February 3, 2021
Lost Creek Guide
USDA Temporarily Suspends Debt Collections, Foreclosures and Other Activities on Farm Loans for Several Thousand Distressed Borrowers Due to Coronavirus
WASHINGTON, Jan. 27, 2021 — Due to the national public health emergency caused by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the U.S. Department of Agriculture today announced the temporary suspension of past-due debt collections and foreclosures for distressed borrowers under the Farm Storage Facility Loan and the Direct Farm Loan programs administered by the Farm Service Agency (FSA). USDA will temporarily suspend non-judicial foreclosures, debt offsets or wage garnishments, and referring foreclosures to the Department of Justice; and USDA will work with the U.S. Attorney’s Office to stop judicial foreclosures and evictions on accounts that were previously referred to the Department of Justice. Additionally, USDA has extended deadlines for producers to respond to loan servicing actions, including loan deferral consideration for financially distressed and delinquent borrowers. In addition, for the Guaranteed Loan program, flexibilities have been made available to lenders to assist in servicing their customers. Today’s announcement by USDA expands previous actions undertaken by the Department to lessen financial hardship. According to USDA data, more than 12,000 borrowers—approximately 10% of all borrowers—are eligible for the relief announced today. Overall, FSA lends to more than 129,000 farmers, ranchers and producers. “USDA and the Biden Administration are committed to bringing relief and support to farmers, ranchers and producers of all backgrounds and financial status, including by ensuring producers have access to temporary debt relief,” said Robert Bonnie, Deputy Chief of Staff, Office of the Secretary. “Not only is USDA suspending the pipeline of adverse actions that can lead to foreclosure and debt collection, we are also working with the Departments of Justice and Treasury to suspend any actions already referred to the applicable Agency. Additionally, we are evaluating ways to improve and address farm related debt with the intent to keep farmers on their farms earning living expenses, providing for emergency needs, and maintaining cash flow.” The temporary suspension is in place until further notice and is expected to continue while the national COVID-19 disaster declaration is in place. USDA’s Farm Service Agency provides several different loans for producers, which fall under two main categories: Guaranteed loans are made and serviced by commercial lenders, such as banks, the Farm Credit System, credit unions and other non-traditional lenders. FSA guarantees the lender’s loan against loss, up to 95 percent. Direct loans are made and serviced by FSA using funds from the federal government. The most common loan types are Farm Ownership, Farm Operating, and Farm Storage Facility Loans, with Microloans for each: Farm Ownership: Helps producers purchase or enlarge a farm or ranch, construct a new or improve an existing farm or ranch building, pay closing costs, and pay for soil and water conservation and protection. Farm Operating: Helps producers purchase livestock and equipment and pay for minor real estate repairs and annual operating expenses. Farm Storage Facility Loans are made directly to producers for the construction of cold or dry storage and includes handling equipment and mobile storage such as refrigerated trucks. Microloans: Direct Farm Ownership, Operating Loans, and Farm Storage Facility Loans have a shortened application process and reduced paperwork designed to meet the needs of smaller, non-traditional, and niche-type operations. Contact FSA FSA encourages producers to contact their county office to discuss these programs and temporary changes to farm loan deadlines and the loan servicing options available. For Service Center contact information, visit farmers.gov/coronavirus. For servicing information, access farmers.gov.
A Rather Blustery Drive
By Master Trooper Gary Cutler As Winnie the Pooh stated. “It undoubtably looks like a rather blustery day.” As that silly old bear stated so many years ago, it still rings true. We have seen a lot of blustery days this year with some gusts reaching as high as 116 MPH. Wind can affect your travels in many ways. The one that comes to most people’s minds is how it can and often does topple big rigs pulling trailers. Even though you may not be driving a semi, you do need to be aware of them in a wind storm. If you are feeling wind gusts while driving, it could mean that a particularly strong one can hit the semi and tip it over. You need to be careful with them while following or passing them. Watch to see if you see the semi having trouble maintaining its lane. It could mean something more dangerous is in the near future. Spend as little time around them as possible in case a gust hits it while you are near. This goes the same if you are pulling a trailer. Lighter trailers, especially empty ones are more prone to dragging the tow vehicle off the road with it when hit by a gust of wind. Also, make sure your load is secure especially in wind storms. Items that you normally wouldn’t think will blow off your trailer may indeed fly off and possible hit a vehicle or go into the roadway and cause another vehicle to crash. Those of you who don’t pull trailers or drive semis are not off the hook. Particularly strong winds can move your car into the oncoming lane of travel. I’m sure you’ve felt your vehicle moving around and sometimes finding it hard to maintain your lane. Again, be cautious of wind storms and especially ones with strong wind gusts. If there is a report of possible strong winds, try to adjust your travel plans. Get where you’re going safely. “Oh, Pooh, there’s more to life than just balloons and honey.” As always, safe travels!
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Selection of First Colorado Independent Redistricting Commissioners
Colorado Independent Redistricting Commissions Staff The first six commissioners on the Colorado Independent Congressional and Legislative Redistricting Commissions will be selected in February. Congressional commissioners will be selected Monday, February 1, 2021, at 2:00 PM. The panel of retired judges – Hon. Daniel Taubman, Hon. Robert Hawthorne, and Hon. Alan Loeb – will meet remotely to announce their selections of 50 Democratic, 50 Republican, and 50 unaffiliated applicants. They will then randomly select two applicants from each pool to serve on the commission. The meeting will be available to watch or listen to online. Public viewing will also be available in the Old State Library (room 271) at the Colorado State Capitol Building. Legislative commissioners will be selected Friday, February 12, 2021, at 2:00 PM. The panel of retired judges – Hon. Karen Ashby, Hon. Dennis Graham, and Hon. Gale Miller – will meet remotely to announce their selections of 50 Democratic, 50 Republican, and 50 unaffiliated applicants. They will then randomly select two applicants from each pool to serve on the commission. The meeting will be available to watch or listen to online. Public viewing will also be available in the Old State Library (room 271) at the Colorado State Capitol Building. Both panels have approved the following procedures for their random drawings: At their meeting, the judges on the panel will identify the names of 50 Democrats, 50 Republicans, and 50 unaffiliated applicants from which the first six commissioners will be chosen by lot. Once directed to do so by the panel, redistricting staff will place a link on the redistricting website to the lists of names. The names will also be displayed on the screen for those attending the meeting virtually or in person. The names on the list will be numbered 1-50 (unaffiliated), 51-100 (Democrats), and 101-150 (Republicans). Bingo balls with corresponding numbers will be placed in three revolving Bingo drums. Each selection panel will choose commissioners by lot from the pools (unaffiliated, Democratic, and Republican) in the same order the pools are listed in the state constitution. At the direction of the panel, staff will proceed as follows: 1. Draw one ball from the unaffiliated drum—that will be the number of the first commissioner. 2. Draw one ball from the Democratic drum—if that number is not from the same Congressional district as the previously chosen individual, it will be the number of the second commissioner. If the drawn number represents the same Congressional district as the previously chosen commissioner, it will be set aside and balls will continue to be drawn until a candidate who represents a new Congressional district is chosen. 3. Draw one ball from the Republican drum—follow the procedure listed above until a Republican commissioner is chosen who represents an unchosen Congressional district. 4. Continue to follow the same process, starting again with the unaffiliated drum, until six commissioners are selected who represent six different Congressional districts. The two judicial panels will also select the final six commissioners for each commission, by March 1, 2021, for the congressional commission, and by March 16, 2021, for the legislative commission. For each commission, two lists of ten Democrats will be submitted by the Majority Leaders of the State Senate and State House of Representatives. Two lists of ten Republicans will be submitted by the Minority Leaders of the State Senate and State House of Representatives. From each of these lists, the judges will select one commissioner. The judges for each commission will also select two unaffiliated commissioners from the original pool of applicants. Each commission must include at least one member residing in each current congressional district and at least one member from the Western Slope and must, to the extent possible, reflect Colorado’s racial, ethnic, gender, and geographic diversity.
