As the nation prepares to celebrate Manufacturing Day and National Farmer’s Day, CDFA is again urging federal policymakers to pass the Modernizing Agricultural and Manufacturing Bonds Act (MAMBA), which would enact bond financing reform for...

Production methods such as regenerative agriculture are associated with climate adaptation and resilience. Such methods offer the best path forward to preserving long-term viability of an industry that is foundational to basic societal needs. From a...

The Strategy will help the U.S. meet its National Food Loss and Waste Reduction Goal, to halve food loss and waste by 2030 and contribute to achieving the National Recycling Goal to achieve a 50% recycling rate by 2030, as well as contribute to the...

During this installment of the CDFA Food Systems Finance Webinar Series, experts highlight the innovative ways in which PACE programs are evolving to support the agriculture industry across the country.

The Climate Capital Guidebook aggregates current federal funding opportunities—including grants, loans, loan guarantees, and cooperative agreements—for small- and medium-sized companies, both start-ups and established businesses, focusing on clean...

During this installment of the CDFA Food Systems Finance Webinar Series, panelists discuss how revolving loan funds can be used to support small businesses, entrepreneurs, and microenterprises to strengthen local and regional food systems. The...

This issue brief produced by the Yale Center for Business and the Environment examines the varying definitions of regenerative agriculture and details the three types of factors that make financing regenerative agriculture difficult: outdated...

A groundbreaking report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Equity Commission features more than 60 recommendations designed to make policies affecting farming and rural America more fair. A few key recommendations include...

The Rhode Island Food Policy Council has released a first-of-its-kind resource providing a data-driven assessment of the status of Rhode Island's food system, incorporating the best available research and data, and presenting information on the...

During this installment of the CDFA Food Systems Finance Webinar Series, speakers explore the potential for leveraging this foundational financing tool to cultivate resilient and thriving local and regional food systems.

Local and Regional Foods are a small but vitally important part of agriculture sales in the United States. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Local and Regional Food Systems Resource Guide is intended to help stakeholders navigate USDA...

This report, developed by the Croatan Institute in collaboration with the Meridian Institute, explores major on-farm, off-farm, and systemic risks that the agricultural industry faces and how finance can increase the resilience of those systems...

The SLM White Paper, Investing in Regenerative Agriculture: Reflections from the Past Decade, sets out the investment and environmental case for regenerative agriculture, while also highlighting the risks and challenges. It is an update to an...

The CDFA-NASDA Foundation Socially Disadvantaged Farmers & Ranchers Access to Capital Toolkit is a set of best practice resources designed to provide practical assistance to communities looking to invest in socially disadvantaged farmers and...

Croatan Institute and Self-Help announce the release of a major new collaborative report that explores leading challenges faced by the Farm Credit System – the largest lender in the agricultural sector. This new report documents leading...

During this installment of the CDFA Food Systems Finance Webinar Series, we illustrate the Reframe, Build, Plan framework of critical success factors that are needed to expand financing and drive capital into local food systems. Speakers discuss how...

The Council of Development Finance Agencies (CDFA) is pleased to announce that Senators Brown (D-OH) and Ernst (R-IA) have introduced the Modernizing Agricultural and Manufacturing Bonds Act (MAMBA) in the U.S. Senate as S. 2723. MAMBA would...

During this installment of the CDFA Food Systems Finance Webinar Series, we explore how programs at the state and federal levels can offer unique financing solutions and catalyze investment in local and regional food systems.

The “Reframing Farmland as an Investment: A Compelling Opportunity in an Inflationary Environment” report explains why interest in the farmland asset class has never been higher - from historically being one of the most stable asset classes...

Sovereignty and Indigenous definitions of wealth make up the core values on which Natives have built their economic and financial power. Yet, there is still the issue of economic invisibility for Native Peoples, and one of the ways to combat this is...

This report, published by The Wallace Center, outlines the initial impact of the USDA's Local Food Purchase Assistance Program (LFPA). Through partnerships with state agencies, and territory and tribal governments, this innovative new program is...

During this installment of the CDFA Food Systems Finance Webinar Series, we highlight unique financing structures that drive food systems investment within a geographic footprint.

CDFA's Modernizing Agricultural and Manufacturing Bonds Act was introduced as H.R. 3787 in the U.S. House of Representatives with bipartisan support by Rep. LaHood (R-IL), Kildee (D-MI), Feenstra (R-IA), and Evans (D-PA).

Funding Sources for Food-Related Businesses includes sources of local, regional, and national finance opportunities that may be available to producers, distributors, food hubs, and food-related businesses. Initially informed by a list of funding...

Forest and farm producer organizations (FFPOs) from Africa, Asia, and the Americas met with potential donors and allies in Washington D.C. to discuss advantages and opportunities to invest in and strengthen the capacities of indigenous, community,...

During this installment of the CDFA Food Systems Finance Webinar Series, we explore how these tools can be used in strengthening local and regional food systems and address some of the challenges that come with financing this sector.

With support from a third round of funding from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation (WKKF), CDFA is continuing to advocate for Defining the Food System Asset Class by building on previous efforts to increase opportunities and leverage existing capital to...

The most flexible, transparent, and customized financing built exclusively for organic, regenerative, and transitioning farmers.

THE MISSION OF BLACK FARMER FUND IS TO NURTURE BLACK COMMUNITY WEALTH & HEALTH BY INVESTING IN BLACK AGRICULTURAL SYSTEMS IN THE NORTHEAST.

Since 1976, the American Friends Service Committee’s New Mexico program has identified with the struggles of local people to empower themselves, with particular attention to water and land use, and the need to support traditional ways of life.

A new project will directly pay farmers for the ecosystem services they provide, such as cleaner water, healthier soils and increased biodiversity. The financing will support farmers who engage in regenerative agriculture practices

Provide a turnkey financing solution to enable agroforestry conversion for farmers and landowners and provide an uncorrelated, return focused ESG opportunity for investors. We aim to fix the carbon cycle and improve climate health one acre at a time.

This technical brief is intended to serve as a practical guide for including agricultural finance in development programs; specifically, within the agricultural sub-sector of innovative climate-smart businesses, production and business models, and...

The booklet discusses the general risks inherent in agricultural (Ag) lending and describes supervisory expectations and regulatory requirements for prudent risk management of this lending activity. It includes expanded examination procedures to...

Potlikker Capital is a farm community governed charitable integrated capital fund created to holistically serve BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and people of color) farmers in America who operate at the intersection of racial and climate justice.

Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) Resources for Individual, For-Profit Businesses, Political Subdivisions, and Non-Profit Organizations

Highlighted Farm Service Agency Programs for Small–Scale or diversified Farmers and Ranchers.

State of Vermont Agency of Agriculture Food and Markets.

Successfully accessing appropriate capital to grow or sustain your farm business takes focus and dedication. Below, you will find resources on farm financing solutions that will help you develop the skills and understand the steps needed to analyze,...

Expanding access to agricultural finance provides agricultural producers and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with the capital needed to increase productivity, output, and, ultimately, income.

The goal of this Guide is to identify specific challenges in value chains that can be addressed by improved payments or financial services, and then to identify corresponding DFS solutions to these specific challenges, with the aim of improving the...

Agriculture is the main source of income and employment for the 70 percent of the world's poor, who live in rural areas. Yet, only 10 percent of gross domestic produce (GDP) in low and middle income countries is generated by the agricultural sector....

Here are some of the big players in the agri-finance universe. The types of players include banks that specialize in agricultural loans, nonbank finance companies that do land and equipment loans, farmer-owned lending co-ops, REITs that own and...

The objectives of this project are to a) understand how the agrifinance industry accounts for environmental risk, and identify unrealized opportunities for improvement, and b) determine the most profitable loan-incentive product(s) for both...

Coverage of a number of new developments in the world of agricultural commodities.

Agricultural water suppliers in California have a long history of preparing agricultural water management plans (AWMPs) and in implementing efficient water management practices (EWMPs). However, water management planning is not static; changing...

This guide is aimed at helping farmers get ready to ask a lender for the financing needed in new and innovative ventures. When used as part of an overall enterprise development strategy, it can help farmers and lenders achieve mutually beneficial...

Compensation provisions in production contracts vary widely. They are often complex and difficult to understand. Contracts may have grade and quality premiums that are calculated based on the production of other growers under contract with the...

Farmers growing and selling fresh fruits and vegetables face unique challenges in receiving prompt and fair payment. These materials discuss practical and legal steps that farmers can take to protect their right to be paid when they sell fresh...