Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 75.djvu/351

 75 S T A T. ]

PUBLIC LAW 87-128-AUG. 8, 1961

311

other than for cash rent, or for carrying on any land leasing or land purchasing program, or (3) in excess of an amount certified by the county committee. SEC. 314. Loans aggregating not more than $500,000 in any one year may also be made to soil conservation districts which cannot obtain necessary credit elsewhere upon reasonable terms and conditions for the purchase of equipment customarily used for soil conservation purposes. SEC. 315. The Secretary is authorized to participate in loans which could otherwise be made by the Secretary under this subtitle which are made by commercial banks, cooperative lending agencies, or other legally organized agricultural lending agencies up to 80 per centum of the amount of the loan. SEC. 316. The Secretary shall make all loans under this subtitle at an interest rate not to exceed 5 per centum per annum, upon the full personal liability of the borrower and upon such security as the Secretary may prescribe. Such loans shall be payable in not more than seven years, but may be renewed for not more than five additional years. SUBTITLE C—EMERGENCY IX)ANS

SEC. 321. (a) The Secretary may designate any area in the United States and in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands as an emergency area if he finds (1) that there exists in such area a general need for agricultural credit which cannot be met for temporary periods of time by private, cooperative, or other responsible sources (including loans the Secretary is authorized to make under subtitle B or to make or insure under subtitle A of this title or any other Act of Congress), at reasonable rates and terms for loans for similar purposes and periods of time, and (2) that the need for such credit in such area is the result of a natural disaster. (b) The Secretary is authorized to make loans in any such area (1) to established farmers or ranchers who are citizens of the United States and (2) to private domestic corporations or partnerships engaged primarily in farming or ranching provided they have experience and resources necessary to assure a reasonable prospect for successful operation with the assistance of such loan, and are unable to obtain sufficient credit elsewhere to finance their actual needs at reasonable rates and terms, taking into consideration prevailing private and cooperative rates and terms in the community in or near which the applicant resides for loans for similar purposes and periods of time. SEC. 322. Loans may be made under this subtitle for any of the purposes authorized for loans under subtitle A or B of this title. SEC. 323. The Secretary shall make no loan under this subtitle in excess of an amount certified by the county committee. SEC. 324. The Secretary shall make all loans under this subtitle at a rate of interest not in excess of 3 per centum per annum repayable at such times as the Secretary may determine, taking into account the purpose of the loan and the nature and effect of the emergency, but not later than provided for loans for similar purposes under subtitles A and B of this title, and upon the full personal liability of the borrower and upon such security as the Secretary may prescribe. SEC. 325. The Secretary may make loans without regard to the designation of emergency areas under section 321(a) to persons or corporations (1) who have suffered severe production losses not general to the area or (2) who are indebted to the Secretary for loans under the Act of April 6, 1949, as amended, or the Act of August 31, ^^ Stat. 43. 1954, as amended, to the extent necessary to permit the orderly repay- and note, lus^a. ment or liquidation of said prior indebtedness. s^^f |Q°*' ^^^' ^°

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