Beginning Farmer Down Payment Loan — USDA Farm Service Agency

Pairs a low-interest FSA loan with a commercial lender so a beginning or underserved producer can buy a farm with roughly 5% down instead of 20–30%.

Typical award: Up to 45% of purchase price, max ~$300,150; 1.5% interest, 20-year term
Deadline: Rolling; coordinate with FSA and your lender
Type of support: Loans & credit · Land access
Who can apply: Beginning / underserved, Individual producer, Tribal
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
Tribes, tribal producers, and tribal enterprises are eligible
Beginning, veteran, and historically underserved producers are prioritized
Active SAM.gov registration and UEI number required before award
Must be in compliance with USDA/federal program rules (AGI limits, conservation compliance)
Credit history, repayment ability, and collateral are reviewed
Business plan and cash-flow projections generally required

How to apply

1Talk to a USDA Farm Service Agency loan officer about the size and purpose of the loan
2Assemble financials: balance sheet, income history, and projections
3Submit the application with your business plan and collateral information
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: USDA Farm Service Agency — your local USDA Service Center or state office can walk you through it

Ready to apply?

Applications go through USDA Farm Service Agency, 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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