Farm Finance:
Secondary Markets for Agricultural Real Estate Loans
RCED-87-149BR: Published: Jul 17, 1987. Publicly Released: Jul 17, 1987.
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Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO provided information on: (1) secondary investment markets; (2) existing agricultural real estate secondary markets; (3) legislative proposals for a national secondary market for agricultural real estate loans; and (4) the potential effects of a national secondary market.
GAO found that: (1) generally, a secondary market transaction occurs when an original lender sells a loan to an investor, usually for a fraction of its face value; (2) the stock exchanges and the home mortgage secondary market are the most widely recognized and best-developed secondary markets; (3) there is no organized national secondary market for agricultural real estate loans; (4) there are several organized regional secondary markets, operating primarily in heavily agricultural states; and (5) the Farm Credit System (FCS) performs some secondary market functions, but is usually a primary lender. GAO also found that: (1) 9 bills have been introduced in the 100th Congress that would create a national secondary market for farm real estate loans; (2) the proposals would all require government involvement, ranging from the creation of a federal chartered corporation either within or independent of FCS, to vesting the Secretary of Agriculture with the responsibility for creating a secondary market; and (3) the proposals would cause the government to incur liability ranging from providing initial funding for the market to loan and mortgage guarantees. In addition, GAO found that key issues surrounding the creation of a national secondary market include: (1) the necessary degree of federal involvement; (2) the impact of the market on FCS and other lenders; (3) whether FCS should be empowered as the secondary market; (4) whether a national secondary market could coexist with FCS; and (5) the loans that should be eligible for trading in a secondary market.
Apr 18, 2018
Food Safety:
USDA Should Take Further Action to Reduce Pathogens in Meat and Poultry ProductsGAO-18-272: Published: Mar 19, 2018. Publicly Released: Apr 18, 2018.
Apr 16, 2018
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Food Safety:
Federal Efforts to Manage the Risk of Arsenic in RiceGAO-18-199: Published: Mar 16, 2018. Publicly Released: Apr 16, 2018.
Apr 10, 2018
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U.S. Department of Agriculture:
Additional Data Analysis Could Enhance Monitoring of U.S. Cattle MarketGAO-18-296: Published: Apr 10, 2018. Publicly Released: Apr 10, 2018.
Mar 5, 2018
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Food Safety and Nutrition:
FDA Can Build on Existing Efforts to Measure Progress and Implement Key ActivitiesGAO-18-174: Published: Jan 31, 2018. Publicly Released: Mar 5, 2018.
Nov 30, 2017
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WIC:
USDA's Review of Vegetables Available under the Program Followed Leading Research PracticesGAO-18-125R: Published: Nov 30, 2017. Publicly Released: Nov 30, 2017.
Nov 27, 2017
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Food Safety:
FDA Continues to Evaluate and Respond to Business Concerns about the Produce RuleGAO-18-85: Published: Nov 27, 2017. Publicly Released: Nov 27, 2017.
Nov 21, 2017
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Agricultural Promotion Programs:
USDA Could Build on Existing Efforts to Further Strengthen Its OversightGAO-18-54: Published: Nov 21, 2017. Publicly Released: Nov 21, 2017.
Oct 24, 2017
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Agricultural Promotion Programs:
Status of Freedom of Information Act RequestsGAO-18-55R: Published: Oct 24, 2017. Publicly Released: Oct 24, 2017.
Oct 2, 2017
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Imported Seafood Safety:
FDA and USDA Could Strengthen Efforts to Prevent Unsafe Drug ResiduesGAO-17-443: Published: Sep 15, 2017. Publicly Released: Oct 2, 2017.
Aug 24, 2017
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Crop Insurance:
Opportunities Exist to Improve Program Delivery and Reduce CostsGAO-17-501: Published: Jul 26, 2017. Publicly Released: Aug 24, 2017.
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