Section 764.251 - Operating loan uses(a) Except as provided in paragraph (b), OL and ML used for OL purposes loan funds may only be used for:(1) Costs associated with reorganizing a farm to improve its profitability;(2) Purchase of livestock, including poultry, farm equipment or fixtures, quotas and bases, and cooperative stock for credit, production, processing or marketing purposes;(3) Farm operating expenses, including, but not limited to, feed, seed, fertilizer, pesticides, farm supplies, repairs and improvements which are to be expensed, cash rent and family living expenses;(4) Scheduled principal and interest payments on term debt provided the debt is for authorized FO or OL purposes;(6) Costs associated with land and water development, use, or conservation;(8) Costs associated with Federal or State-approved standards under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (29 U.S.C. 655 and 667 ) if the applicant can show that compliance or non-compliance with the standards will cause substantial economic injury;(9) Borrower training costs required or recommended by the Agency;(10) Refinancing farm-related debts other than real estate to improve the farm's profitability provided the applicant has refinanced direct or guaranteed OL loans four times or fewer and one of the following conditions is met:(i) A designated or declared disaster caused the need for refinancing; or(ii) The debts to be refinanced are owed to a creditor other than the USDA;(11) Costs for minor real estate repairs or improvements, provided the loan is made primarily for agricultural purposes and can be repaid within 7 years. In the case of leased property, the applicant must have a lease to ensure use of the improvement over its useful life or to ensure that the applicant receives compensation for any remaining economic life upon termination of the lease. 72 FR 63298 , Nov. 8, 2007, as amended at 78 FR 3835 , Jan. 17, 2013; 81 FR 3293 , Jan. 21, 2016 81 FR 3293, 1/21/2016; 86 FR 43392, 8/9/2021; 89 FR 65040, 9/25/2024