Farm operating and farm ownership loans are available for women and members of minority groups who want to purchase or operate a family-size farm, officials have announced.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency for Jefferson and Washington counties is alerting the public of the availability of the loans. Applicants must be U.S. citizens; have a satisfactory history of meeting credit obligations; have sufficient education, training or experience managing or operating a farm; possess legal capacity to incur debt; and be unable to obtain credit elsewhere.

The agency can make direct loans to applicants who are unable to get commercial credit or provide loan guarantees to commercial lenders.

For more information about FSA Farm Loan programs, call the FSA Hillsboro office at (636) 789-2441, extension 100, or visit www.fsa.usda.gov.