Small Farm Fund Finder
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Private / NonprofitRolling / continuousLoan / creditNationwide

FarmStart Investment Program

Farm Credit East / Yankee Farm Credit

Working capital investments for Northeast start-up farms in their first years, with lighter underwriting than a standard farm loan and a business-mentor relationship attached.

Typical award
Up to $75,000 working capital
Deadline
Rolling
Type of support
Loans & credit · Operating capital
Who can apply
Individual producer, Beginning / underserved
Fits these operations
Vegetables & produce, Cut flowers, Orchard & fruit, Mixed / diversified, Value-added & food business, Urban farm
The eligibility and application details below are general guidance for this kind of program, not text copied from the funder. The facts above — who runs it, how much, and when it closes — are hand-checked. Always confirm specifics on the official page.

Am I eligible?

  • Open nationwide — check for state-level ranking or set-asides
  • Individual farmers, ranchers, and farm businesses may apply
  • Beginning, veteran, and historically underserved producers are prioritized
  • Credit history, repayment ability, and collateral are reviewed
  • Business plan and cash-flow projections generally required

How to apply

  1. 1Talk to a Farm Credit East / Yankee Farm Credit loan officer about the size and purpose of the loan
  2. 2Assemble financials: balance sheet, income history, and projections
  3. 3Submit the application with your business plan and collateral information
  4. 4Respond to underwriting questions, then close and draw funds

What you'll need

  • Farm or business name, address, and tax ID / EIN
  • Three years of tax returns (or projections if you're just starting)
  • Current balance sheet and cash-flow projection
  • Business plan and description of what the loan will buy
  • Collateral list and any existing debt schedule

Timeline & contact

Typically 30–90 days from application to closing, faster for microloans
Get help: Farm Credit East / Yankee Farm Credit — contact details are on the official program page

Ready to apply?

Applications go through Farm Credit East / Yankee Farm Credit, not through this site. Open the official page below for eligibility rules, forms, and contacts. For federal programs it's worth calling your local USDA Service Center or Cooperative Extension office first — they help with paperwork for free and know what your county actually funds.

Open official page

This listing was last hand-checked August 2026.

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