Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 92 Part 1.djvu/483

 PUBLIC LAW 95-334—AUG. 4, 1978

92 STAT. 429

guaranteed loans shall be charged, with or without authority for the Secretary to transfer amounts between such categories within a given program for more effective administration. "SEC. 347. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, other 7 USC 1995. departments, agencies, and executive establishments of the Federal Government may participate and provide financial and technical assistance jointly with the Secretary to any applicant to whom assistance is being provided under any program administered by the Farmers Home Administration. Participation by any other department, agency, or executive establishment shall be only to the extent authorized for, and subject to the authorities of, such other department, agency, or executive establishment, except that any limitation on joint participation is superseded by this section.". USE OF QUALIFIED PERSONNEL BY THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

SEC. 126. It is the sense of Congress that, in carrying out the provisions of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act, the 7 USC 1921 note. Secretary of Agriculture should ensure that— (1) only officers and employees of the Department of Agriculture who are adequately prepared to understand the particular needs and problems of farmers in an area are assigned to such area; and (2) a high priority is placed on keeping existing farm operations operating. TITLE II—EMERGENCY AGRICULTURAL CREDIT ADJUSTMENT ACT OF 1978 SHORT TITLE

SEC. 201. This title may be cited as the "Emergency Agricultural 7 USC prec. 1961 Credit Adjustment Act of 1978". note. AUTHORITY TO INSURE OR GUARANTEE LOANS

SEC. 202. The Secretary of Agriculture may insure or guarantee 7 USC prec. 1961 loans to (1) bona fide farmers and ranchers who are primarily and note, directly engaged in agricultural production and who are citizens of the United States and (2) farm cooperatives and private domestic corporations and partnerships that are primarily and directly engaged in agricultural production and in which a majority interest is held by members, stockholders, or partners, as applicable, who themselves are citizens of the United States and are primarily and directly engaged in agricultural production, if the applicant for such loan— (A) has the experience or training and resources necessary to assure a reasonable prospect for successful operation with the assistance of such loan; (B) needs such credit in order to maintain a viable agricultural production operation; and (C) is unable at the time the loan application is filed to obtain sufficient credit from normal credit sources to finance actual needs at reasonable rates and terms due to national or areawide economic stresses, such as a general tightening of agricultural credit or an unfavorable relationship between production costs and prices received for agricultural commodities.

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