Jenny Peterson, executive director of the U.S. Department of Agriculture Colorado Farm Service Agency, reminds farmers and ranchers that the agency offers farm-ownership and farm-operating loans to under-served applicants and beginning farmers and ranchers.

During the 2017 fiscal year, Colorado FSA obligated $48,554,504 in loans to under-served borrowers and beginning farmers and ranchers.

The direct and guaranteed loan program includes farm-ownership loans and farm-operating loans.

Definitions of under-served applicants and beginning farmers and ranchers are available online at http://bit.ly/2i49BrA.

For more information, call the La Plata County Farm Service Agency at 259-3289 or visit www.usda.gov.