...this is the sort of thing where I've said the same thing three times and you're like "...ORLY?" YRLYThe farm bill itself does not fund FSA lending. Congress does that annually, says Jim Radintz, USDA’s assistant deputy administrator for farm loan programs in Washington, D.C. “Congress has reserved, by law, a substantial portion of funding for beginning farmers, particularly in the direct programs,” he says. “In the direct farm ownership (real estate purchase) program, 75% of the funds are reserved for beginning farmers for the first 11 months of the fiscal year.” Half of direct operating loan funds are reserved for beginning farmers for the first 11 months. FSA also guarantees loans from commercial lenders, with 40% held for beginning farmers for the first six months. All this gives start-up operations an edge on limited funds, he says.