7 U.S.C. § 2006b
Loan assessments
The Secretary shall evaluate, in accordance with regulations issued by the Secretary, the farming plan and financial situation of each qualified farmer or rancher applicant.
The Secretary may contract with a third party (including those entities eligible to provide borrower training under section 2006a(b) of this title) to conduct loan assessments under this section.
Loan assessments conducted under this section shall include annual review of direct loans, and periodic review (as determined necessary by the Secretary) of guaranteed loans, made under this chapter to assess the progress of a borrower in meeting the goals for the farm or ranch operation.
The Secretary may contract with an entity that is eligible to provide borrower training under section 2006a(b) of this title to conduct loan reviews under paragraph (1).
If a borrower is delinquent in payments on a direct or guaranteed loan made under this chapter, the Secretary or the contracting entity shall determine the cause of, and action necessary to correct, the delinquency.
The Secretary shall issue regulations providing guidelines for loan assessments conducted under this section.
This chapter, referred to in subsecs. (a), (b)(5), and (d)(1), (3), was in the original “this title”, meaning title III of Pub. L. 87–128,
2002—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 107–171, § 5317, substituted “The Secretary” for “After an applicant is determined eligible for assistance under this chapter by the appropriate county committee established pursuant to section 1982 of this title, the Secretary”.
Subsec. (d)(1). Pub. L. 107–171, § 5318, substituted “annual review” for “biannual review”.