Small Business Administration (SBA) The SBA website provides you with direct links to many commonly used financial resources for small businesses. SBA Office of Advocacy: Banking studies - Small business lending in the U.S. The Office of Advocacy uses call report and Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) data to analyze the lending activity of individual reporting commercial banks in the United States. SBIC program financing to small business The Small Business Investment Companies (SBICs) provide venture capital to small independent businesses, both new and already established. Chicago Board of Trade The Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT®), established in 1848, is the world's oldest derivatives (futures and futures-options) exchange. More than 3,600 CBOT® members trade 48 different futures and options products at the CBOT®. In 2007, the CBOT® merged with the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME)® to form the CME Group®. Commodity Futures Trading Commission The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) was created by Congress in 1974 as an independent agency with the mandate to regulate commodity futures and option markets in the United States. The agency protects market participants against manipulation, abusive trade practices and fraud. Through effective oversight and regulation, the CFTC enables the markets to serve better their important functions in the nation's economy--providing a mechanism for price discovery and a means of offsetting price risk. Farm Service Agency (FSA) loan programs FSA offers direct and guaranteed farm ownership and operating loans to farmers who are temporarily unable to obtain private, commercial credit. The Agency also helps established farmers who have suffered financial setbacks from natural disasters, or whose resources are too limited to maintain profitable farming operations. FSA price support At the USDA FSA Price Support home page, you can find out about Loan Deficiency Payments, as well as a host of special programs designed specifically to suit particular commodities and situations. FSA conservation programs FSA's Conservation Programs promote good land stewardship by providing payments and incentives to farmers and ranchers. FSA disaster assistance From drought to hail to hurricanes, weather can spell disaster for crops and livestock. FSA offers a number of programs that assist farmers and ranchers in recovering from weather-related setbacks. FSA commodity operations The Farm Service Agency Commodity Operations Office handles the acquisition, procurement, storage, and distribution of commodities, as well as management of the U.S. Warehouse Act. There you can find a wealth of information, including the latest market prices reports, purchase invitations and awards, and much more. Related Agriculture tax center
