitted and provide such evidence as the Agency may request.
    (b) Standard Eligible Lender eligibility criteria.
    (1) A lender must have the capability to adequately make and 
service the loan for which a guarantee is requested;
    (2) A lender must be subject to credit examination and supervision 
by an acceptable State or Federal regulatory agency;
    (3) A lender must be in good standing with all applicable State or 
Federal regulatory agencies;
    (4) The lender must maintain an office near enough to the 
collateral's location so it can properly and efficiently discharge its 
loan making and loan servicing responsibilities or use agents, 
correspondents, branches, or other institutions or persons to provide 
expertise to assist in carrying out its responsibilities. The lender 
must be a local lender unless it:
    (i) normally makes loans in the region or geographic location in 
which the loan applicant's operation being financed is located, or

[[Page 51472]]

    (ii) demonstrates specific expertise in making and servicing loans 
for the proposed operation.
    (5) The lender must not be debarred or suspended from participation 
in a Government contract or delinquent on a Government debt.
    (c) Substitution of Lenders. A new eligible lender may be 
substituted for the original lender under the following conditions:
    (1) The Agency approves of the substitution in writing;
    (2) The new lender agrees in writing to assume all servicing and 
other responsibilities of the original lender and to acquire the 
unguaranteed portion of the loan; and
    (3) The substituted lender agrees to notify any holder of the 
substitution.
    (d) Lender Name or Ownership Changes.
    (1) When a lender undergoes an ownership change or otherwise begins 
doing business under a new name, the lender will notify the Agency.
    (2) The lender's CLP or PLP status is subject to reconsideration 
when ownership changes.
    (3) The new lender will execute a new Lender's Agreement.
    24. Section 1980.106 is revised to read as follows:


Sec. 1980.106  Preferred and Certified Lender Programs.

    (a) General. (1) Lenders who desire PLP or CLP status must prepare 
a written request addressing:
    (i) The States in which they desire to receive PLP or CLP status; 
and
    (ii) Each item of the eligibility criteria for PLP or CLP in this 
section, as appropriate.
    (2) The lender may include any additional supporting evidence or 
other information the lender believes would be helpful to the Agency in 
making its determination.
    (3) The lender must send its request to the Agency State office for 
the State in which the lender's headquarters is located.
    (4) The lender will provide any additional information needed to 
process a PLP or CLP request, upon Agency request.
    (5) The term ``loss rate'' as used in this section equals the net 
amount of guaranteed OL, FO, and SW loss claims paid on loans made in 
the past 7 years divided by the total loan amount of the OL, FO, and SW 
loans made in the past 7 years.
    (b) CLP Criteria. The lender must meet the following requirements 
to obtain CLP status:
    (1) Qualify as a standard eligible lender under Sec. 1980.105;
    (2) Have a lender loss rate not in excess of the maximum CLP Loss 
Rate established by the Agency and available in any Agency office.
    (3) Have proven an ability to process and service Agency guaranteed 
loans by showing that the lender:
    (i) Submitted substantially complete and correct guaranteed loan 
applications; and
    (ii) Serviced all guaranteed loans according to Agency regulations;
    (4) Have closed a minimum of 10 Agency guaranteed loans or lines of 
credit;
    (5) Have closed a total of five Agency guaranteed loans or lines of 
credit, not including readvances on lines of credit, within the past 2 
years;
    (6) Maintain an acceptable level of financial soundness as 
determined by a bank rating service or comparable rater acceptable to 
the Agency.
    (7) Designate a qualified person or persons to process and service 
Agency guaranteed loans for each of the lender offices which will 
process CLP loans. To be qualified, the person must meet the following 
conditions:
    (i) Have attended Agency sponsored training in the past 12 months 
or will attend training in the next 12 months; and
    (ii) Agree to attend Agency sponsored training each year;
    (8) Use forms acceptable to the Agency for processing, analyzing, 
securing, and servicing Agency guaranteed loans and lines of credit;
    (9) Submit copies of financial statements, cash flow plans, 
budgets, loan agreements, analysis sheets, collateral control sheets, 
security agreements and other forms to be used for farm loan processing 
and servicing;
    (10) Agree to provide credit information to consumer or commercial 
reporting agencies, as appropriate.
    (c) PLP Criteria. The lender must meet the following requirements 
to obtain PLP status:
    (1) Meet the CLP eligibility criteria under this section.
    (2) Have a satisfactory credit management system based on the 
following:
    (i) the lender's written credit policies and underwriting 
standards;
    (ii) loan documentation requirements;
    (iii) exceptions to policies;
    (iv) analysis of new loan requests;
    (v) credit file management;
    (vi) loan funds and collateral management system;
    (vii) portfolio management;
    (viii) loan reviews;
    (ix) internal credit review process;
    (x) loan monitoring system; and
    (xi) the board of director's responsibilities.
    (3) Have made at least 20 PLP, CLP, or ALP loans, or a combination 
of these type loans, within the past 5 years.
    (4) Have a lender loss rate not in excess of the rate for PLP 
lenders established by the Agency and available in any Agency office.
    (5) Show a consistent practice of submitting applications for 
guaranteed loans detailed with accurate information that supports a 
sound loan proposal.
    (6) Show a consistent practice of processing Agency guaranteed 
loans without any major or reoccurring minor deficiencies. A major 
deficiency is one that directly affects the soundness of the loan. A 
minor deficiency violates Agency procedure, but does not affect the 
soundness of a loan.
    (7) Have a history of using the guaranteed program for new loans, 
instead of refinancing the lender's existing debts.
    (8) Demonstrate a consistent, above average ability to service 
guaranteed loans based on the following:
    (i) Borrower supervision and assistance;
    (ii) Timely and effective servicing; and
    (iii) Communication with the Agency.
    (9) Designate a person or persons, approved by the Agency, to 
process and service PLP loans for the Agency.
    (d) CLP and PLP approval.
    (1) If a lender applying for CLP or PLP status has recently been 
involved in a merger or acquisition, all loans and losses attributed to 
both lenders will be considered in the eligibility calculations.
    (2) The Agency will determine which branches of the lender have the 
necessary experience and ability to participate in the CLP or PLP 
program.
    (3) Lenders who meet the criteria will be granted CLP or PLP status 
for a period of 5 years.
    (4) PLP status will be conditioned on the lender carrying out its 
credit management system as proposed in its request for PLP status and 
any additional loan making or servicing requirements agreed to and 
documented in an attachment to the Lender's Agreement.
    (e) Monitoring CLP and PLP lenders. CLP and PLP lenders will 
provide information and access to records upon Agency request to permit 
the Agency to monitor the lender for compliance with Agency 
regulations.
    (f) Renewal of CLP or PLP status.
    (1) PLP or CLP status will expire 5 years from the date the 
Lender's Agreement is executed, unless a new Lender's Agreement is 
executed.
    (2) Renewal of PLP or CLP status is not automatic. A lender must 
submit a

[[Page 51473]]

written request for renewal of a Lender's Agreement with PLP or CLP 
status which includes information:
    (i) Updating the material submitted for the initial application; 
and,
    (ii) Addressing any new criteria established by the Agency since 
the initial application.
    (3) PLP or CLP status will be renewed if the applicable eligibility 
criteria under this section are met, and no due cause exists for 
denying renewal under paragraph (g) of this section.
    (g) Revocation of PLP or CLP Status.
    (1) The Agency may revoke the lender's PLP or CLP status at any 
time during the 5 year term for due cause.
    (2) Any of the following instances constitute due cause for 
revoking or not renewing PLP or CLP status:
    (i) Violation of the terms of the Lender's Agreement;
    (ii) Failure to maintain PLP or CLP eligibility criteria;
    (iii) Knowingly submitting false or misleading information to the 
Agency;
    (iv) Basing a request on information known to be false;
    (v) Multiple deficiencies in processing or servicing Agency 
Guaranteed Farm Loan Programs loans in accordance with this subpart;
    (vi) Failure to correct cited deficiencies in loan documents upon 
notification by the Agency;
    (vii) Failure to submit status reports in a timely manner;
    (viii) Failure to use forms, or follow credit management systems 
(for PLP lenders) accepted by the Agency; or
    (ix) Failure to repurchase the guaranteed portion of a loan sold on 
the secondary market upon written request by the holder.
    (3) A lender which has lost PLP or CLP status must be reconsidered 
for eligibility to continue as a Standard Eligible Lender (for former 
PLP and CLP lenders), or as a CLP lender (for former PLP lenders only) 
in submitting loan guarantee requests. They may reapply for CLP or PLP 
status when the problem causing them to lose their status has been 
resolved.


Sec. 1980.107 through 1980.109  [Removed and reserved]

    25. Sections 1980.107 through 1980.109 are removed and reserved.
    26. Section 1980.110 is revised to read as follows:


Sec. 1980.110  Loan Application.

    (a) Loans for $50,000 or less. (1) A complete application for loans 
of $50,000 or less must, at least, consist of:
    (i) the application form;
    (ii) loan narrative;
    (iii) balance sheet;
    (iv) cash flow budget;
    (v) credit report; and,
    (vi) a plan for servicing the loan.
    (2) In addition to the minimum requirements, the lender will 
perform at least the same level of evaluation and documentation for a 
guaranteed loan that the lender typically performs for non-guaranteed 
loans of a similar type and amount.
    (b) Loans for over $50,000. A complete application for loans over 
$50,000 will consist of the items required in paragraph (a) of this 
section plus the following:
    (1) verification of income;
    (2) verification of debts over $1,000;
    (3) 3 years financial history;
    (4) 3 years of production history for Standard Eligible Lenders 
only;
    (5) A proposed loan agreement; and
    (6) If construction or development is planned, a copy of the plans, 
specifications, and development schedule.
    (c) Applications from PLP lenders. Notwithstanding paragraphs (a) 
and (b) of this section, a complete application for PLP lenders will 
consist of at least:
    (1) An application form;
    (2) A loan narrative; and
    (3) Any other items agreed to during the approval of the PLP 
lender's status.
    (d) Submitting applications.
    (1) All lenders must compile and maintain in their files a complete 
application for each guaranteed loan.
    (2) The Agency will notify CLP lenders which items to submit to the 
Agency.
    (3) PLP lenders will submit applications in accordance with their 
agreement with the Agency for PLP status.
    (4) CLP and PLP lenders must certify that the required items are in 
its files.
    (5) Also, the Agency may request additional information from any 
lender or review their loan file as needed to make eligibility and 
approval decisions.
    (e) Incomplete applications. If the lender does not provide the 
information needed to complete its application by the deadline 
established in an Agency notice to the lender, the application will be 
considered withdrawn by the lender.
    (f) Conflict of interest. (1) When a lender applies for a 
guaranteed loan, the lender will inform the Agency in writing of any 
actual or potential conflicts of interest.
    (2) Actual or potential conflicts of interest include:
    (i) The lender or its officers, directors, principal stockholders 
(except stockholders in a Farm Credit System institution that have 
stock requirements to obtain a loan), or other principal owners have a 
substantial financial interest in the loan applicant or borrower.
    (ii) The loan applicant or borrower, a relative of the loan 
applicant or borrower, anyone residing in the household of the loan 
applicant or borrower, any officer, director, stockholder or other 
owner of the loan applicant or borrower holds any stock or other 
evidence of ownership in the lender.
    (iii) The loan applicant or borrower, a relative of the loan 
applicant or borrower, or anyone residing in the household of the loan 
applicant or borrower is an Agency employee.
    (iv) The officers, directors, principal stockholders (except 
stockholders in a Farm Credit System institution that have stock 
requirements to obtain a loan), or other principal owners of the lender 
have substantial business dealings (other than in the normal course of 
business) with the loan applicant or borrower.
    (v) The lender or its officers, directors, principal stockholders, 
or other principal owners have substantial business dealings with an 
Agency employee.
    (3) The lender must furnish additional information to the Agency 
upon request.
    (4) The Agency will not approve the application until the lender 
develops acceptable safeguards to control any actual or potential 
conflicts of interest.


Sec. 1980.113 through 1980.119  [Removed and reserved]

    27. Sections 1980.113 through 1980.119 are removed and reserved.
    28. Sections 1980.120 through 1980.121 are added to read as 
follows:


Sec. 1980.120  Loan applicant eligibility.

    Loan applicants must meet all of the following requirements to be 
eligible for a Guaranteed Operating loan or a Guaranteed Farm Ownership 
loan:
    (a) The loan applicant, and anyone who will execute the promissory 
note, has not caused the Agency a loss by receiving debt forgiveness on 
all or a portion of any direct or guaranteed loan made under the 
authority of the CONACT by debt write-down, write-off, compromise under 
the provisions of section 331 of the CONACT, adjustment, reduction, 
charge-off, or discharge in bankruptcy or through any payment of a 
guaranteed loss claim under the same circumstances. Notwithstanding the 
preceding sentence, applicants who receive a write-down under section 
353 of the CONACT may receive direct and guaranteed OL loans to pay 
annual farm and ranch operating expenses, which includes family 
subsistence, if the applicant meets all other requirements for the 
loan.

[[Page 51474]]

    (b) The loan applicant, and anyone who will execute the promissory 
note, is not delinquent on any Federal debt, other than a debt under 
the Internal Revenue Code of 1996.
    (c) The loan applicant, and anyone who will execute the promissory 
note, have no outstanding recorded judgments obtained by the United 
States in a Federal court. Such judgments do not include those filed by 
the United States Tax Courts.
    (d) Citizenship. (1) The loan applicant is a citizen of the United 
States or an alien lawfully admitted to the United States for permanent 
residence under the Immigration and Nationalization Act. Indefinite 
parolees are not eligible. For an entity applicant, all members of an 
entity must meet the citizenship test.
    (2) Aliens must provide the appropriate Immigration and 
Naturalization Service forms to document their permanent residency.
    (e) The loan applicant must possess the legal capacity to incur the 
obligations of the loan.
    (f) The individual loan applicant, or members of the entity 
applicant, must have sufficient applicable educational, on-the-job 
training, or farming experience in managing and operating a farm or 
ranch which indicates the managerial ability necessary to assure 
reasonable prospects of success in the proposed plan of operation. This 
education, training, or experience must have occurred within the past 5 
years and the experience must have covered an entire production cycle.
    (g) Credit History. (1) The individual or entity loan applicant and 
all entity members must have acceptable credit history demonstrated by 
debt repayment.
    (2) A history of failures to repay past debts as they came due when 
the ability to repay was within their control will demonstrate 
unacceptable credit history.
    (3) Unacceptable credit history will not include:
    (i) Isolated instances of late payments which do not represent a 
pattern and were clearly beyond their control; or,
    (ii) Lack of credit history.
    (h) Test for Credit. (1) The loan applicant is unable to obtain 
sufficient credit elsewhere without a guarantee to finance actual needs 
at reasonable rates and terms.
    (2) The potential for sale of any significant nonessential assets 
will be considered when evaluating the availability of other credit.
    (3) Ownership interests in property and income received by an 
individual or entity loan applicant, or any entity members as 
individuals also will be considered when evaluating the availability of 
other credit to the loan applicant.
    (i) Operating Loans. (1) For Operating Loans, the individual or 
entity loan applicant must be an operator of not larger than a family 
farm after the loan is closed.
    (2) In the case of an entity borrower:
    (i) The entity must be authorized to operate, and own if the entity 
is also an owner, a farm in the state or states in which the farm is 
located; and
    (ii) If the entity members holding a majority interest are related 
by marriage or blood, at least one member of the entity also must 
operate the family farm; or,
    (iii) If the entity members holding a majority interest are not 
related by marriage or blood, the entity members must also operate the 
family farm.
    (j) Farm Ownership Loans. (1) For Farm Ownership Loans, the 
individual or entity loan applicant must be the operator and owner of 
not larger than a family farm after the loan is closed.
    (2) In the case of an entity borrower:
    (i) The entity must be authorized to own and operate a farm in the 
state or states in which the farm is located; and
    (ii) If the entity members holding a majority interest are related 
by marriage or blood, at least one member of the entity also must own 
and operate the family farm; or,
    (iii) If the entity members holding a majority interest are not 
related by marriage or blood, the entity members must also own and 
operate the family farm.
    (k) For entity loan applicants. Entity loan applicants also must 
meet the following eligibility criteria:
    (1) Each entity member's ownership interest may not exceed the 
family farm definition limits;
    (2) The collective ownership interest of all entity members may 
exceed the family farm definition limits only if the following 
conditions are met:
    (i) All of the entity members are related by blood or marriage;
    (ii) All of the members are or will be operators of the entity; 
and,
    (iii) The majority interest holders of the entity must meet the 
requirements of paragraphs (d), (f), (g), and (i) through (j) of this 
section;
    (3) The entity must be controlled by farmers or ranchers engaged 
primarily and directly in farming or ranching in the United States 
after the loan is made; and
    (4) The entity members are individuals and not entities.
    (l) Neither the applicant nor any entity member has been convicted 
of planting, cultivating, growing, producing, harvesting, or storing a 
controlled substance under Federal or state law within the last five 
crop years. ``Controlled substance'' is defined at 21 CFR part 1308. 
Applicants must attest on the Agency application form that it and its 
members, if an entity, have not been convicted of such a crime within 
the relevant period.
    (m) The loan applicant must execute an Agency agreement to meet any 
training requirements in accordance with Sec. 1980.150.


Sec. 1980.121  Loan purposes.

    (a) Operating Loan purposes.
    (1) Loan note guarantee. Loan funds disbursed under a loan note 
guarantee may only be used for the following purposes:
    (i) Payment of costs associated with reorganizing a farm or ranch 
to improve its profitability.
    (ii) Purchase of livestock, including poultry, and farm or ranch 
equipment or fixtures, quotas and bases, and cooperative stock for 
credit, production, processing or marketing purposes.
    (iii) Payment of annual farm or ranch operating expenses, examples 
of which include feed, seed, fertilizer, pesticides, farm or ranch 
supplies, repairs and improvements which are to be expensed, cash rent 
and family subsistence.
    (iv) Payment of scheduled principal and interest payments on term 
debt.
    (v) Other farm and ranch needs.
    (vi) Payment of costs associated with land and water development 
for conservation or use purposes.
    (vii) Refinancing indebtedness incurred for any authorized OL loan 
purpose, when the lender and loan applicant can demonstrate the need to 
refinance.
    (viii) Payment of loan closing costs.
    (ix) Payment of costs associated with complying with Federal or 
State-approved standards under the Occupational Safety and Health Act 
of 1970 (29 U.S.C. Sec. Sec. 655 and 667). This purpose is limited to 
applicants who demonstrate that compliance with the standards will 
cause them substantial economic injury.
    (x) Payment of training costs required or recommended by the 
Agency.
    (2) Contract of guarantee--line of credit. Lines of credit may be 
advanced only for the following purposes:
    (i) Payment of annual operating expenses, family subsistence, and 
purchase of feeder animals.
    (ii) Payment of current annual operating debts advanced for the 
current operating cycle. Under no circumstances can carry-over 
operating debts from a previous operating cycle be refinanced.

[[Page 51475]]

    (iii) Purchase of routine capital assets, such as replacement of 
livestock, that will be repaid within the operating cycle.
    (iv) Payment of scheduled, non-delinquent, term debt payments.
    (v) Purchase of cooperative stock for credit, production, 
processing or marketing purposes.
    (vi) Payment of loan closing costs.
    (b) Farm Ownership loan purposes. Guaranteed FO loans are 
authorized only to:
    (1) Acquire or enlarge a farm or ranch. Examples include, but are 
not limited to, providing down payments, purchasing easements for the 
loan applicant's portion of land being subdivided, and participating in 
the Beginning Farmer Downpayment Farm Ownership program under part 
1943, subpart A, of this chapter.
    (2) Make capital improvements. Examples include, but are not 
limited to, the construction, purchase, and improvement of farm 
dwellings, service buildings and facilities that can be made fixtures 
to the real estate. Capital improvements to leased land may be financed 
subject to the limitations in Sec. 1980.122.
    (3) Promote soil and water conservation and protection. Examples 
include the correction of hazardous environmental conditions, and the 
construction or installation of tiles, terraces and waterways.
    (4) Pay closing costs, including but not limited to, purchasing 
stock in a cooperative, and appraisal and survey fees.
    (5) Refinancing indebtedness incurred for authorized loan purposes, 
provided the lender and loan applicant demonstrate the need to 
refinance the debt.
    (c) Highly Erodible Land or Wetlands Conservation.
    (1) Loans may not be made for any purpose which contributes to 
excessive erosion of highly erodible land or to the conversion of 
wetlands to produce an agricultural commodity.
    (2) A decision by the Agency to reject an application for this 
reason is appealable. However, an appeal questioning either the 
presence of a wetland, converted wetland, or highly erodible land on a 
particular property must be filed directly with the USDA agency making 
the determination in accordance with its appeal procedures.
    (d) Loans may not be used to satisfy judgment debts filed in the 
United States Federal courts. However, Internal Revenue Service 
judgment liens may be paid with loan funds.
    29. Sections 1980.122 through 1980.126 are revised to read as 
follows:


Sec. 1980.122  Loan Limitations.

    (a) OL limitations. (1) The total outstanding combined OL direct 
and guaranteed principal balance owed by the loan applicant or anyone 
who will sign the note must not exceed $400,000 at loan closing.
    (2) The total dollar amount of line of credit advances and income 
releases cannot exceed the total estimated expenses, less interest 
expense, as indicated on the borrower's plan, unless the plan is 
revised and continues to reflect a feasible plan.
    (3) Term Limitations. (i) General. No guaranteed OL loan shall be 
made to any loan applicant after the 15th year that a loan applicant, 
or any individual signing the promissory note, received direct or 
guaranteed OL loans.
    (ii) Transition rule. If a borrower was indebted for a direct or 
guaranteed OL loan on October 28, 1992, and had any combination of 
direct or guaranteed OL loans closed in 10 or more prior calendar 
years, eligibility to receive new guaranteed OL loans is extended for 5 
additional years from October 28, 1992, and the years need not run 
consecutively. However, in the case of a line of credit, each year in 
which an advance is made after October 28, 1992, counts toward the 5 
additional years. Once determined eligible, a loan or line of credit 
may be approved for any authorized term.
    (b) FO limitations. (1) The total outstanding combined FO and SW 
direct and guaranteed principal balance owed by the loan applicant or 
anyone who will sign the note must not exceed $300,000 at loan closing.
    (2) Leased Land. When FO funds are used for improvements to leased 
land the terms of the lease must provide reasonable assurance that the 
loan applicant will have use of the improvement over its useful life, 
or provides compensation for any unexhausted value of the improvement 
if the lease is terminated.
    (c) Tax-exempt transactions. The Agency will not guarantee any loan 
or line of credit made with the proceeds of any obligation the interest 
on which is excludable from income under Section 103 of the Internal 
Revenue Code of 1954, as amended. Funds generated through the issuance 
of tax-exempt obligations may not be used to purchase the guaranteed 
portion of any Agency guaranteed loan or line of credit nor may an 
Agency guaranteed loan or line of credit serve as collateral for a tax-
exempt issue.


Sec. 1980.123  Insurance and farm inspection requirements.

    (a) Insurance. (1) Lenders are responsible for ensuring that 
borrowers maintain adequate property, public liability, and crop 
insurance coverage to protect the lender and Government's interests.
    (2) By loan closing, loan applicants must either:
    (i) Obtain at least the catastrophic risk protection (CAT) level of 
crop insurance coverage, if available, for each crop of economic 
significance, as defined by part 402 of this title, or
    (ii) Waive eligibility for emergency crop loss assistance in 
connection with the uninsured crop. EM loss loan assistance under part 
1945, subpart D, of this chapter is not considered emergency crop loss 
assistance for purposes of this waiver.
    (3) Loan applicants must purchase flood insurance if buildings are 
or will be located in a special flood or mudslide hazard area and if 
flood insurance is available.
    (4) Insurance, including crop insurance, also must be obtained as 
required by the lender or the Agency based on the strengths and 
weaknesses of the loan.
    (b) Farm inspections. Before submitting an application the lender 
must make an inspection of the farm to assess the suitability of the 
farm and to determine any development that is needed to make it a 
suitable farm.


Sec. 1980.124  Interest rates, terms, charges, and fees.

    (a) Interest rates. (1) Fixed or variable. The interest rate on a 
guaranteed loan or line of credit may be fixed or variable as agreed 
upon by the borrower and the lender.
    The lender may charge different rates on the guaranteed and the 
non-guaranteed portions of the note. The guaranteed portion may be 
fixed while the unguaranteed portion may be variable, or vice versa. If 
both portions are variable, different bases may be used.
    (2) Variable rate. If a variable rate is used, it must be tied to a 
rate specifically agreed to by the lender and borrower in the loan 
instruments. Variable rates may change according to the normal 
practices of the lender for its average farm customers, but the 
frequency of change must be specified in the loan or line of credit 
instrument.
    (3) Ceiling. Neither the interest rate on the guaranteed portion 
nor the unguaranteed portion may exceed the rate the lender charges its 
average farm customer. At the request of the Agency, the lender must 
provide evidence of the

[[Page 51476]]

rate charged the average farm customer. This evidence may consist of 
average yield data, or documented administrative differential rate 
schedule formulas used by the lender.
    (4) Interest charges. Interest must be charged only on the actual 
amount of funds advanced and for the actual time the funds are 
outstanding. Interest on protective advances made by the lender to 
protect the security may be charged at the rate specified in the 
security instruments.
    (5) Interest assistance program. The lender and borrower may 
collectively obtain a temporary reduction in the interest rate through 
the Interest Assistance program in accordance with Exhibit D of this 
subpart.
    (b) OL terms. (1) Loan funds or advances on a line of credit used 
to pay annual operating expenses will be repaid when the income from 
the year's operation is received, except when the borrower is 
establishing a new enterprise, developing a farm, purchasing feed while 
feed crops are being established, or recovering from disaster or 
economic reverses.
    (2) The final maturity date for each loan cannot exceed 7 years 
from the date of the promissory note or line of credit agreement. 
Advances for purposes other than for annual operating expenses will be 
scheduled for repayment over the minimum period necessary considering 
the loan applicant's ability to repay and the useful life of the 
security, but not in excess of 7 years.
    (3) Balloon installments under Loan Note Guarantee.
    (i) Extended repayment schedules may include equal, unequal, or 
balloon installments if needed to establish a new enterprise, develop a 
farm, or recover from a disaster or an economical reversal.
    (ii) Loans with balloon installments must have adequate collateral 
at the time the balloon installment comes due. Crops, livestock, or 
livestock products produced are not sufficient collateral for securing 
such a loan.
    (iii) The borrower must likely be able to refinance the remaining 
debt at the time the balloon payment comes due based on the expected 
financial condition of the operation, the depreciated value of the 
collateral, and the principal balance on the loan.
    (4) All advances on a line of credit must be made within 5 years 
from the date of the Contract of Guarantee.
    (c) FO terms. Each loan must be scheduled for repayment over a 
period not to exceed 40 years from the date of the note or a shorter 
period as may be necessary to assure that the loan will be adequately 
secured, taking into account the probable depreciation of the security.
    (d) Charges and Fees.
    (1) Routine charges and fees. The lender may charge the loan 
applicant and borrower fees for the loan provided they are no greater 
than those charged to nonguaranteed customers for similar transactions. 
The lender may not charge, or cause to be charged, any processing or 
packaging fees not charged to nonguaranteed customers for similar 
transactions. Similar transactions are those involving the same type of 
loan requested (for example, operating loans or farm real estate 
loans).
    (2) Late payment charges. Late payment charges (including default 
interest charges) are not covered by the guarantee. These charges may 
not be added to the principal and interest due under any guaranteed 
note or line of credit. However, late payment charges may be made 
outside of the guarantee if they are routinely made by the lender in 
similar types of loan transactions.
    (3) Lenders may not charge a loan origination and servicing fee 
greater than 1 percent of the loan amount for the life of the loan when 
a guaranteed loan is made in conjunction with a down payment FO loan 
for beginning farmers under part 1943, subpart A, of this chapter.


Sec. 1980.125  Financial Feasibility.

    (a) General. (1) Notwithstanding any other provision of this 
section, PLP lenders will follow their internal procedures on financial 
feasibility as agreed to by the Agency during their PLP certification.
    (2) The loan applicant's proposed operation must project a positive 
cash flow as determined by the Agency.
    (3) For standard eligible lenders, the projected income and 
expenses of the borrower and operation used to determine positive cash 
flow must be based on the loan applicant's proven record of production 
and financial management.
    (4) For CLP lenders, the projected income and expenses of the 
borrower and operation will be based on the loan applicant's financial 
history and proven record of financial management.
    (5) The plan of operation analyzed to determine positive cash flow 
must represent the predicted cash flow of the operating cycle.
    (6) Lenders must use price forecasts that are reasonable and 
defensible. Sources must be documented by the lender and acceptable to 
the Agency.
    (7) When positive cash flow depends on income from other sources in 
addition to income from owned land, the income must be dependable and 
likely to continue.
    (8) The lender will analyze business ventures other than the farm 
operation to determine their soundness and contribution to the 
operation. Guaranteed loan funds will not be used to finance a nonfarm 
enterprise. Nonfarm enterprises include, but are not limited to: 
raising earthworms, exotic birds, tropical fish, dogs, or horses for 
nonfarm purposes; welding shops; roadside stands; boarding horses; and 
riding stables.
    (9) When the loan applicant has or will have a farm operating plan 
developed in conjunction with a proposed or existing Agency direct 
loan, the two plans must be consistent.
    (b) Estimating production. (1) Standard eligible lenders must use 
the best sources of information available for estimating production in 
accordance with this subsection when developing operating plans.
    (2) Deviations from historical performance may be acceptable, if 
specific to changes in operation and adequately justified and 
acceptable to the Agency.
    (3) For existing farmers, actual production for the past 3 years 
will be utilized.
    (4) For those farmers without a proven history, a combination of 
any actual history and any other reliable source of information that 
are agreeable with the lender, the loan applicant, and the Agency will 
be used.
    (5) When the production of a growing commodity can be estimated, it 
must be considered when projecting yields.
    (6) When the loan applicant's production history has been so 
severely affected by a declared disaster that an accurate projection 
cannot be made, the following applies:
    (i) County average yields are used for the disaster year if the 
loan applicant's disaster year yields are less that the county average 
yields. If county average yields are not available, State average 
yields are used. Adjustments can be made providing there is factual 
evidence to demonstrate that the yield used in the farm plan is the 
most probable to be realized.
    (ii) To calculate a historical yield, the crop year with the lowest 
actual or county average yield may be excluded, provided the loan 
applicant's yields were affected by disasters at least 2 of the past 5 
years.
    (c) Refinancing. Loan guarantee requests for refinancing must 
ensure that a reasonable chance for success still exists. The lender 
must demonstrate that problems with the loan applicant's operation have 
been identified can be

[[Page 51477]]

corrected and the operation returned to a sound financial basis.


Sec. 1980.126  Security requirements.

    (a) General. (1) The lender is responsible for ensuring that proper 
and adequate security is obtained and maintained to fully secure the 
loan, protect the interest of the lender and the Agency, and assure 
repayment of the loan or line of credit.
    (2) The lender will obtain a lien on additional security when 
necessary to protect the Government's interest.
    (b) Guaranteed and unguaranteed portions. (1) All security must 
secure the entire loan or line of credit. The lender may not take 
separate security to secure only that portion of the loan or line of 
credit not covered by the guarantee.
    (2) The lender may not require compensating balances or 
certificates of deposit as means of eliminating the lender's exposure 
on the unguaranteed portion of the loan or line of credit. However, 
compensating balances or certificates of deposit as otherwise used in 
the ordinary course of business are allowed.
    (c) Identifiable security. The guaranteed loan must be secured by 
identifiable collateral. To be identifiable, the lender must be able to 
distinguish the collateral item and adequately describe it in the 
security instrument.
    (d) Type of security. (1) Typically, annual operating loans will be 
secured by crops and livestock, loans to be repaid within 2 to 7 years 
by breeding livestock and equipment, and loans repaid over greater than 
7 years by real estate. However, guaranteed loans may be secured by any 
property provided the term of the loan and expected life of the 
property will not cause the loan to be undersecured.
    (2) For loans with terms greater than 7 years, a lien must be taken 
on real estate.
    (3) Loans can be secured by a mortgage on leasehold properties if 
the lease has a negotiable value and is mortgageable.
    (4) The lender or Agency may require additional personal or 
corporate guarantees, or both, to adequately secure the loan. These 
guarantees are separate from, and in addition to, the personal 
obligations arising from members of an entity signing the note as 
individuals.
    (e) Lien position. All guaranteed loans will be secured by the best 
lien obtainable provided:
    (1) When the loan is made for refinancing purposes, the guaranteed 
loan must hold a security position no lower than on the existing loan.
    (2) Any chattel-secured guaranteed loan must have a higher lien 
priority (including purchase money interest) than an unguaranteed loan 
secured by the same chattels and held by the same lender. Also, 
guaranteed loan installments will be paid before unguaranteed loans 
held by the same lender.
    (3) Junior lien positions are acceptable only if the equity 
position is strong. Junior liens on livestock, crops, or livestock 
products will not be relied upon for security unless the lender is 
involved in multiple guaranteed loans to the same borrower, and also 
has first lien on the collateral.
    (4) Any loan of $10,000 or less may be secured by the best lien 
obtainable on real estate without title clearance or legal services 
normally required, provided the lender believes from a search of the 
county records that the loan applicant can give a mortgage on the farm. 
This exception to title clearance will not apply when land is to be 
purchased.
    (5) When taking a junior lien, prior lien instruments may not 
contain future advance clauses (except for taxes, insurance, or other 
reasonable costs to protect security), or cancellation, summary 
forfeiture, or other clauses that jeopardize the Government's or the 
lender's interest or the borrower's ability to pay the guaranteed loan, 
unless any such undesirable provisions are limited, modified, waived or 
subordinated insofar as the Government and the lender are concerned.
    (f) Multiple owners. If security has multiple owners, all owners 
must pledge security for the loan.
    (g) Nonessential assets. A lien will be taken on all significant 
nonessential assets.
    (h) The Agency has the authority to grant an exception to any of 
the requirements involving security, if the proposed change is in the 
best interest of the Government and the collectability of the loan will 
not be impaired.
    30. Sections 1980.127 through 1980.128 are added to read as 
follows:


Sec. 1980.127  Appraisal requirements.

    (a) General.
    (1) The Agency may require a lender to obtain an appraisal based on 
the type of security, loan size, and whether it is primary or 
additional security.
    (2) Except for authorized liquidation expenses, the lender is 
responsible for all appraisal costs, which may be passed on to the 
borrower, or a transferee in the case of a transfer and assumption.
    (b) Exception. Notwithstanding other provisions of this section, an 
appraisal is not required in the following cases:
    (1) For any additional security.
    (2) For loans of $50,000 or less if a strong equity position exists 
as determined by the Agency.
    (c) Chattel appraisals. (1) A current appraisal (not more than 12 
months old) of primary chattel security generally is required on all 
loans. An appraisal for loans or lines of credit for annual production 
purposes that are secured by crops is only required when a loan note or 
line of credit guarantee is requested late in the current production 
year and actual yields can be reasonably estimated.
    (2) The appraised value of chattel property will be based on public 
sales of the same, or similar, property in the market area. In the 
absence of such public sales, reputable publications reflecting market 
values may be used.
    (3) Appraisal reports may be on the Agency's Appraisal of Chattel 
Property form or on any other appraisal form containing at least the 
same information.
    (4) Chattel appraisals will be performed by appraisers who possess 
sufficient experience or training to establish market (not retail) 
values as determined by the Agency.
    (d) Real estate appraisals.
    (1) A current real estate appraisal is required when real estate 
will be primary security. Agency officials may accept an existing 
appraisal only if the appraisal was properly completed within the past 
12 months, or older if updated by a qualified appraiser, and there have 
been no significant changes in the market or on the subject real 
estate.
    (2) Appraiser qualifications. (i) On loan transactions of $250,000 
or less, the lender must demonstrate to the Agency's satisfaction that 
the appraiser possesses sufficient experience or training to estimate 
market values.
    (ii) On loan transactions greater than $250,000, which includes 
principal plus accrued interest through the closing date, the appraisal 
must be completed by a state certified general appraiser. A loan 
transaction is defined as any loan approval or servicing action.
    (3) Appraisal reports. Real estate appraisal reports must be 
completed in accordance with the Uniform Standards of Professional 
Appraisal Practice. Appraisals may be either a complete or limited 
appraisal provided in a self-contained or summary format. Restricted 
reports are not acceptable.


Sec. 1980.128  Environmental and special laws

    (a) Environmental requirements. The requirements found in part 
1940, subpart G, of this chapter must be met for guaranteed operating 
and farm

[[Page 51478]]

ownership loans. CLP and PLP lenders may certify that they have 
documentation in their file to demonstrate compliance with paragraph 
(c) of this section. Standard eligible lenders must submit evidence 
supporting compliance with this section.
    (b) Determination. The Agency determination of whether an 
environmental problem exists will be based on:
    (1) The information supplied with the application;
    (2) The Agency's personal knowledge of the operation;
    (3) Environmental resources available to the Agency including, but 
not limited to, documents, third parties, and governmental agencies;
    (4) A visit to the farm operation when the available information is 
insufficient to make a determination;
    (5) Other information supplied by the lender or loan applicant upon 
Agency request.
    (c) Special requirements. Lenders will assist in the environmental 
review process by providing environmental information. In all cases, 
the lender must retain documentation of their investigation in the 
applicant or borrower's case file.
    (1) Floodplains. A determination must be made as to whether there 
are any structures located within a 100 year floodplain as defined by 
Federal Emergency Management Agency floodplain maps, Natural Resources 
Conservation Service data, or other appropriate documentation. 
Floodplain determinations will be documented by using the Standard 
Flood HazardDetermination Form.
    (2) Water quality standards. The lender will consult with the 
Agency for guidance on activities which require consultation with State 
regulatory agencies, special permitting or waste management plans. The 
lender will also assist in securing any applicable permits or plans.
    (3) Historical or archeological sites. The lender will consult with 
the Agency for guidance on which situations will need further review in 
accordance with the National Historical Preservation Act and part 1940, 
subpart G, and part 1901, subpart F, of this chapter. The lender will 
examine the security property to determine if there are any structures 
or archeological sites which are listed or may be eligible for listing 
in the National Register of Historic Places.
    (4) Wetlands and highly erodible land. The loan applicant must 
certify they will not violate the Food Security Act provisions relating 
to Highly Erodible Land and Wetland Conservation.
    (5) Hazardous substances. All lenders are required to ensure that 
due diligence is performed in conjunction with a request for guarantee 
involving real estate. Due diligence is the process of evaluating real 
estate in the context of a real estate transaction to determine the 
presence of contamination from release of hazardous substances, 
petroleum products, or other environmental hazards and determining what 
effect, if any, the contamination has on the security value of the 
property. The Agency will accept as evidence of due diligence the most 
current version of the American Society of Testing Materials (ASTM) 
Transaction Screen Questionnaire available from 1916 Race Street, 
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103, or similar documentation, 
supplemented as necessary by the ASTM Phase I Environmental Site 
Assessments form.
    (d) Equal opportunity and nondiscrimination.
    (1) With respect to any aspect of a credit transaction, the lender 
will not discriminate against any applicant on the basis of race, 
color, religion, national origin, age, sex, marital status, or physical 
or mental handicap, provided the applicant can execute a legal 
contract. Nor will the lender discriminate on the basis of whether all 
or a part of the applicant's income derives from any public assistance 
program, or whether the applicant in good faith, exercises any rights 
under the Consumer Protection Act.
    (2) Where the guaranteed loan involves construction, contractor or 
subcontractor must file all compliance reports, equal opportunity and 
nondiscrimination forms, and otherwise comply with all regulations 
prescribed by the Secretary of Labor pursuant to Executive Orders 11246 
and 11375.
    (e) Other Federal, State and local requirements. Lenders are 
required to coordinate with all appropriate Federal, State, and local 
agencies and comply with special laws and regulations applicable to the 
loan proposal.
    31. Sections 1980.129 and 1980.130 are revised to read as follows:


Sec. 1980.129  Percent of guarantee and maximum loss.

    (a) General. The percent of guarantee will not exceed 90 percent as 
determined by the Agency based on the credit risk to the lender and the 
Agency both before and after the transaction.
    (b) Exceptions. The guarantee will be issued at 95 percent in any 
of the following circumstances:
    (1) The sole purpose of a guaranteed FO or OL loan is to refinance 
an Agency direct farm loan. When only a portion of the loan is used to 
refinance a direct Agency farm credit program loan, a weighted 
percentage of a guarantee will be provided;
    (2) When the purpose of an FO loan guarantee is to participate in 
the down payment loan program; or
    (3) When a guaranteed OL is made to a farmer or rancher who is 
participating in the Agency's down payment loan program. The guaranteed 
OL must be made during the period that a borrower has the down payment 
loan outstanding.
    (c) PLP guarantees. All guarantees issued to PLP lenders ineligible 
for 95 percent guarantees under this section will be guaranteed at 80 
percent.
    (d) CLP Guarantees. All guarantees issued to CLP lenders will not 
be less than 80 percent.
    (e) Maximum loss. The maximum amount the Agency will pay the lender 
under the Loan Note Guarantee or Contract of Guarantee will be any loss 
sustained by such lender on the guaranteed portion including:
    (1) Principal and interest indebtedness as evidenced by the note or 
by assumption agreement;
    (2) Any loan subsidy due and owing;
    (3) Principal and interest indebtedness on secured protective 
advances for protection and preservation of collateral made in 
accordance with this subpart; and
    (4) Principal and interest indebtedness on recapture debt pursuant 
to a Shared Appreciation agreement provided the lender has paid the 
Agency its pro rata share of the recapture amount due.


Sec. 1980.130  Loan approval and issuing the guarantee.

    (a) Processing timeframes.
    (1) Standard Eligible Lenders. Complete applications from Standard
    Eligible Lenders will be approved or rejected, and the lender 
notified in writing, no later than 30 calendar days after receipt.
    (2) CLP and PLP lenders.
    (i) Complete applications from CLP or PLP lenders will be approved 
or rejected not later than 14 calendar days after receipt.
    (ii) For PLP lenders, if this time frame is not met, the proposed 
guaranteed loan will automatically be approved, subject to funding, and 
receive an 80 percent guarantee.
    (b) Funding preference. Loans are approved subject to the 
availability of funding. When it appears that there are not adequate 
funds to meet the needs of all approved loan applicants, applications 
that have been approved will be placed on a preference list

[[Page 51479]]

according to the date of receipt of a complete application. If approved 
applications have been received on the same day, the following will be 
given priority:
    (1) An application from a veteran
    (2) An application from an Agency direct loan borrower
    (3) An application from a loan applicant who:
    (i) Has a dependent family, or
    (ii) Is an owner of livestock and farm implements necessary to 
successfully carry out farming operations, or
    (iii) Is able to make down payments.
    (iv) Any other approved application.
    (c) Conditional Commitment.
    (1) The lender must meet all of the conditions specified in the 
conditional commitment to secure final Agency approval of the 
guarantee.
    (2) The lender, after reviewing the conditions listed on the 
Conditional Commitment, will complete, execute, and return the form to 
the Agency. If the conditions are not acceptable to the lender, the 
Agency may agree to alternatives or inform the lender and the loan 
applicant of their appeal rights.
    (d) Lender requirements prior to issuing the guarantee.
    (1) Lender certification. The lender will certify as to the 
following on the appropriate Agency form:
    (i) No major changes have been made in the lender's loan or line of 
credit conditions and requirements since the issuance of the 
Conditional Commitment (except those approved in the interim by the 
Agency in writing);
    (ii) Required hazard, flood, or Federal crop insurance, worker's 
compensation, and personal life insurance (when required) are in 
effect;
    (iii) Truth in lending requirements have been met;
    (iv) All equal employment opportunity and nondiscrimination 
requirements have been or will be met at the appropriate time;
    (v) The loan or line of credit has been properly closed, and the 
required security instruments have been obtained, or will be obtained, 
on any acquired property that cannot be recovered initially under State 
law;
    (vi) The borrower has a marketable title to the collateral owned by 
the borrower, subject to the instrument securing the loan or line of 
credit to be guaranteed and subject to any other exceptions approved in 
writing by the Agency. When required, an assignment on all USDA crop 
and livestock program payment has been obtained;
    (vii) When required, personal, joint operation, partnership, or 
corporate guarantees have been obtained;
    (viii) Liens have been perfected and priorities are consistent with 
requirements of the Conditional Commitment;
    (ix) Loan proceeds have been, or will be disbursed for purposes and 
in amounts consistent with the Conditional Commitment and as specified 
on the loan application. In line of credit cases, if any advances have 
occurred, advances have been disbursed for purposes and in amounts 
consistent with the Conditional Commitment and Line of Credit 
Agreements;
    (x) There has been no material adverse changes in the borrower's 
condition, financial or otherwise, during the period of time from the 
Agency's issuance of the Conditional Commitment to issuance of the 
guarantee; and
    (xi) All other requirements specified in the Conditional Commitment 
have been met.
    (2) Inspections. The lender must notify the Agency of any scheduled 
inspections during construction and after the guarantee has been 
issued. The Agency may attend these field inspections. Any inspections 
or review performed by the Agency, including those with the lender, are 
for the benefit of the Agency only. Agency inspections do not relieve 
any other parties of their inspection responsibilities, nor can these 
parties rely on Agency inspections in any manner.
    (3) Execution of Lender's Agreement. The lender must execute the 
Agency's lender's agreement and deliver it to the Agency.
    (4) Closing report and guarantee fees. (i) The lender must complete 
a Closing Report and return it to the Agency along with any guarantee 
fees.
    (ii) Guarantee fees are 1 percent and are calculated as follows: 
Initial Fee = Loan Amount  x  % Guaranteed  x  .01. The nonrefundable 
fee is paid to the Agency by the lender. The fee may be passed on to 
the borrower and included in loan funds.
    (iii) The following guaranteed loan transactions are not charged a 
fee:
    (A) Loans involving interest assistance;
    (B) Loans where a majority of the funds are used to refinance an 
Agency direct loan; and
    (C) Loans to beginning farmers or ranchers involved in the direct 
beginning farmer downpayment program.
    (e) Promissory notes, line of credit agreements, mortgages, and 
security agreements. The lender will use its own promissory notes, line 
of credit agreements, real estate mortgages (including deeds of trust 
and similar instruments), and security agreements (including chattel 
mortgages in Louisiana and Puerto Rico), provided:
    (1) The forms are consistent and meet Agency requirements;
    (2) Documents comply with state law and regulation;
    (3) The principal and interest repayment schedules are stated 
clearly in the notes and consistent with the conditional commitment;
    (4) Promissory notes are signed as follows:
    (i) For individuals, only one person signs the note as a borrower. 
If a cosigner is needed, the cosigner also signs the note.
    (ii) For entities, the note is executed by the member who is 
authorized to sign for the entity, and by all members of the entity as 
individuals. Individual liability can be waived by the Agency for 
members holding less than 10 percent ownership in the entity if the 
collectability of the loan will not be impaired; and
    (5) When the loan purpose is to refinance or restructure the 
lender's own debt, the lender may continue to use the existing debt 
instrument and attach an allonge that modifies the terms of the 
original note.
    (f) Replacement of Loan Note Guarantee, Contract of Guarantee, or 
Assignment Guarantee Agreement. If the guarantee or assignment 
guarantee agreements are lost, stolen, destroyed, mutilated, or 
defaced, except where the evidence of debt was or is a bearer 
instrument, the Agency will issue a replacement to the lender or holder 
upon receipt of acceptable documentation including a certificate of 
loss and an indemnity bond.


Sec. 1980.131  [Removed and reserved]

    32. Section 1980.131 is removed and reserved.


Sec. 1980.136  [Removed and reserved]

    33. Section 1980.136 is removed and reserved.


Sec. 1980.139  [Removed and reserved]

    34. Section 1980.139 is removed and reserved.
    35. Sections 1980.140 through 1980.143 are added to read as 
follows:


Sec. 1980.140  General servicing responsibilities.

    (a) General. (1) Lenders are responsible for servicing the entire 
loan in a reasonable and prudent manner, protecting and accounting for 
the collateral, and remaining the mortgagee r secured party of record.
    (2) The lender cannot enforce the guarantee to the extent that a 
loss results from a violation of usury laws or negligent servicing.

[[Page 51480]]

    (b) Borrower supervision. The lender's responsibilities regarding 
borrower supervision include, but are not limited to the following:
    (1) Ensuring loan funds are not used for an unauthorized purpose.
    (2) Ensuring borrower compliance with the covenants and provisions 
provided in the note, loan agreement, security instruments, any other 
agreements, and this subpart. Any violations which indicate non-
compliance on the part of the borrower, must be reported, in writing, 
to both the Agency and the borrower.
    (3) Ensure the borrower is in compliance with all laws and 
ordinances applicable to the loan, the collateral, and the operations 
of the farm.
    (4) Receive all payments of principal and interest on the loan as 
they fall due and promptly disburse to any holder its pro-rata share 
according to the amount of interest the holder has in the loan, less 
only the lender's servicing fee.
    (5) Perform an annual analysis of the borrower's financial 
condition to determine the borrower's progress. The annual analysis 
will include:
    (i) For loans secured by real estate only, the analysis for 
standard eligible lenders must include a Statement of Financial 
Condition. CLP lenders will determine the need for the annual analysis 
based on the financial strength of the borrower and document the file 
accordingly. PLP lenders will perform a borrower analysis in accordance 
with the requirements established when the Lender's Agreement was 
signed.
    (ii) For loans secured by chattels, all lenders will review the 
borrower's progress regarding liquidity, solvency, profitability, 
repayment capacity and financial and production efficiency, including a 
comparison of actual to planned income and expenses for the past year.
    (iii) An account for the whereabouts or disposition of all 
collateral.
    (iv) A discussion of any observations about the farm business with 
the borrower.
    (v) Verification that the borrower and any party liable for the 
loan is not released from liability for all or any part of the loan, 
except in accordance with Agency regulations.
    (c) Monitoring of development. The lender's responsibilities 
regarding the construction, repairs, or other development include, but 
are not limited to:
    (1) Determining that all construction is completed as proposed in 
the loan application;
    (2) Making periodic inspections during construction to ensure that 
any development is properly completed within a reasonable period of 
time; and
    (3) Verification that the security is free of any mechanic's, 
materialmen's, or other liens which would affect the priority of the 
lender's lien which the lender agreed would be taken on the security.


Sec. 1980.141  Reporting requirements.

    Lenders are responsible for providing the local Agency credit 
officer with all of the following information on the loan and the 
borrower:
    (a) When a loan becomes 30 days past due, all lenders will submit 
the appropriate Agency form showing guaranteed loan borrower default 
status. The form will be resubmitted every 60 days until the default is 
resolved;.
    (b) All lenders will provide the appropriate Agency guaranteed loan 
status reports as of March 31 and September 30 of each year;
    (c) PLP lenders also must provide periodic reports as agreed on the 
application and the requirements established when the Lender's 
Agreement was signed.
    (d) CLP lenders also must provide the following:
    (1) A narrative indicating that an annual borrower analysis has 
been performed and the borrower's progress is acceptable, unless such 
analysis was not needed based on the borrower's financial strength. The 
reasons for not conducting an analysis will be documented in the 
narrative.
    (2) For lines of credit, an annual certification stating that a 
projected cash flow has been developed and is feasible, that the 
borrower is in compliance with the provisions of the line of credit 
agreement, and that the previous year income and loan funds and 
security proceeds have been accounted for.
    (e) The standard eligible lender also will provide:
    (1) Borrower's Statement of Financial Condition, and Income and 
Expense Statement for the previous year.
    (2) For lines of credit, the projected cash flow for the borrower's 
operation for the upcoming operating cycle. The standard eligible 
lender must receive approval from the Agency before advancing future 
years' funds.
    (3) An annual farm inspection report.
    (f) A lender receiving a final loss payment must complete and 
return an annual report on its collection activities for each 
unsatisfied account for 3 years following payment of the final loss 
claim.


Sec. 1980.142  Servicing related to collateral.

    (a) General. The lender's responsibilities regarding servicing 
collateral include, but are not limited to, the following:
    (1) Obtain income assignments when required.
    (2) Ensure the borrower has or obtains marketable title to the 
collateral.
    (3) Inspect the collateral as often as deemed necessary to properly 
service the loan.
    (4) Ensure the borrower does not convert loan security.
    (5) Ensure proceeds from the sale or other disposition of 
collateral are accounted for and applied in accordance with the lien 
priorities on which the guarantee is based or used for the purchase of 
replacement collateral.
    (6) Ensure the loan and the collateral are protected in the event 
of foreclosure, bankruptcy, receivership, insolvency, condemnation, or 
other litigation.
    (7) Ensure taxes, assessments, or ground rents against or affecting 
the collateral are paid.
    (8) Ensure adequate insurance is maintained.
    (9) Ensure that insurance loss payments, condemnation awards, or 
similar proceeds are applied on debts in accordance with lien 
priorities on which the guarantee was based, or used to rebuild or 
acquire needed replacement collateral.
    (b) Partial releases and transfers and assumptions. Partial 
releases and transfers and assumptions are subject to the following 
conditions:
    (1) For standard eligible and CLP lenders, the servicing action 
must be approved by the Agency in writing.
    (2) In the case of standard eligible and CLP lenders, the request 
for Agency approval will include:
    (i) An application provided by the Agency;
    (ii) A narrative explaining then proposed servicing action;
    (iii) A current balance sheet on the borrower;
    (iv) A projected cash flow budget showing a positive cash flow 
after the proposed servicing action;
    (v) A current appraisal of the guaranteed loan security, unless the 
lenders guaranteed loan lien position will not be adversely affected;
    (vi) Any other information requested by the Agency needed to 
evaluate the proposed servicing action;
    (3) PLP lenders will request servicing approval in accordance with 
their agreement with the Agency at the time of PLP status 
certification.
    (4) Any required security appraisals must meet the requirements of 
Sec. 1980.127.
    (5) The Agency will review and approve or reject the request and 
notify a standard eligible lender within 30

[[Page 51481]]

calendar days, and CLP and PLP lenders within 14 calendar days, from 
receipt of a complete request for servicing.
    (6) The lender will provide the Agency copies of any agreements 
executed to carry out the servicing action.
    (c) Subordinations. (1) Subordinating direct loan security to 
secure a guaranteed loan. The Agency may subordinate its security 
interest on a direct loan when a guaranteed loan is being made if, as 
appropriate, the requirements of Sec. 1962.30 of subpart A of part 1962 
of this chapter and Sec. 1965.12 of subpart A of part 1965 of this 
chapter are met and only in any of the following circumstances:
    (i) To permit a guaranteed lender to advance funds and perfect a 
security interest in crops, feeder livestock, or livestock products, 
(e.g., milk, eggs, wool, etc.);
    (ii) When the lender requesting the guarantee needs the 
subordination of the Agency's lien position to maintain its lien 
position when servicing or restructuring;
    (iii) When the lender requesting the guarantee is refinancing the 
debt of another lender and the Agency's position on real estate 
security will not be adversely affected; or
    (iv) To permit a Contract of Guarantee--Line of Credit to be 
advanced for annual operating expenses.
    (v) The Agency may subordinate its basic security in a direct loan 
under paragraph (c)(1)(iv) of this section only when both of the 
following additional conditions are met:
    (A) The total unpaid balance of the direct loans is less than or 
equal to 75 percent of the value of all of the security for the direct 
loans, excluding the value of growing crops or planned production, at 
the time of the subordination. The direct loan security value will be 
determined by an appraisal. The lender requesting the subordination and 
guarantee is responsible for providing the appraisal and may charge the 
applicant a reasonable appraisal fee.
    (B) The applicant cannot obtain sufficient credit through a 
conventional guaranteed loan. Before approving a combination guaranteed 
loan and subordination, the local loan approval official will document 
that the applicant requested a Contract of Guarantee--Line of Credit 
through at least one participating lender.
    (2) Subordinating guaranteed loan security. The lender may not 
subordinate its interest in property which secures a guaranteed loan.
    (3) The Agency's National Office may provide an exception to the 
subordination prohibition if such action is in the Government's best 
interest as determined by the Agency. However, in no case can the loan 
made under the subordination include tax exempt financing.
    (d) Partial releases. In addition to the conditions set out in 
paragraph (b) of this section, the following limitations apply to 
partial releases:
    (1) A partial release of security interest may be approved by the 
Agency if any of the following conditions are met:
    (i) Proceeds from the sale of the released security will be applied 
to debts in accordance of their lien priority.
    (ii) The security item will be used as a trade-in or source of down 
payment funds for a like item that will be taken as security;
    (iii) The security item has no present or prospective value.
    (iv) The loan to value ratio after the release is .75 or less.
    (2) Standard eligible lenders and CLP lenders will submit the 
following to the Agency:
    (i) A current appraisal of the security, except for the following:
    (A) Unless specifically requested by the Agency, the lender will 
not be required to provide an appraisal of any real estate security 
being released.
    (B) Based on the level of risk and estimated equity involved, the 
Agency will determine what security needs to be appraised.
    (ii) How the proceeds, if any, will be used.
    (e) Transfer and assumption. In addition to the conditions set out 
in paragraph (b) of this section, the following limitations apply to 
transfers and assumptions:
    (1) The transferee meets the eligibility requirements and loan 
limitations for the loan being transferred, all requirements relating 
to loan rates and terms, loan security, feasibility, and environmental 
and other laws applicable to a loan applicant under this subpart.
    (2) The lender will use their own assumption agreements or 
conveyance instruments providing they are legally sufficient to 
obligate the transferee for the total outstanding debt.
    (3) The lender must note the assumption on the Loan Note Guarantee 
or Contract of Guarantee in the space provided. If the loan terms or 
interest rates are changed, a new Loan Note Guarantee or Contract of 
Guarantee is required.
    (4) The lender must give any holder notice of the transfer. If the 
rate and terms are changed, written concurrence from the holder is 
required.
    (5) The Agency will agree to releasing the transferor or any 
guarantor from liability only if the requirements of Sec. 1980.146(c) 
are met.


Sec. 1980.143  Servicing Distressed Accounts

    (a) Default by borrower. A borrower is in default when they are 30 
days past due on a payment or have otherwise violated a loan agreement.
    (b) Lender responsibilities. In the event of a borrower default, 
all lenders will:
    (1) Report to the Agency in accordance with Sec. 1980.141.
    (2) If the guaranteed portion of the loan was sold on the secondary 
market, the lender will repurchase the guaranteed portion from the 
holder in accordance with Sec. 1980.144 of this subpart.
    (3) Arrange a meeting with the borrower within 45 days of its 
occurrence to identify the nature of the delinquency and develop a 
course of action that will eliminate the delinquency and correct the 
underlying problems.
    (i) The lender and borrower will prepare a current balance sheet 
and cash flow in preparation for the meeting. If the borrower refuses 
to cooperate, the lender will prepare a balance sheet and cash flow 
based upon the best available information.
    (ii) The lender or the borrower may request the attendance of an 
Agency credit officer. If requested, the local credit officer will 
assist in developing solutions to the borrower's financial problems.
    (iii) The lender will summarize the meeting and proposed solutions 
on the Agency form for guaranteed loan borrower default status 
completed after the meeting. The borrower's eligibility for interest 
assistance will be automatically determined upon receipt of this form. 
Copies of correspondence sent to the borrower regarding agreements 
reached may be attached to this report.
    (iv) The lender must decide whether to restructure or liquidate the 
account within 90 days of default, unless circumstances justify an 
extension by the Agency. PLP lenders may document the need for an 
extension without Agency approval.
    (v) The lender may not initiate foreclosure action on the loan 
until 60 days after eligibility of the borrower to participate in the 
Interest Assistance Programs has been established by the Agency. If the 
lender or the borrower does not wish to consider servicing options 
under this section, this should be documented, and then liquidation 
under Sec. 1980.149 should begin.

[[Page 51482]]

    36. Sections 1980.144 through 1980.146 are revised, and 
Secs. 1980.147 through 1980.149 are added to read as follows:


Sec. 1980.144  Repurchase of guaranteed portion from a secondary market 
holder.

    (a) Request for repurchase. The holder may request the lender to 
repurchase the unpaid guaranteed portion of the loan when:
    (1) The borrower has not made a payment of principal and interest 
due on the loan for at least 60 days; or
    (2) The lender has failed to give the holder its pro-rata share of 
any payment made by the borrower within 30 days of receipt of a 
payment.
    (b) Repurchase by the lender. (1) A lender will repurchase a loan 
from the holder upon request of the holder.
    (2) The repurchase by the lender will be for an amount equal to the 
unpaid guaranteed portion of the principal and accrued interest, less 
the lender's servicing fee.
    (3) The Agency will not reimburse the lender for any servicing fees 
which have been assessed to the holder.
    (c) Repurchase by the agency. (1) If the lender is unable to 
repurchase the loan, the Agency will purchase the unpaid principal 
balance of the guaranteed portion with accrued interest to the date of 
repurchase within 30 days after written demand to the Agency, from the 
holder.
    (2) With its demand on the Agency, the holder will include:
    (i) A copy of the written demand made upon the lender.
    (ii) Evidence of its right to require payment from the Agency. 
Evidence consists of either the originals of the Loan Note Guarantee 
and note properly endorsed to the Agency, or the original of the 
Assignment Guarantee Agreement which has been properly assigned to the 
Agency without recourse including all rights, title, and interest in 
the loan.
    (iii) A copy of any written response to the demand provided to the 
holder by the lender.
    (3) The amount due the holder from the Agency includes unpaid 
principal, unpaid interest to the date of demand, and interest which 
has accrued from the date of demand to the proposed payment date.
    (i) For verification purposes, the lender must furnish upon Agency 
request a current statement, certified by a bank officer, of the unpaid 
principal and interest owed by the borrower and the amount due the 
holder.
    (ii) Any discrepancy between the amount claimed by the holder and 
the information submitted by the lender must be resolved by the lender 
and the holder before payment will be approved by the Agency. The 
Agency will not participate in resolution of any such discrepancy.
    (iii) The Loan Note Guarantee does not cover the note interest to 
the holder on the guarantee loan accruing after 90 days from the date 
of the demand letter to the lender requesting the repurchase. However, 
if for any reason not attributable to the holder and the lender, the 
Agency cannot make payment within 30 days of the holder's demand to the 
Agency, the holder will be entitled to interest to the date of the 
payment.
    (4) Repurchase by the Agency does not change, alter, or modify any 
of the lender's obligations to the Agency specified in the Lender's 
Agreement, the Loan Note Guarantee or Contract of Guarantee, nor does 
the purchase waive any of the Agency's rights against the lender.
    (5) The Agency has the right to set-off all lender's rights which 
have been passed along to the Agency from the holder representing the 
Agency's obligation to the lender under the Loan Note Guarantee.
    (6) Within 180 days of the Agency's repurchase, the lender will 
reimburse the Agency the amount of repurchase, with accrued interest 
through one of the following ways:
    (i) By liquidating the loan security and paying the Agency its pro-
rata share of liquidation proceeds; or
    (ii) Paying the Agency the full amount paid to the holder plus any 
accrued interest.
    (iii) Purchasing the guaranteed portion from the Government on a 
non-recourse basis if the Agency determines that selling the portion of 
the loan that it holds is in the Government's best interest;
    (iv) The lender has submitted a written request to the Agency to 
repurchase the guaranteed portion from the Agency on a non-recourse 
basis and has received written approval from the Agency.
    (7) [Reserved]
    (8) If the lender does not reimburse the Agency within 180 days, 
the lender will be liable for the repurchase amount and any expenses 
incurred by the Agency to maintain the loan in its portfolio or 
liquidate the security. While the Agency holds the guaranteed portion 
of the loan, the lender will transmit to the Agency any payment 
received from the borrower, including the pro-rata share of liquidation 
or other proceeds.
    (9) If the borrower files bankruptcy or pays the account current 
while the repurchase by the Government is being processed, the Agency 
may hold the loan as long as it determines it to be in the Government's 
interest.
    (10) The Agency will revoke, in writing, the Preferred or Certified 
Lender status, as applicable, of any lender that does not repurchase a 
loan from the secondary market when requested by the holder in writing.
    (11) If a lender does not repurchase a loan from the holder the 
lender shall provide documentation to the Agency that they were 
physically or financially unable to repurchase the guaranteed portion 
from the holder when the request was made or otherwise provide 
justification to the Agency as to why they did not complete the 
repurchase. The Agency will review this documentation and if the 
failure to repurchase is not justified, as determined by the Agency, 
the lender will be provided with no additional loan guarantees.
    (d) Repurchase for servicing.
    (1) If due to loan default or imminent loan restructuring, the 
lender determines that its repurchase is necessary to adequately 
service the loan, the lender may repurchase the guaranteed portion of 
the loan from the holder, with the written approval of the Agency.
    (2) The lender will not repurchase from the holder for arbitrage 
purposes.
    (3) The holder will sell the guaranteed portion of the loan to the 
lender for an amount equal to the unpaid principal and interest, less 
lender's servicing fee.


Sec. 1980.145  Restructuring guaranteed loans.

    (a) General.
    (1) Lender submissions.
    (i) Standard eligible lenders.
    (A) Standard eligible lenders must obtain prior written approval of 
the Agency for all restructuring actions.
    (B) Standard eligible lenders must provide the items in paragraph 
(a)(2) and (e) of this section to the Agency for approval.
    (C) If the lender's proposal for servicing is not agreed to by the 
Agency, the Agency approval official will notify the lender in writing 
within 14 days of the lender's request.
    (ii) CLP lenders.
    (A) CLP lenders must obtain prior written approval of the Agency 
only for debt write down under this section.
    (B) For debt write down, all calculations required in paragraph (e) 
of this section will be submitted to the Agency.
    (C) For restructuring other than write down, CLP lenders will 
provide FSA with a certification that each requirement of this section 
has been

[[Page 51483]]

met, a narrative outlining the circumstances surrounding the need for 
restructuring, and copies of any applicable calculations.
    (iii) PLP lenders will restructure loans in accordance with their 
agreement with the Agency at the time of the PLP certification.
    (iv) All lenders will submit copies of any restructured notes or 
lines of credit to the Agency.
    (2) Requirements. For any restructuring action, the following 
conditions apply:
    (i) The borrower meets the eligibility criteria of Sec. 1980.120 
except the borrower may have had prior debt forgiveness. In addition, 
borrowers applying for restructuring of guaranteed loans will not be 
required to complete borrower training unless such training has been 
required as part of a previous loan but has not yet been satisfactorily 
completed.
    (ii) The borrower's ability to make the amended payment is 
documented by the following:
    (A) A feasible plan.
    (B) Current financial statements from all liable parties.
    (C) Verification of nonfarm income.
    (D) Verification of all debts of $1,000 or more.
    (E) Applicable credit reports.
    (F) Financial history (and production history for standard eligible 
lenders) for the past 3 years to support the cash flow projections.
    (iii) A final loss claim may be reduced, adjusted, or rejected as a 
result of negligent servicing after the concurrence with a 
restructuring action under this section.
    (3) Balloon payments are prohibited; however, the loan can be 
restructured with unequal installments, provided the current year and 
any typical year plan demonstrates that these installments can be 
repaid without further restructuring.
    (4) The lender may capitalize the outstanding interest when 
restructuring the loan in accordance with the following:
    (i) As a result of the capitalization of interest, a rescheduled or 
reamortized note or line of credit agreement may increase the amount of 
principal which the borrower is required to pay. However, in no case 
will such principal amount exceed the statutory loan limits contained 
in Sec. 1980.122.
    (ii) When accrued interest causes the loan amount to exceed the 
statutory loan limits, rescheduling or reamortization may be approved 
without capitalization of the amount that exceeds the limit. 
Noncapitalized interest may be scheduled for repayment over the term of 
the rescheduled note.
    (iii) Only interest that has accrued at the rate indicated on the 
borrower's original promissory notes may be capitalized. Late payment 
fees or default interest penalties that have accrued due to the 
borrower's failure to make payments as agreed are not covered under the 
guarantee and may not be capitalized.
    (iv) If any of the guaranteed loan or line of credit agreements 
previously executed prohibit the capitalization of interest, the Agency 
will provide the lender with a modification form to waive the 
restriction for capitalization of interest resulting from restructuring 
a Farm Loan Programs loan and not exceeding statutory limits. If the 
documents do not prohibit the capitalization of interest, the new loan 
principal and the guaranteed portion, if greater than the original loan 
amounts, will be identified on the appropriate Agency modification 
form. Any modification will be attached to the original Loan Note 
Guarantee or Contract of Guarantee as an addendum.
    (v) Approved capitalized interest will be treated as part of the 
principal and interest that accrues thereon, in the event that a loss 
should occur.
    (5) The lender and Government's security position will not be 
adversely affected because of the restructuring. New security 
instruments may be taken if needed, but a loan does not have to be 
fully secured in order to be restructured.
    (6) Any holder agrees in writing to any changes in the original 
loan terms, including the approval of interest assistance. If the 
holder does not agree, the lender must repurchase the loan from the 
holder for any loan restructuring to occur.
    (7) After a guaranteed loan is restructured, the lender must 
provide the Agency with a copy of the restructured promissory note.
    (b) Consolidation. The following conditions also apply to 
consolidation:
    (1) Only OL loans or lines of credit may be consolidated.
    (2) Existing lines of credit may only be consolidated with a new 
line of credit if the terms (to make advances as well as final maturity 
date) of the new line of credit are within the terms of the existing 
line of credit. OL loan note guaranteed loans may only be consolidated 
with other OL loan note guarantees.
    (3) Guaranteed loans made prior to October 1, 1991, cannot be 
consolidated with those loans made on or after October 1, 1991.
    (4) OL loans and lines of credit secured by real estate or with an 
outstanding Interest Assistance Agreement, or Shared Appreciation 
Agreement cannot be consolidated.
    (5) A new note or line of credit agreement will be taken. The new 
note or line of credit agreement must describe the note or line of 
credit agreement being consolidated and must state that the 
indebtedness evidenced by the note or line of credit agreement is not 
satisfied. The original note or line of credit agreement must be 
retained for identification purposes.
    (6) The interest rate for a consolidated OL loan is the negotiated 
rate agreed upon by the lender and the borrower at the time of the 
action, subject to the loan limitations for each type of loan.
    (7) A new Contract of Guarantee or Loan Note Guarantee will be 
provided.
    (c) Rescheduling and reamortization. The following conditions also 
apply when rescheduling or reamortizing a guaranteed loan:
    (1) Payments will be rescheduled or reamortized within the 
following terms:
    (i) FO and existing SW loans will be reamortized over the remaining 
term of the note or over a period not to exceed 40 years from the date 
of the original note.
    (ii) OL loan notes must be rescheduled over a period not to exceed 
15 years from the date of the action. An OL line of credit must be 
rescheduled over a period not to exceed 7 years from the date of the 
action or 10 years from the date of the original note, whichever is 
less. Advances cannot be made against a line of credit loan that has 
had any portion of the loan rescheduled.
    (2) The interest rate for a rescheduled or reamortized loan is the 
negotiated rate agreed upon by the lender and the borrower at the time 
of the action, subject to the loan limitations for each type of loan. 
If the rescheduled or reamortized loan has an outstanding Interest 
Assistance Agreement, any change of the interest rate must occur on the 
anniversary date of the existing Interest Assistance Agreement.
    (3) A new note is not necessary when rescheduling or reamortization 
occurs. However, if a new note is not taken, the existing note or line 
of credit agreement must be modified by attaching an ``allonge'' or 
other legally effective amendment, evidencing the revised repayment 
schedule and any interest rate change. If a new note is taken, the new 
note must reference the old note and state that the indebtedness 
evidenced by the old note or line of credit agreement is not satisfied. 
The original note or line of credit agreement must be retained for 
record keeping purposes.
    (d) Deferrals. The following conditions also apply to deferrals:

[[Page 51484]]

    (1) Payments may be deferred up to 5 years, but in no case extended 
beyond the final due date of the note.
    (2) Principal may be deferred either in whole or in part. Payment 
of a reasonable portion of accruing interest as indicated by the 
borrower's cash flow projections is required for multi-year deferrals.
    (3) There are reasonable prospects that the borrower will be able 
to resume full payments at the end of the deferral period.
    (e) Debt writedown. The following conditions also apply to debt 
writedowns:
    (1) A lender may only writedown a delinquent guaranteed loan or 
line of credit in an amount sufficient to permit the borrower to 
develop a feasible plan of operation.
    (2) The lender will request other creditors to negotiate their 
debts before a writedown is considered.
    (3) The borrower cannot develop a feasible plan after consideration 
is given to rescheduling, reamortization and deferral under this 
section.
    (4) The present value of the loan to be written down will be equal 
to or exceed the net recovery value of the loan security.
    (5) The loan will be restructured with regular payments at terms no 
shorter than 5 years for a line of credit and OL loan note and no 
shorter than 20 years for an FO loan.
    (6) No further advances may be made on a line of credit that is 
written down.
    (7) Loans may not be written down with interest assistance. If a 
borrower's loan presently on interest assistance requires a writedown, 
the writedown will be considered without interest assistance. If 
approved, the existing Interest Assistance Agreement will be 
terminated.
    (8) The writedown is based on writing down the shorter-term loans 
first.
    (9) When a lender requests approval of a writedown for a borrower 
with multiple loans, the security for all of the loans will be cross-
collateralized and continue to serve as security for the loan that is 
written down. If a borrower has multiple loans and one loan is written 
off entirely through debt writedown, the security for that loan will 
not be released and will remain as security for the other written down 
debt. Additional security instruments will be taken if required to 
cross-collateralize security or maintain lien priority.
    (10) The writedown will be evidenced by an allonge or amendment to 
the existing note or line of credit reflecting the writedown.
    (11) The borrower executes an Agency Shared Appreciation Agreement 
for loans which are written down and secured by real estate.
    (i) The lender will attach the original agreement to the 
restructured loan document.
    (ii) The lender will provide the Agency a copy of the executed 
agreement, and
    (iii) Security instruments must ensure future collection of any 
appreciation under the agreement.
    (12) The lender will prepare and submit the following to the 
Agency:
    (i) A current appraisal of all property securing the loan in 
accordance with Sec. 1980.127.
    (ii) A completed report of loss on the appropriate Agency form for 
the proposed writedown loss claim.
    (iii) Detailed writedown calculations.
    (iv) The amount of writedown is calculated as follows:
    (A) Calculate the present value.
    (B) Determine the net recovery value.
    (C) If the net recovery value exceeds the present value, writedown 
is unavailable; liquidation becomes the next servicing consideration. 
If the present value equals or exceeds the net recovery value, the debt 
may be written down to the present value.
    (v) The lender will make any adjustments in the calculations, as 
requested by the Agency.


Sec. 1980.146  Other servicing procedures.

    (a) Additional loans and advances.
    (1) Notwithstanding any provision of this section, the PLP lender 
may make additional loans or advances in accordance with its agreement 
with the Agency at the time of PLP certification.
    (2) Lenders must not make additional loans without prior written 
approval of the Agency, except as provided for in the borrower's Loan 
or Line of Credit Agreement.
    (3) In cases of a Guarantee line of credit, lenders may make an 
emergency advance when a line of credit has reached its ceiling 
provided the following conditions have been met:
    (i) The loan funds to be advanced are for authorized operating loan 
purposes;
    (ii) The financial benefit to the lender and the Government from 
the advance will exceed the amount of the advance; and
    (iii) The loss of crops or livestock is imminent unless the advance 
is made.
    (4) Protective advances are covered by Sec. 1980.149.
    (b) Release of liability upon withdrawal. An individual who is 
obligated on a guaranteed loan may be released from liability by a 
lender with the written consent of the Agency provided the following 
conditions have been met:
    (1) The individual to be released has withdrawn from the operation;
    (2) A divorce decree and final property settlement does not hold 
the withdrawing party responsible for the loan payments;
    (3) The withdrawing party's interest in the security is conveyed to 
the individual or entity with whom the loan will be continued;
    (4) Either the ratio of the amount of debt to the value of the 
remaining security is less than or equal to .75, or the withdrawing 
party has no income or assets from which collection can be made; and
    (5) Withdrawal of the individual does not result in legal 
dissolution of the entity to which the loans are made. Individually 
liable members of a full partnership may not be released from 
liability.
    (c) Release of liability after liquidation. After a final loss 
claim has been paid on the borrower's account, the lender may release 
the borrower or guarantor from liability if;
    (1) The Agency agrees to the release in writing;
    (2) The lender documents its consideration of the following factors 
concerning the borrower or guarantors:
    (i) Potential income,
    (ii) Inheritance prospects,
    (iii) If collateral has been properly accounted for,
    (iv) The availability of other income or assets which are not 
security for the guaranteed debt,
    (v) The possibility that assets have been concealed or improperly 
transferred,
    (vi) The effect of other guarantors on the loan,
    (vii) Cash consideration or other collateral in exchange for the 
release of liability.
    (3) The lender will execute its own release of liability documents.
    (d) Interest rate changes.
    (1) The lender may change the interest rate on a performing 
(nondelinquent) loan only with the borrower's consent.
    (2) To change a fixed rate of interest to a variable rate of 
interest or vice versa, the lender and the borrower must execute a 
legally effective amendment or allonge to the existing note.
    (3) If a new note is taken it will be attached to and refer to the 
original note.
    (4) The lender will inform the Agency of the rate change.


Sec. 1980.147  Servicing Shared Appreciation Agreements.

    (a) Lender responsibilities. The lender is responsible for:

[[Page 51485]]

    (1) Monitoring the borrower's compliance with the Shared 
Appreciation Agreement;
    (2) Notifying the borrower of the amount of recapture due; and,
    (3) Reimbursing the Agency for its pro-rata share of recapture due.
    (b) Recapture.
    (1) Triggering recapture.--Recapture of any appreciation of real 
estate security will take place at the end of the term of the 
Agreement, or sooner, if the following occurs:
    (i) On the conveyance of the real estate security (or a portion 
thereof) by the borrower.
    (A) If only a portion of the real estate is conveyed, recapture 
will only be triggered against the portion conveyed. Partial releases 
will be handled in accordance with Sec. 1980.141(b) of this subpart.
    (B) Transfer of title to the spouse of the borrower on the death of 
such borrower, will not be treated as a conveyance under the agreement.
    (ii) On the repayment of the loans; or
    (iii) If the borrower ceases farming operations.
    (2) Figuring recapture. (i) The amount of recapture will be based 
on the difference between the value of the security at the time 
recapture is triggered and the value of the security at the time of 
writedown as shown on the Shared Appreciation Agreement.
    (ii) Security values will be determined through appraisals obtained 
by the lender and meeting the requirements of Sec. 1980.127.
    (iii) All appraisal fees will be paid by the lender.
    (iv) The amount of recapture will not exceed the amount of 
writedown shown on the Shared Appreciation Agreement.
    (v) If recapture is triggered within 4 years of the date of the 
Shared Appreciation Agreement, the lender shall recapture 75 percent of 
any positive appreciation in the market value of the property securing 
the loan or line of credit agreement.
    (vi) If recapture is triggered after 4 years from the date of the 
Shared Appreciation Agreement, the lender shall recapture 50 percent of 
any positive appreciation in the market value of the property securing 
the loan or line of credit agreement.
    (3) Servicing recapture debt. (i) If recapture is triggered under 
the Shared Appreciation Agreement and the borrower is unable to pay the 
recapture in a lump sum, the lender may:
    (A) Reamortize the recapture debt with the consent of the Agency, 
provided the lender can document the borrower's ability to repay the 
reamortized debt plus other obligations. In such case, the recapture 
debt will not be covered by the Loan Note Guarantee or Contract of 
Guarantee;
    (B) Pay the Agency its pro rate share of the recapture due. In such 
case, the recapture debt of the borrower will be covered by the Loan 
Note Guarantee or Contract of Guarantee; or
    (C) Service the account in accordance with Sec. 1980.149.
    (ii) If recapture is triggered, and the borrower is able, but 
unwilling to pay the recapture, in a lump sum, the lender will service 
the account in accordance with Sec. 1980.149.
    (4) Paying the Agency. Any shared appreciation recaptured by the 
lender will be shared on a pro-rata basis between the lender and the 
Agency.


Sec. 1980.148  Bankruptcy.

    (a) Lender responsibilities. The lender must protect the guaranteed 
loan debt and all collateral securing the loan in bankruptcy 
proceedings. The lender's responsibilities include, but are not limited 
to:
    (1) Filing a proof of claim where required and all the necessary 
papers and pleadings;
    (2) Attending, and where necessary, participating in meetings of 
the creditors and court proceedings;
    (3) Protecting the collateral and resisting any adverse changes 
that may be made to the collateral securing the guaranteed loan;
    (4) Seeking a dismissal of the bankruptcy proceeding when the 
operation as proposed by the borrower to the bankruptcy court is not 
feasible;
    (5) When permitted by the Bankruptcy Code, requesting a 
modification of any plan or reorganization if it appears additional 
recoveries are likely.
    (6) Monitor confirmed plans under Chapters 11, 12 and 13 of the 
bankruptcy code to determine borrower compliance. If the borrower fails 
to comply, the lender will seek a dismissal of the plan by the court; 
and
    (7) Keeping the Agency regularly informed in writing on all aspects 
of the proceedings.
    (i) The lender will submit a Default Status Report when the 
borrower defaults and every 60 days until the default is resolved or a 
final loss claim is paid.
    (ii) The Default Status Report will be used to inform the Agency of 
the bankruptcy filing, the plan confirmation date, the plan's effective 
date, when the reorganization plan is complete, and when the borrower 
is not in compliance with the reorganization plan.
    (b) Bankruptcy expenses.
    (1) Reorganization bankruptcy.
    (i) Lender's in-house expenses are not covered by the guarantee in 
a reorganization bankruptcy.
    (ii) Other expenses, such as legal fees and appraisals, incurred by 
the lender as a direct result of the borrower's chapter 11, 12, or 13 
reorganization are covered under the guarantee.
    (2) Liquidation bankruptcy.
    (i) Reasonable and customary liquidation expenses may be deducted 
from the proceeds of the collateral in liquidation bankruptcy cases.
    (ii) In-house expenses are not considered customary liquidation 
expenses, may not be deducted from collateral proceeds, and are not 
covered by the guarantee.
    (c) Estimated loss claims in reorganization bankruptcies.
    (1) At confirmation. The lender may submit an estimated loss claim 
upon confirmation of the plan in accordance with the following:
    (i) The estimated loss payment will cover the guaranteed percentage 
of the principal and accrued interest written off, plus any allowable 
costs incurred as of the effective date of the plan.
    (ii) The lender will submit supporting documentation for the loss 
claim.
    (iii) The estimated loss payment may be revised as consistent with 
a court-approved plan.
    (iv) Protective advances. Protective advances made and approved in 
accordance with Sec. 1980.149 may be included in an estimated loss 
claim associated with a reorganization bankruptcy, if:
    (A) They were incurred in connection with the initiation of 
liquidation action prior to the bankruptcy filing; or
    (B) The advance is required to provide repairs, insurance, etc. to 
protect the collateral as a result of delays in the case, or failure of 
the borrower to maintain the security.
    (2) Interest only losses. The lender may submit an estimated loss 
claim for interest only after confirmation of the plan in accordance 
with the following:
    (i) The loss claims may cover interest losses sustained as a result 
of a court-ordered, permanent interest rate reduction.
    (ii) The loss claims will be processed annually on the anniversary 
date of the effective date of the bankruptcy plan.
    (iii) If the borrower performs under the terms of the plan, annual 
interest reduction loss claims will be submitted on or near the same 
date, beyond the period of the reorganization plan.
    (3) Actual loss.
    (i) Once the reorganization plan is complete, the lender will 
provide the Agency with documentation of the actual loss sustained.

[[Page 51486]]

    (ii) If the actual loss sustained is greater than the prior 
estimated loss payment, the lender may submit a revised estimated loss 
claim to obtain payment of the additional amount owed by the Agency 
under the guarantee.
    (iii) If the actual loss is less than the prior estimated loss, the 
lender will reimburse the Agency for the overpayment plus interest at 
the note rate from the date of the payment of the estimated loss.
    (4) Payment to holder. In reorganization bankruptcy if a holder 
makes demand upon the Agency, the Agency will pay the holder interest 
to the plan's effective date. Accruing interest thereafter, will be 
based upon the provisions of the reorganization plan.
    (d) Liquidation bankruptcy.
    (1) Upon receipt of notification that a borrower has filed for 
protection under Chapter 7 of the bankruptcy code, or a liquidation 
plan under Chapter 11, the lender shall proceed according to the 
liquidation procedures of this subpart.
    (2) If the property is abandoned by the trustee, the lender will 
conduct the liquidation according to Sec. 1980.149.
    (3) Proceeds received from partial sale of collateral during 
bankruptcy may be used by the lender to pay reasonable costs, such as 
freight, labor and sales commissions, associated with the partial sale. 
Reasonable use of proceeds for this purpose must be documented with the 
final loss claim in accordance with Sec. 1980.149 (a)(vi).


Sec. 1980.149  Liquidation.

    (a) Mediation. When it has been determined that a default cannot be 
cured throughany of the servicing options available or if the lender 
does not wish to utilize any of the authorities provided in this 
subpart, the lender must:
    (1) Participate in mediation according to the rules and regulations 
of any State which has a mandatory farmer-creditor mediation program.
    (2) Consider private mediation services in those states which do 
not have a mandatory farmer-creditor mediation program.
    (3) The lender must not agree to any proposals to rewrite the terms 
of a guaranteed loan which do not comply with this subpart.
    (4) Any agreements reached as a result of mediation involving 
defaults and or loan restructuring must have written concurrence from 
the agency before they are implemented.
    (b) Liquidation plan. If a default cannot be cured after 
considering servicing options and mediation, the lender will proceed 
with liquidation of the collateral in accordance with the following:
    (1) Within 30 days of the decision to liquidate, all lenders will 
submit a written plan to the Agency which includes:
    (i) Documentation of the lender's ownership of the guaranteed loan 
promissory note and related security instruments;
    (ii) A current balance sheet from all liable parties, or in 
liquidation bankruptcies, a copy of the bankruptcy schedules or 
discharge notice; and
    (iii) A proposed method of maximizing the collection of debt which 
includes specific plans to collect any remaining loan balances on the 
guaranteed loan after loan collateral has been liquidated, including 
possibilities for judgment.
    (A) If the borrower has converted loan security, the lender will 
determine whether litigation is cost effective. The lender must 
address, in the liquidation plan, whether civil or criminal action will 
be pursued. If the lender does not pursue the recovery, the reason must 
be documented when an estimated loss claim is submitted.
    (B) Any proposal to release the borrower from liability will be 
addressed in the liquidation plan.
    (iv) An independent appraisal report on all collateral securing the 
loan
    which reflects the current market value and potential liquidation 
value. The appraisal will meet the requirements of Sec. 1980.127. If 
the bankruptcy trustee is handling the liquidation, the lender should 
submit the trustee's determination of value.
    (v) An estimate of time necessary to complete the liquidation.
    (vi) If the liquidation period is expected to exceed 90 days and 
the lender owns any of the guaranteed portion of the loan, the lender 
will submit an estimated loss claim.
    (vii) An estimate of reasonable liquidation expenses.
    (viii) An estimate of any protective advances.
    (c) Agency approval of plan.
    (1) A lender's liquidation plan, and any revisions of the plan, 
must be approved by the Agency.
    (2) If the Agency fails to approve the liquidation plan or request 
that the lender make revisions to the plan within 30 days, the lender 
may assume the plan is approved, make protective advances and begin 
liquidation actions at their discretion after waiting the 60 days from 
determining the eligibility of borrower for interest assistance.
    (3) At its option, the Agency may liquidate the guaranteed loan as 
follows:
    (i) The lender will transfer to the Agency all rights and interests 
necessary to allow the Agency to liquidate the loan upon Agency 
request. The Agency will not pay the lender for any loss until after 
the collateral is liquidated and the final loss is determined.
    (ii) If the Agency conducts the liquidation, interest accrual will 
cease on the date the Agency notifies the lender in writing that it 
assumes responsibility for the liquidation.
    (iii) The Agency will keep the lender informed of its progress in 
liquidating the account.
    (d) Estimated loss claims. An estimated loss claim will be 
submitted by the lender with the liquidation plan. The estimated loss 
will be based on the following:
    (1) The Agency will pay the lender the guaranteed percentage of the 
total outstanding debt, less the fair market value of the remaining 
security, any unaccounted for security, and estimated liquidation 
expenses. The market value will be determined by an appraisal meeting 
the requirements of Sec. 1980.127.
    (2) The lender will apply the estimated loss payment to the 
outstanding principal balance owed on the guaranteed debt and will 
credit the principal balance with the calculated lender's loss on the 
unguaranteed percentage of the loan. The lender must then discontinue 
interest accrual on the defaulted loan at the time the estimated loss 
claim is paid by the Agency.
    (e) Protective advances.
    (1) Written authorization from the Agency is required for all 
protective advances in excess of $3,000 for CLP lenders, $500 for 
standard eligible lenders. The dollar amount of protective advances for 
PLP lenders will be specified when PLP status is awarded and attached 
to the Lender's Agreement.
    (2) The lender may claim recovery for the guaranteed portion of any 
loss of monies advanced as protective advances allowable under this 
subpart. This includes any accrued interest resulting from the 
protective advances.
    (3) Payment for protective advances is made by the Agency when the 
final loss claim is approved, except in bankruptcy actions.
    (4) Protective advances are used only when the borrower is in 
liquidation, liquidation is imminent, or when the lender has taken 
title to real property in a liquidation action.
    (5) Attorney fees are not a protective advance.
    (6) Protective advances may only be made when the lender can 
demonstrate the advance is in the best interest of the lender and the 
Government.
    (7) Protective advances must constitute a debt of the borrower to 
the

[[Page 51487]]

lender and be secured by the security instrument.
    (8) Protective advances must not be made in lieu of additional 
loans.
    (f) Unapproved loans or advances. The amount of any payments made 
by the borrower on unapproved loans or advances outside of the 
guarantee will be deducted from any loss claim submitted by the lender 
on the guaranteed loan, if that loan or advance was paid prior to the 
guaranteed loan.
    (g) Acceleration.
    (1) If the borrower is not in bankruptcy, the lender shall send the 
borrower notice that the loan is in default and the entire debt has 
been determined due and payable immediately after other servicing 
options have been exhausted.
    (2) The loan cannot be accelerated until after the borrower has 
been considered for Interest Assistance.
    (3) The lender will submit a copy of the acceleration notice or 
other document to the Agency.
    (h) Foreclosure.
    (1) The lender is responsible for determining who the necessary 
parties are to any foreclosure action or who should be named on a deed 
of conveyance taken in lieu of foreclosure.
    (2) When the property is liquidated, the lender will apply the net 
proceeds to the guaranteed loan debt.
    (3) When it is necessary to enter a bid at a foreclosure sale, the 
lender may bid that amount that they determine is reasonable to protect 
their and the Government's interest. At a minimum, the lender will bid 
the lesser of the net recovery value or the unpaid guaranteed loan 
balance.
    (i) Final loss claims.
    (1) Lenders may submit a final loss claim when the security has 
been liquidated and all proceeds have been received and applied to the 
account.
    (2) If a lender acquires title to property either through voluntary 
conveyance or foreclosure proceeding, the lender may choose to submit a 
final loss claim, if applicable, at the point title is obtained or at 
the time the lender disposes of the property. Maintenance expenses 
incurred for the property while it is owned by the lender will be 
through use of protective advances.
    (3) The lender will make its records available to the Agency for 
its investigation into the propriety of any loss payment.
    (4) All lenders will submit the following documents with a final 
loss claim:
    (i) An accounting of the use of loan funds.
    (ii) An accounting of the disposition of loan security and its 
sales proceeds.
    (iii) A copy of the loan ledger indicating loan advances, interest 
rate changes, protective advances, and application of payments, rental 
proceeds, and security proceeds, including a running outstanding 
balance total.
    (iv) Documentation, as requested by the Agency, concerning the 
lender's compliance with the requirements of this subpart.
    (5) The Agency will notify the lender of any discrepancies in the 
final loss claim or, approve or reject the claim within 40 days.
    (6) The Agency will reduce a final loss claim based on their 
calculation of the dollar amount of loss caused by the lender's 
negligent servicing of the account.
    (7) The final loss will be the remaining outstanding balance after 
application of the estimated loss payment and the application of 
proceeds from the liquidation of the security. The final loss will 
include any interest accrual on the principal that remained after 
application of the estimated loss.
    (8) If the final loss is less than the estimated loss, the lender 
will reimburse the Agency for the overpayment plus interest at the note 
rate from the date of the estimated loss payment.
    (j) Future Recovery. The lender will remit any recoveries made on 
the account after the Agency's payment of a final loss claim to the 
Agency in proportion to the percentage of guarantee in accordance with 
the Lender's Agreement until the account is paid in full or otherwise 
satisfied.
    (k) Overpayments. The lender will repay any final loss overpayment 
determined by the Agency upon request.
    (l) Electronic funds transfer. The lender will designate one or 
more financial institutions or other authorized agents to which any 
Agency payments will be made. The lender will provide the Agency 
information as necessary for the lender to receive electronic funds 
transfer payments through each institution or agency designated.
    37. Section 1980.151 is added to read as follows:


Sec. 1980.151  Borrower training

    (a) Requirements. (1) Borrowers with farm loans guaranteed by the 
Agency must obtain training in production and financial management 
concepts unless waived by the Agency in accordance with this section. 
Failure to complete the training as agreed will cause the borrower to 
be ineligible for future Agency benefits including future direct and 
guaranteed loans, primary loan servicing of direct loans, Interest 
Assistance renewals, and restructuring of guaranteed loans.
    (2) A decision that the loan applicant needs such training will not 
be used as a basis for rejecting the request for assistance.
    (3) In the case of an entity loan applicant, any entity member 
holding a majority interest in the operation or who is operating the 
farm must agree to complete the training on behalf of the entity or 
qualify for a waiver. However, if one entity member is solely 
responsible for financial or production management, then only that 
entity member will be required to complete the training in that area 
for the entity or qualify for a partial waiver. If the financial and 
production functions of the farming operation are shared, the knowledge 
and skills of the individual with the responsibility of production or 
financial management, or both, of the operation will be considered in 
the aggregate for granting a waiver or requiring that training be 
completed.
    (4) When production training is required, a borrower must complete 
course work covering production management in crop or livestock 
enterprises which constitute twenty percent of the cash farm income for 
the coming production cycle, as determined by the Agency, and set out 
in the training agreement.
    (5) Borrowers who are adding a new enterprise must agree to 
complete any required production training in that enterprise unless a 
waiver is granted.
    (6) All required training must be completed within two years after 
the borrower signs the training agreement. The lender may recommend to 
the Agency a 1-year extension to this deadline where the borrower is 
unable to complete the training due to circumstances beyond the 
borrower's control.
    (b) Waiver. (1) Lenders may request a waiver from the production or 
financial management, or both, training requirements on behalf of the 
loan applicant.
    (2) CLP and PLP lenders may certify that loan applicants meet the 
criteria for waiver without submitting supporting documentation. 
Standard eligible lender requests must include evidence that the loan 
applicant meets one of the following conditions:
    (i) The loan applicant has successfully completed an equivalent 
training program.
    (ii) The loan applicant has demonstrated adequate knowledge and 
ability in the subject areas covered under this training program. For 
waiver

[[Page 51488]]

under this paragraph, standard eligible lenders must submit a brief 
narrative describing the loan applicant's past production or financial 
management performance specifically related to satisfaction of the 
course objectives.
    (iii) Lenders do not need to submit supporting evidence for a 
waiver if the loan applicant has previously received a waiver or 
satisfied the borrower training requirements needed.
    (c) Fees. Training fees must be included in the plan of operation 
as a farm operating expense. Payment of training fees is an authorized 
use of operating loan funds.
    (d) Choosing vendor. The loan applicant is responsible for 
selecting and contacting the vendors necessary to complete the training 
required under this section.
    (e) Vendor reporting. (1) The vendor will provide the lender and 
the Agency with periodic progress reports, as determined by the Agency. 
These reports are not intended to reflect a grade or score, but to 
indicate whether the borrower is attending sessions and honestly 
endeavoring to complete the training program.
    (2) Upon completion of the training, the vendor will provide the 
lender and the Agency with an evaluation which specifically addresses 
the borrower's improvement toward meeting the training goals. The 
instructor will also assign the borrower a recommended score according 
to the following criteria:

Score

1--The borrower attended classroom sessions as agreed, 
satisfactorily completed all assignments, and demonstrated an 
understanding of the course material.
2----The borrower attended classroom sessions as agreed and 
attempted to complete all assignments; however, the borrower does 
not demonstrate an understanding of the course material.
3----The borrower did not attend classroom sessions as agreed or did 
not attempt to complete assignments. In general, the borrower did 
not make a good faith effort to complete the training.

    (i) Borrowers receiving a score of 1 will have met the requirements 
of the agreement.
    (ii) Borrowers receiving a score of 2 will have met the 
requirements of the agreement. However, since these borrowers do not 
adequately understand the course material, the lender will develop a 
plan outlining the additional supervision the borrower will require to 
accomplish the objectives of the guaranteed loan program.
    (iii) Borrowers receiving a score of 3 will not have met the 
requirements of the agreement for training.
    38. Section 1980.160 is added to read as follows.


Sec. 1980.160  Sale, assignment and participation.

    (a) The following general requirements apply to selling, assigning 
or participating guaranteed loans.
    (1) The lender may sell, assign or participate all or part of the 
guaranteed portion of the loan to one or more holders at or after loan 
closing only if, the loan is not in default. However, a line of credit 
can be participated, but not sold or assigned.
    (2) The lender will provide the Agency with copies of all 
appropriate forms used in the sale or assignment.
    (3) The guaranteed portion of the loan may not be sold or assigned 
by the lender until the loan has been fully disbursed to the borrower. 
A line of credit may be participated prior to being fully advanced.
    (4) The lender is not permitted to sell, assign or participate any 
amount of the guaranteed or unguaranteed portion of loan to the loan 
applicant or borrower or members of their immediate families, their 
officers, directors, stockholders, other owners, or any parent, 
subsidiary, or affiliate.
    (5) Upon the lender's sale or assignment of the guaranteed portion 
of the loan, or participation of the line of credit, the lender will 
remain bound to all obligations indicated in the Loan Note Guarantee, 
Lender's Agreement, the Agency program regulations, and to future 
program regulations not inconsistent with the provisions of the Lenders 
Agreement. The lender retains all rights under the security instruments 
for the protection of the lender and the United States.
    (b) Effect of sale or assignment on holder.
    (1) Upon the lender's sale or assignment of the guaranteed portion 
of the loan, the holder will assume all rights of the Loan Note 
Guarantee pertaining to the portion of the loan purchased.
    (2) The lender will send the holder the borrower's executed note 
attached to the Loan Note Guarantee.
    (3) The holder, upon written notice to the lender and the Agency, 
may assign the unpaid guaranteed portion of the loan. The holder must 
sell the guaranteed portion back to the original lender if necessary 
for liquidation of the account.
    (4) The Loan Note Guarantee or Assignment Guarantee Agreement in 
the holder's possession does not cover:
    (i) Interest accruing 90 days after the holder has demanded 
repurchase by the lender.
    (ii) Interest accruing 90 days after the lender or the Agency has 
requested the holder to surrender evidence of debt repurchase, if the 
holder has not previously demanded repurchase.
    (c) Participations.
    (1) In a participation, the lender sells an interest in a loan but 
retains the note, the collateral securing the note, and all 
responsibility for loan servicing and liquidation.
    (2) The lender must retain at least 10 percent of the total 
guaranteed loan amount from the unguaranteed portion of the loan in its 
portfolio, except when the loan guarantee exceeds 90 percent, the 
lender must retain the total unguaranteed portion.
    (3) Participation with a lender by any entity does not make that 
entity a holder or a lender as defined in this subpart.
    (d) Premiums, fees, and penalties. Negotiations concerning 
premiums, fees, and additional payments for loans, etc. are to take 
place between the holder and the lender.
    The Agency will participate in such negotiations only as a provider 
of information.


Sec. 1980.174 through 1980.175  [Removed and reserved]

    39. Sections 1980.174 through 1980.175 are removed and reserved.


Sec. 1980.180  [Removed and reserved]

    40. Section 1980.180 is removed and reserved.


Sec. 1980.185  [Removed and reserved].

    41. Section 1980.185 is removed and reserved.


Sec. 1980.190 through 1980.191  [Removed and reserved]

    42. Sections 1980.190 through 1980.191 are removed and reserved.

Exhibits A, C, E, F, and G [Removed]

    43. In subpart B, Exhibits A and C are removed and reserved and 
Exhibits E, F, and G are removed.

    Signed in Washington, D.C., on September 21, 1998.
August Schumacher, Jr.,
Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services.
Inga Smulkstys,
Acting Under Secretary for Rural Development.
[FR Doc. 98-25574 Filed 9-22-98; 1:19 pm]
BILLING CODE 3410-05-P