Agriculture Finance Resource Center
Agriculture finance is one of the most important components of state and local development finance efforts. Agriculture remains one of the country’s most important and productive industries and is the primary economic engine for most rural communities. From beginning and established farmers to agriculture production and processing, the needs of the agriculture industry are vast. Resources are also very limited and the barriers to capital for agriculture are daunting. Dozens of states offer financing resources such as loan funds, grants and aggie bonds to assist with the agriculture industry. In addition, the U.S. Department of Agriculture provides vast resources to rural communities to support agricultural development.
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-Understanding Agriculture Finance
Agricultural Lending: A How-To Guide Members only 
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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. This results in the severe mismatch between the proportion of people employed by the agriculture sector and the proportion of GDP attributable to agricultural production.
Understanding Farmers’ Market Rules Members only Login
Farmers’ markets are booming in popularity around the country. They are popular with consumers seeking fresh, local food. They are popular with farmers moving toward direct marketing of their products. And they are popular with beginning farmers and immigrant farmers. This article is intended to help farmers understand their responsibilities and rights as vendors at a farmers’ market.
Your Guide to Organic and Organic Related USDA Programs Members only Login
This Organic Resource Guide provides an overview of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) programs and services available to the public that either directly or indirectly support organic agriculture. Some programs have the specific purpose of assisting organic farmers, ranchers, and handlers, while others may be of interest to a variety of individuals, including those in the organic industry.
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-Resources
View all Agriculture Finance Resources
-Agriculture Finance
Funding Sources for Food-Related Businesses, Eighth Edition
The Funding Sources for Food-Related Businesses is a directory created to support and beneft food-related business. The directory includes sources of local, regional, and national fnance opportunities that may be available to producers, distributors, food hubs, and food-related businesses. The directory is a partial listing of what may be available across the United States; some examples may not be a good match with your particular circumstances. Initially informed by a list of funding resources for food-related businesses found on the Food+Tech Connect website, a media and research company building a network for food innovators and entrepreneurs, this listing has been expanded and updated by the Michigan State University Center for Regional Food Systems to help support local food systems.
Territorial and Farmers Financing MechanismsMembers only Login
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, and farmers organizations. Key actions, recommendations, and next steps are captured in this report.
CDFA Announces Third Grant Award from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation
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 support local and regional food systems. There is a significant opportunity for further investment in this space through formalized technical assistance, facilitated collaboration between food system practitioners and development finance agencies, and direct and indirect lending programs for food- and agriculture-related businesses and projects.
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-Aggie Bonds
Soil Wealth Areas: Place-based Financing for Conservation, Rural Communities & Regen AgMembers only Login
A new report from Croatan Institute highlights how the Soil Wealth Area model can facilitate more investment in regenerative agriculture, enhance conservation, and support resilient rural economies. The report provides specific recommendations for implementing Soil Wealth Areas in each of the regions analyzed and creating a wider Soil Wealth Community for practitioners to share learnings about their experiences with place-based financing.
CDFA Food Systems Finance Best Practices Guidebook
Linking development finance and food systems can be a daunting undertaking for any community. Research on the current ecosystem of food systems finance has positioned CDFA to identify key strategies for the path ahead in this work. The Food Systems Finance Best Practices Guidebook defines how traditional development finance tools can be used to launch and expand food and agricultural-related businesses and projects, and create successful food systems finance programs at the local and regional levels.
Resilience in New Mexico Agriculture Strategic PlanMembers only Login
The Resilience in New Mexico Agriculture Strategic Plan provides broad recommendations are coupled with specific, actionable strategies. The implementation of this plan is critical to achieving greater agricultural and natural resource resiliency, as well as a secure future for the generations of farmers and ranchers to come.
CDFA 2018 Annual Volume Cap Report: An Analysis of Private Activity Bond & Volume Cap Trends
In 2018, the 50 states and the District of Columbia received $37.1 billion in new volume cap allocation, an increase of nearly $1.8 billion from 2017. Total private activity bond issuance slightly decreased from $24.86 billion in 2017 to $24.14 billion in 2018. Multi and Single-Family Housing Bond issuance increased by $1.11 billion in 2018, climbing from a combined $20.98 billion in 2017 to $22.09 billion in 2018.
View more Aggie Bonds Resources
-Rural Development
Funding Sources for Food-Related Businesses, Eighth Edition
The Funding Sources for Food-Related Businesses is a directory created to support and beneft food-related business. The directory includes sources of local, regional, and national fnance opportunities that may be available to producers, distributors, food hubs, and food-related businesses. The directory is a partial listing of what may be available across the United States; some examples may not be a good match with your particular circumstances. Initially informed by a list of funding resources for food-related businesses found on the Food+Tech Connect website, a media and research company building a network for food innovators and entrepreneurs, this listing has been expanded and updated by the Michigan State University Center for Regional Food Systems to help support local food systems.
Territorial and Farmers Financing MechanismsMembers only Login
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, and farmers organizations. Key actions, recommendations, and next steps are captured in this report.
Mad CapitalMembers only Login
The most flexible, transparent, and customized financing built exclusively for organic, regenerative, and transitioning farmers.
A Community Guide to Organizing Small FarmsMembers only Login
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.
Black Farmer Fund
THE MISSION OF BLACK FARMER FUND IS TO NURTURE BLACK COMMUNITY WEALTH & HEALTH BY INVESTING IN BLACK AGRICULTURAL SYSTEMS IN THE NORTHEAST.
View more Rural Development Resources
-U.S. Department of Agriculture
Funding Sources for Food-Related Businesses, Eighth Edition
The Funding Sources for Food-Related Businesses is a directory created to support and beneft food-related business. The directory includes sources of local, regional, and national fnance opportunities that may be available to producers, distributors, food hubs, and food-related businesses. The directory is a partial listing of what may be available across the United States; some examples may not be a good match with your particular circumstances. Initially informed by a list of funding resources for food-related businesses found on the Food+Tech Connect website, a media and research company building a network for food innovators and entrepreneurs, this listing has been expanded and updated by the Michigan State University Center for Regional Food Systems to help support local food systems.
Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Rural PlaybookMembers only Login
A roadmap for delivering opportunity and investments in rural America. This playbook is intended to help rural communities understand the available funding for infrastructure provided by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and other sources – offering information on the “what, where, and how” to apply for federal infrastructure dollars.
Soil Wealth Areas: Place-based Financing for Conservation, Rural Communities & Regen AgMembers only Login
A new report from Croatan Institute highlights how the Soil Wealth Area model can facilitate more investment in regenerative agriculture, enhance conservation, and support resilient rural economies. The report provides specific recommendations for implementing Soil Wealth Areas in each of the regions analyzed and creating a wider Soil Wealth Community for practitioners to share learnings about their experiences with place-based financing.
View more USDA Resources
-Programs Map
Search the map below for agriculture finance programs by state. This specialized search is part of
CDFA's State Financing Program Directory, the only online resource cataloging the development finance programs offered by state governments. Click on a state to see a sample of state energy programs available. Login with a CDFA Member account at the top of the page to view full results.
-Case Studies
Agricultural financing tools are essential to American rural development and sustainability. CDFA has collected dozens of case study examples.
Agricultural Lending: A How-To Guide Members only Login
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. This results in the severe mismatch between the proportion of people employed by the agriculture sector and the proportion of GDP attributable to agricultural production.
Understanding Farmers’ Market Rules Members only Login
Farmers’ markets are booming in popularity around the country. They are popular with consumers seeking fresh, local food. They are popular with farmers moving toward direct marketing of their products. And they are popular with beginning farmers and immigrant farmers. This article is intended to help farmers understand their responsibilities and rights as vendors at a farmers’ market.
Your Guide to Organic and Organic Related USDA Programs Members only Login
This Organic Resource Guide provides an overview of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) programs and services available to the public that either directly or indirectly support organic agriculture. Some programs have the specific purpose of assisting organic farmers, ranchers, and handlers, while others may be of interest to a variety of individuals, including those in the organic industry.
View More Case Studies
-Headlines
Communities throughout the country finance agriculture every day and CDFA collects headlines on projects and news daily.
View More Headlines
-Webcasts
Enhancing Local Workforce Development and Building for the Future
Automation, shifting demographics, COVID-19 and increased telework opportunities are reshaping the workforce landscape amid shifting industry needs. Counties, through local and regional partnerships and workforce development boards, are working with public, private, and nonprofit partners to help train job seekers and connect them with local employers.