President Expected to Sign Legislation Allowing Farmer Mac to Pool

Legislation giving Farmer Mac new powers and more time to meet capital requirements passed Congress Friday.

The bill is now on the way to President Clinton, who is expected to sign it.

"With a workable secondary market for agriculture-related loans, commercial banks will be better able to assist the credit needs of borrowers in rural areas," said Philip M. Burns, chief executive of Farmers and Merchants National Bank, West Point, Neb., and chairman of the American Bankers Association's agricultural bankers division.

The measure also would allow banks to sell loans to Farmer Mac without creating a 10% reserve as required now.

Under the measure, the agency could pool loans itself rather than through an outside firm. Additionally, the measure would give the agency three more years to meet minimum capital standards.

Farmer Mac was started in 1988 to create a secondary market for long- term farm mortgages, but so far it hasn't generated enough business to turn a profit.

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