United States: In December 2023, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) unveiled an online application for Direct Loan customers. The online, interactive, guided application that is paperless and offers useful features like an electronic signature option, the capacity to attach supporting documents like tax returns, the ability to complete a balance sheet and create a farm operating plan, is now available to more than 26,000 customers who submit Direct Loan applications annually. This technology is a component of the USDA's Farm Service Agency's (FSA) larger initiative to increase credit availability, enhance customer service, and streamline internal operations.

It is now simpler for producers to obtain the funding they require to launch, grow, or continue their farming and ranching enterprises owing to the USDA Farm Service Agency's new online loan application tool. Online services are becoming prevalent in the commercial lending industry. While still offering one-on-one assistance to clients as required, the online farm loan application resembles the assistance a candidate would get while filling out a loan application in person with an FSA Farm Loan Officer. Farmers and ranchers can submit complete loan applications with this technology and other process enhancements, which lowers the amount of incomplete and withdrawn applications.

Borrowers have the ability to monitor the status of their loan application via a customized dashboard. Producers must create a USDA customer account and a USDA Level 2 eAuthentication ("eAuth") account in order to use the online loan application service. The online application tool will only be accessible to producers who will be operating their farm as an individual at this time. In 2024, the FSA plans to extend the tools' accessibility to include married couples applying jointly as well as other legal organizations. The Farm Loan Program's customer-facing business operations are being streamlined and automated through a major endeavor being carried out by the FSA. FSA has made enhancements this year for its 85,000 Direct Loan customers and the more than 26,000 producers that apply for Direct Loans from it each year.

The Inflation Reduction Act provided the USDA USD3.1 billion to support distressed borrowers with certain FSA direct and guaranteed loans and to expedite assistance for those whose agricultural operations are at financial risk. This was a historic, once-in-a-generation investment and opportunity for agricultural communities. Since October 2022, the USDA has assisted over 27,000 direct and guaranteed FSA loan borrowers with aid totaling around USD1.6 billion.