Farm Law Research on the Internet, With an Emphasis on Agricultural Credit

Here are some helpful websites for finding laws, rules, court opinions, and FSA Notices, Handbooks, and Instructions on the Internet.

U.S. Code

THOMAS (U.S. Congress). A service of the Library of Congress, Thomas has information on proposed bills, including text, committee hearings, etc.

Code of Federal Regulations

Federal Register

Federal Government Catch-All Site

Minnesota Statutes and Rules

FSA Policy Statements

FSA Notices(Temporary Directives). You can find the most recent notices, or search within a subject area, such as Farm Loan Programs. Please note that if you have the number for an obsolete notice, the link may not work. You can get the notice by opening a current notice, going up to the address line and changing the notice number to what you are looking for, and hitting enter.

RD (old FmHA) Instructions, including Parts 1922, 1951, 1956, 1962. Instructions generally restated the regulations word for word, but sometimes they contain information not found in the regulations. It is advisable to confirm that the specific section of the Instructions is up to date before relying on it.

FSA's Freedom of Information Act home page. Provides instructions on how to file an electronic FOIA request.

FSA Handbooks

FSA has stated that it has developed a system that will eventually allow electronic access to its handbooks to the public. See FSA Notice AS-2023. It is not, however, a speedy process. A handful of handbooks are currently available to the public online. The remainder should be made available on request from FSA offices.

2-FLP Guaranteed Loan Making and Servicing Handbook, currently through Amendment 7 (June 14, 2001). You may print the entire document, or specific parts.

Lender Manual. This guide to the Guaranteed Loan Program has been superceded by 2-FLP.It was last amended in March, 2000.

1-CMA Handbook for Cooperative Marketing Associations. Concentrates on loan and LDP procedures for CMA's and LSA's, through Amendment 8, as of June 14, 2001.

1-FSFL Handbook for Farm Storage Facility Loan Program, through Amendment 9 as of June 14, 2001.

10-LD Lamb Meat Adjustment Assistance Program, with three amendments through June 14, 2001.

2000 Crop Insurance Handbook

Program Integrity Handbook for Crop Insurance Administration (RMA)

Adjusted Gross Revenue Standards Handbook (RMA)

Written Agreement Handbook (RMA)

Loss Adjustment Manual Standards Handbook (RMA)

FSA Forms

USDA's eCommerce page. Many FSA Forms are on this site, some with instructions on how to fill them out.

FSA Fact Sheets

TheFact Sheetsprovide brief overviews of FSA programs, as well as FSA's implementation of federal statutes and other issues. Some fact sheets available in Spanish or Hmong.

Case Law

U.S. Supreme Court Cases. Includes almost all Supreme Court cases since 1990, as well as hundreds of the most important cases before 1990. Offers a free subscription service which provides notice of current decisions when they are handed down.

LexisOne. After registration, offers free case law since 1996 for all 50 states and federal circuit courts plus free legal forms.

Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals Opinions after 1995

Minnesota Supreme Court & Appeals Court opinion archive

Minnesota Court System Home Page

District of Minnesota Bankruptcy Court

Agricultural Law Articles and Resources

University of Arkansas'sNational Center for Agricultural LawResearch and Information

Agricultural Law Bibliography

Agriculture Dictionary

Minnesota Farm Legal Series

General Legal Sites

BenefitsCheckUp. Eligibility information for federal and state programs for senior citizens.

Find Legal Help. Site created by the American Bar Association. Information on when non-lawyers may be able to represent themselves, resolving disputes with lawyers, finding a lawyer, and legal aid organizations.