Build a solid foundation of success
If you lack capital, credit history, or a steady income, starting a farm operation seems impossible. Whether you’re looking to purchase land, equipment or just seed and fertilizer, our young, beginning, small, and minority farmer loan program is designed to help you access credit and build a solid foundation of success in three simple steps.
Step 1. Access to Credit
Credit is one of your greatest challenges as a beginning farmer, that’s why we offer loan programs with:
- Low interest term and operating loans
- Low interest Best Management Practice (BMP) Loans
- FSA or other Government Agency Loan Guarantee Fee Reimbursement
- Farmland Financing – Conservation easement
Step 2. Mentoring and Research
When you lack the experiences that build your foundation, making connections with industry leaders and mentors will be crucial to your success. With over 100 years of serving rural communities, we have industry and commodity expertise to help you grow pretty much anything.
We also work closely with industry organizations and universities to help you network and keep up to date on research and trends.
Step 3. Further your Ag Education
You’ve already committed to the idea of wearing several hats as a farmer, now you need to build your skills to be good at wearing those hats. In addition to promoting and sponsoring local workshops and trainings across our territory, our AgBiz Masters program is a two-year interactive educational learning series that will help you master everything from strategic business planning to cash flow projection.
The AgBiz Masters Program teaches you skills like:
- Megatrends
- Strategic Business Planning
- Preparing for Your Lender
- Balance Sheets
- Income Statement
- Cash Flow Projection
- Farm Business Management
- Growth and Transition Management
- Communication
- Leadership
Register for the AgBiz Masters Program
The registration fee is $225 for a single operator or a couple/business partners. You may be eligible for a full reimbursement of the cost after completion of the course, based on available scholarships. Registration period runs from August 1 to October 31.
Helping the Next Generation, No Matter What.
You are a steward of the land. Whether it’s livestock or grain, we support farms both large and small, including those that:
- Sell locally
- Grow organically
- Provide food for urban communities
- Practice sustainable farming methods.
It’s your farm. Grow it how you want to.