COLUMBUS – If you are a female farmer or rancher or a Hispanic farmer or rancher and you believe that the
United States Department of Agriculture improperly denied farm loan benefits to you for certain time
periods between 1981 and 2000 because of your gender or race, you may be eligible to apply for
compensation.
You may be eligible if:
• you sought a farm loan or farm-loan servicing from USDA during that period; and
• the loan was denied, provided late, approved for a lesser amount than requested, approved with
restrictive conditions, or USDA failed to provide an appropriate loan service; and
• you believe these actions occurred because you are female or Hispanic.
"We want all producers who may be eligible to be aware of this claims process for female and
Hispanic farmers and ranchers, so they can come forward and participate in these processes," said
Steve Maurer, State Director of Ohio’s Farm Service Agency, Ohio’s Natural Resources Conservation
Service State Conservationist, Terry Cosby and Tony Logan, State Director of Ohio’s Rural Development.

If you want to register your name to receive a claims package in the female and Hispanic farmers claims
process, you can call the Farmer and Rancher Call Center, see information below.
In 2011, a Class Administrator will begin mailing claims packages to those who have requested one through
the Call Center or Web site. The claims package will have detailed information about the eligibility and
claims process. In order to participate, you must submit a claim to the Claims Administrator by the end
of the claims period.
The claims process offers a streamlined alternative to litigation and provides at least $1.33 billion in
compensation, plus up to $160 million in farm debt relief, to eligible Hispanic and women farmers and
ranchers.
For more information, contact the Farmer and Rancher Call Center at (888) 508-4429 or access the
following Web site: www.farmerclaims.gov.