Small Farm Funding Resources

​Rural Information Center (U.S.) Beltsville, MD: USDA, National Agricultural Library, Rural Information Center, [2022] Updated by Vanessa S Gordon, Ph.D. March 2022. Original edition: September 2005 by Patricia La Caille John. Internet -resource:   https://www.nal.usda.gov/ric/small-farm-funding-resources

Contents

• Introduction
• Developing a Farm Business Plan
• Financial and Planning Resources
• Funding and Program Assistance
• Veteran Resources
• Agriculture Disaster Assistance
• Organizations and Web Sites

Introduction

This guide contains information about issues to consider before starting a farming operation with links to full-text guides on how to start a farm business and develop business and marketing plans. It also contains information about funding programs for beginning and experienced farmers, technical assistance contacts, disaster assistance, and organizations with resources. U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has a Small and Mid-Sized Farmer Resources website as well as the Beginning Farmers and Ranchers of the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Farm Loan Discovery Tool websites. An Overview of Beginning Farms and Farmers (USDA Economic Research Service, 2019) describes the structural and economic characteristics of beginning farms and illustrates how they differ from more established operations.

The use of trade, firm, or corporation names in this publication (or page) is for the information and convenience of the reader. Such use does not constitute an official endorsement or approval by the United States Department of Agriculture or the Agricultural Research Service of any product or service to the exclusion of others that maybe suitable.  

Developing a Farm Business Plan

1. Agribusiness Planning: Providing Direction for Agricultural Firms. Jeffrey Hyde, Sarah Roch. UA371. University Park: Penn State University Cooperative Extension, 2002. 

2. Business Plan Preparation: Tools for Writing Business Plans. Stephen Lawrence, Frank Moyes. Boulder, CO: University of Colorado Leeds School of Business. 

3. Farm Business Plan Worksheet: Balance Sheet. FSA2037. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Farm Service Agency, 11-04-10. [PDF 631.59KB]

4. Farm Business Plan Worksheet: Projected/Actual Income and Expense. FSA2038. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Farm Service Agency, 08-19-14. [PDF 321 KB]

5. Business Guide. Washington, DC: U.S. Small Business Administration. 

Financial and Planning Resources

1. Agricultural Income and Finances. (Publications) Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service

2. Exploring the Small Farm Dream. Belchertown, MA: New England Small Farm Institute.

3. Family Farming in the United States. James MacDonald. Amber Waves. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service, March 4, 2014. 

4. National Farmers Markets Directory Search. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Marketing Service. Updated 2022.

5. Financing Small-Scale and Part-Time Farms. Gregory D. Hanson, Jayson K. Harper, George L. Greaser. University Park: Penn State University Cooperative Extension, 2004. 

6. Small Farm Handbook. 2nd Edition. University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources. 2011.

7. Starting or Diversifying an Agricultural Business. Prepared by Lynn F. Kime and Sarah A. Cornelisse, senior extension associates in agricultural economics; and Jayson K. Harper, professor of agricultural economics. This publication was developed by the Small-scale and Part-time Farming Project at Penn State with support from the U.S. Department of Agriculture-Extension Service. Additional financial support for this publication was provided by the Risk Management Agency of the United States Department of Agriculture and the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. 2018. Updated 2022.

8. Business Structure for Small Farms: A Quick Guide. Issued by Washington State University Extension and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. 2015. [PDF 1.75 MB]

9. Tools and Resources for New Farmers. Belchertown, MA: Growing New Farmers Consortium.

Contacts for Technical Assistance: Both SBA and USDA provide small business planning technical assistance and USDA also provides technical farming specifics through the extensive network of USDA, Cooperative Extension Service (CES) specialists.

• Cooperative Research and Extension Services
• Small Business Development Centers (SBDC)

Funding and Program Assistance

State Programs You may want to start your financial assistance search with your state Department of Agriculture to see if your state has a Beginning Farmer Loan Program or other type of grants or loans for farming and ranching.

• National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) is comprised of the departments of agriculture in all fifty states and the territories of American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
• Types of state agricultural finance programs may be identified through your Council of State Agricultural Finance Programs. Check with your state agriculture department for programs, like Aggie Bonds.

Agricultural Lenders Information on Farm Financial Management & Performance can be located on the USDA's Economic Research Service web site.

• Farm Economy
• Rural Economy & Population 

Farm Banks: The nation's farm banks (defined by the Federal Reserve Board as banks that have above average proportions of farm real estate and production loans in their loan portfolios) offer a variety of loans to small and large farms and agribusiness firms; they also handle many of the loans made under USDAs guaranteed farm loan programs.

• American Bankers Association: Agriculture Banking. ABA has a "special section dedicated to providing advocacy, information, training, education, and public relations for banks that make and service agricultural loans or provide credit and other financial services to those living and working in rural America for nearly 100 years."

Farm Credit: Farm Credit is a nationwide network of 70 customer-owned financial institutions across all 50 states and Puerto Rico, and provides loans and related financial services to U.S. farmers and ranchers, farmer-owned cooperatives and other agribusinesses, rural homebuyers and rural infrastructure providers.​

• Farm Credit System Lenders in your state

United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)

USDA, Farm Service Agency, Farm Programs:

• Farm Loan Program Information 
• Beginning Farmers and Ranchers Loans
• Minority and Women Farmers and Ranchers 
• Microloan Programs
• Locate Farm/Ranch Properties for Sale by the USDA RD and FSA
• Locate Farm Service Agency Offices by State

USDA, Natural Resources Conservation Service

• Financial Assistance Programs
• Locate Natural Resources Conservation Service Offices by State

USDA, Risk Management Agency

• RMALocal. USDA Risk Management Agency. Local offices listing serving agricultural producers to strengthen the economic stability of agricultural producers and rural communities. Includes Education and Training as well as Resources for Beginning Farmers.

USDA, Rural Development

• Renewable Energy for America Program, Renewable Enery Systems, and Energy Efficiency Improvement Guaranteed Loans & Grants Program
• Value-Added Producer Grants
• Socially-Disadvantaged Groups Grant 
• Locate Rural Development Offices by State

USDA, National Institute of Food and Agriculture

• Search for a Funding Opportunity in Agriculture 
• Small and Family Farms 
• Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Programs (SARE)
  • Use the Alternative Farming Systems Information Center to assist with your research.

USDA, Agricultural Marketing Service

• Farmers Market Promotion Program
• Specialty Crop Block Grant Program 

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

• Agriculture Center
• National Agriculture Compliance Center 1-888-663-2155

Veteran Resources

• USDA Veterans
• Veteran Affairs, Farm Loans: Home Loans for Rural Residents. 2018 [PDF 415.25KB]
• Farmer Veteran Coalition 
• Veteran Farmers Project from the Center for Rural Affairs
• Veterans to Farmers 

Agriculture Disaster Assistance

• Crop Insurance. USDA Risk Management Agency
• USDA Disaster Resource Center
• Disaster Assistance Programs. USDA, Farm Service Agency.
• Disaster Assistance for Agricultural Producers. ATTRA - National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service
• Farm Aid. 1-800-FARM AID
• Animal Welfare: Disaster Planning. USDA, NAL, Animal Welfare Information Center.
• Disaster Assistance. USDA, Rural Information Center.
• Getting Through Tough Financial Times. University of Illinois Extension Service.

Organizations and Web Sites

• ABA Agricultural Banking, Washington, DC: American Bankers Association. 
• Acreage Insights, Lincoln: University of Nebraska.
• Alternative Farming Systems Information Center, Beltsville, MD: U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Agricultural Library.
• ATTRA, National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service, 1-800-346-9140 Fayetteville, AR.
• Begin Farming Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association, Columbus, OH: Public-Private Collaborative. 
• Beginning Farmers, East Lansing: Michigan State University. 
• Center for Farm Financial Management, 1-800-234-1111 St. Paul: University of Minnesota.
• Farm Answers, 800-234-1111, St. Paul, Minnesota:The Center for Farm Financial Management (CFFM) at the University of Minnesota.
• Farm Credit, Greenwood Village, CO. 
• Growing Small Farms, North Carolina Cooperative Extension. 
• Hawai'i Guide for New Farmers, Manoa: University of Hawaii.
• National Ag Risk and Farm Management Library, St. Paul: University of Minnesota. 
• National Association of State Departments of Agriculture, Washington, DC. 
• New England Small Farm Institute, Belchertown, MA. 
• Beginning Farmers and Ranchers, U.S. Department of Agriculture.
• Cornell Small Farms Program, Ithaca, NY: Cornell University, Small Farm Program, Cooperative Extension Service.
• Small Farms Program, Corvallis: Oregon State University Extension Service.
• Small Farm Research and Extension, Davis: University of California.
• Women's Agricultural Network, Burlington: University of Vermont.

USDA, Rural Information Center
National Agricultural Library
10301 Baltimore Ave., Room 109
Beltsville, MD 20705-2351
ric@usda.gov