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 </figure>USDAWASHINGTON – Agricultural producers now have more time to repay Marketing Assistance Loans (MAL) as part of the U.S. Department
 of Agriculture’s implementation of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act of 2020. The loans now mature at 12 months rather than nine, and this flexibility is available for most commodities.“Spring is the season when most producers have the biggest need for capital, and many may have or are considering putting commodities under
 loan. Extending the commodity loan maturity affords farmers more time to market their commodity and repay their loan at a later time,” said U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue. “We are extremely pleased that USDA can offer these marketing flexibilities
 at this critical time for the agriculture industry and the nation.”Effective immediately, producers of eligible commodities now have up to 12 months to repay their commodity loans. The maturity extension applies
 to nonrecourse loans for crop years 2018, 2019 and 2020. Eligible open loans must in good standing with a maturity date of March 31, 2020, or later or new crop year (2019 or 2020) loans requested by September 30, 2020. All new loans requested by September
 30, 2020, will have a maturity date 12 months following the date of approval.The maturity extension for current, active loans will be automatically extended an additional 3 months. Loans that matured March 31 have already
 been automatically extended by USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA). Producers who prefer a nine-month loan will need to contact their local FSA county office. Loans requested after September 30, 2020, will have a term of nine months.
Eligible commodities include barley, chickpeas (small and large, corn, cotton (upland and extra-long staple, dry peas, grain
 sorghum, honey, lentils, mohair, oats, peanuts, rice (long and medium grain, soybeans, unshorn pelts, wheat, wool (graded and nongraded); and other oilseeds, including canola, crambe, flaxseed, mustard seed, rapeseed, safflower, sunflower seed, and sesame
 seed. Seed cotton and sugar are not eligible.About MALsPlacing commodities under loan provides producers interim financing to meet cash flow needs without having to sell their commodities when market
 prices are low and allows producers to store production for more orderly marketing of commodities throughout the year.&nbsp;
These loans are considered nonrecourse because the commodity is pledged as loan collateral, and producers have the option of delivering the
 pledged collateral to the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) for repayment of the outstanding loan at maturity.&nbsp;MAL Repayment
Under the new maturity provisions, producers can still repay the loan as they would have before the extension:<ol>
 <li>repay the MAL on or before the maturity date;</li><li>upon maturity by delivering or forfeiting the commodity to CCC as loan repayment;
 or</li><li>after maturity and before CCC acquires the farm-stored commodity by repaying the
 outstanding MAL principle and interest.</li>
 </ol>Marketing Loan GainsA Marketing Loan Gain occurs when a MAL is repaid at less than the loan principal. If market gain is applicable during
 the now-extended loan period, producers can receive a gain on the repayment made before the loan matures.For more information on MALs, contact the nearest FSA county office. USDA Service Centers, including FSA county offices, are open for business
 by phone appointment only, and field work will continue with appropriate social distancing. While program delivery staff will continue to come into the office, they will be working with producers by phone and using online tools whenever possible. All Service
 Center visitors wishing to conduct business with the FSA, Natural Resources Conservation Service, or any other Service Center agency are required to call their Service Center to schedule a phone appointment. More information can be found at
<a href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=TeZUXWpUv-2B6TCY38pVLo9ngIO64DYG6qL4M1Malhw82cEkraq6oGj7JOvhbufzxnwmpe_r-2BDMsuWuYVmb7-2F1Mu1QL1I-2FJ8-2BHR91nNNNGTTc38Ah21KHordUO1d7zhLCFR0YP4W2h34kGvaUJG9DcNaDLY4wTxXaVbw1sBFaBaBxdAvVUQ24xcDuevDYppsOabu4fhNaAK1EP7L-2FqZT0GBZYJ107JEIyh82TVd4IxfWll-2B7DUS-2Fb4ZYifZvTgwaCPAZ17CISTpA4ZK1-2FCRAeHgtIDaTLbgP-2FXbMwSkwGTRCoVcZ3RtTHA3Jfi8yMgUjdFwlKIvT3yhOg4W9EsLucukZPCMBsPVVkq9qyuUjOwZZxbInWWlDZzC7laFVDOnoa9k3BI2AnjrBRzat-2BcFk9mPLd2DPWjxl7rDqBDsmk17WmDRw8g-3D" target="_blank">
farmers.gov/coronavirus</a>.

USDA: Producers get marketing flexibility amid COVID-19 outbreak