Farm Service Agency – provides family farmers with access to credit to support their businesses. The various FSA Loan programs include Guaranteed Farm Loan funds, Direct Operating and Direct Farm Ownership loan funds, Microloan funding, and Youth loans. Funding is also set aside for historically underserved farmers and ranchers.
- Find your local Farm Service Agency (FSA) office and ask about FSA Farm Loan Programs.
Farmers’ Guide to the Microloan Program – this guide will introduce readers to the Microloan Program offered through the USDA Farm Service Agency. The Microloan Program provides operating loans designed to meet the needs of small and beginning farmers, non-traditional, specialty crop and niche type operations by easing some requirements and paperwork.
Farmer’s Guide to Agricultural Credit – accessing capital is one of the many challenges facing farmers. By using this guide, you’ll learn how to: 1) assess and potentially improve your credit score, 2) initiate the business planning process for your farm enterprise, and 3) approach a lender with a well-written business plan and loan application materials.
Farm Storage Facility Loans (FSFLs) – provide low-interest financing for producers to store, handle and/or transport eligible commodities they produce.
Self-Help Credit Union’s Healthy Food System Finance – loans to businesses and nonprofits that work to improve the way food is produced, distributed and sold. They lend to food aggregators and distributors, grocery stores and food co-ops, entrepreneurs hoping to start food businesses, urban farmers expanding their distribution networks in low-income communities, and food waste and recycling companies.