IN BRIEF: Farmers, Ranchers can make USDA payments online
Feb. 1—The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced today that most farm loan borrowers will be able to make payments to their direct loans online through the Pay My Loan feature on farmers.gov in early February. P
ay My Loan is part of a broader effort by USDA's Farm Service Agency (FSA) to streamline its processes, especially for producers who may have limited time during the planting or harvest seasons to visit a local FSA office; modernize and improve customer service; provide additional customer self-service tools; and expand credit access to assist more producers.
"Farmers and ranchers have responded to some difficult challenges over the last few years and their time is a precious commodity," said Agriculture Deputy Secretary Xochitl Torres Small. "Having the option to conduct business online is essential, and the Pay My Loan feature allows customers to take care of business seamlessly. The online payment feature is just one of many ways the Farm Service Agency is modernizing its Farm Loan Programs and enhancing the customer experience for this incredibly hardworking group."
The Pay My Loan feature can be accessed at farmers.gov/loans. To use the payment feature, producers must establish a USDA customer account and a USDA Level 2 eAuthentication ("eAuth") account or a Login.gov account. This initial release only allows individuals with loans to make online payments. For now, borrowers with jointly payable checks will need to continue to make loan payments through their local office.
AARP tax help now available
AARP tax assistance packets are now available at the Cooke County Library in downtown Gainesville.
This packets include instructions on how to prepare 2023 tax returns. Clients will need to fill out the booklet and then contact AARP, as per the instructions attached with it.
Clients will need to make appointments this year. Instructions on how to make appointments will be attached with the AARP paperwork. This information can be found on an attached postcard. The first appointments won't be available until Tuesday, Feb. 5. Appointments will be from 1-4 p.m. on Tuesdays only. At this time, this service will be offered until Tuesday, April 9.
The library staff has no involvement with this service. The library is just the location, and the AARP Tax Aides are volunteers.
"They are trying their best to provide this free service to our community. Both organizations want to continue to provide this much used and needed service. Be aware that the details and process may change. We're all trying to make this service as simple and safe as possible. Be patient," stated library director Jennifer Johnson-Spence in a press release.
For any general questions, call the Cooke County Library at 940-668-5530. The library is located at 200 S. Weaver St.
Tickets still available for NTMC fundraiser
The North Texas Medical Center Foundation is bringing back Dancing With Our Stars competition to raise money for its foundation's Heart of NTMC Campaign and the purchase of a Cardiac CT machine for the hospital.
Dancing With Our Stars is scheduled for Feb. 23 at 6 pm at Centennial Hall in Lindsay. The event, which is based on the long-running television show, will feature a competition including sets of dancers vying for the prestigious mirror-ball trophy, which is given to the best dancers as chosen by a panel of judges including professional dancers from the Metroplex.
Other awards include the People's Choice Award, which goes to the contestants who get the most public votes leading up to the event, and the Crowd Favorite Award which goes to the dancers who get the most votes from attendees at the event.
You can donate toward your favorite dancer at www.ntmcfoundation.org. That is also where you can see the featured dancers, buy tickets to attend the event, and buy raffle tickets and bid on silent auction items once the auction opens.
Tickets for the event are $100 each. That includes a catered meal, drinks, and of course the featured entertainment. Those that attend will be able to vote on their phones for their favorite dancer, as well as bid on silent auction items.
For more information on Dancing With Our Stars benefitting the NTMC Foundation, contact Darin Allred at (940) 612-8460 or by email at darin.allred@ntmconline.net.
Extension Farm and Ranch meeting Feb. 29
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension will host the Tri-County Farmer and Rancher Symposium Feb. 29 at First Christian Church in Gainesville.
The meeting, hosted for farmers and ranchers in Cooke, Montague and Grayson counties, will run 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Signup is $50 and can be done at the door. A light breakfast and lunch are included, along with five Continuing Education Units.
Call Leslie Kittrell in the Cooke County Extension office at 940-668-5414 for more information, or send an email to Leslie.Kittrell@ag.tamu.edu.
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Please, by all means, send your stuff to editor@gainesvilleregister.com by end of the day on Wednesday for publication in the weekend edition. Be sure to include your name and phone number in the email if we have any questions.
For more information, call 940-665-5511.
