Eastern Iowa Farmer Spring 2017

Barbara Reed, a loan analyst
with the USDA Farm Service
Agency in DeWitt.
The Farm Service Agency
(FSA) developed the microloan
program to better serve
the financial needs of new,
niche and small- to midsized
family farm operations.
Microloans offer more flexible
access to credit and serve
as an attractive loan alternative
for smaller farming
operations, like specialty crop
producers and operators of
community supported agriculture
(CSA).
“It just opens the door for so
much more for many producers,”
Reed said.
“It just opens
the door for
so much more
for many
producers.”
— barbara reed
On a frigid snowy day in
late December, the Borrenpohl
family suited up in their
coveralls, boots and warm hats
and gloves to show visitors
their operation.
Clayton, 13, Ellie, 11,
Lance, 9, and Anita, 7, along
with their parents, greeted the
livestock with easy familiarity.
They checked on how their
newest additions, some Berkshire
pigs, were faring, and
also searched for any eggs left
by their chickens.
William pointed out the
ground that they recently
bought and talked about plans
for improving it and using it
for rotational grazing.
“The microloan helped us
do that,” he said, gesturing to
the area behind the barn.
For Reed, building a
relationship with farming families
such as the Borrenpohls
eastern iowa farmer photo / Trevis Mayfield
The Borrenpohls of rural LaMotte wanted their children to grow up on a farm. Above, Clayton, 11, moves one of the
family’s chickens while searching for eggs.
spring 2017 | Eastern Iowa Farmer 43