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

Maximizing Rural Opportunities for Businesses and Communities in Wisconsin Members only

Urban communities like Milwaukee and Madison are not the only places looking for help to fund economic development. Wisconsin is filled with rural communities and small towns who are also in need of financing strategies. These areas face unique development financing challenges and needs such as downtown revitalization and talent and business development. Barb LaMue with the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation explores the cutting-edge strategies driving development in the state, and how to access them.

Financing the Local Food System in Washington Members only

Mike Lufkin and Bea Covington discuss the local food systems in WA and how it's become a growing challenge. Mike and Bea discuss changes to the way food is reaching consumers and addressing social issues.

A Look at Financing First Time Farmers in Iowa Members only

Tammy Nebola from the Iowa Agricultural Development Division of the Iowa Finance Authority discusses farming in Iowa and what it takes to finance first time farmers around the state.

Succession Opportunities in Local Food Systems Members only

Joe Bute, with Hollymead Capital and PittBusiness discuss the importance of recognizing the challenges of the "critical middle" in the regional food system and facing the challenges of ownership change.

The Rural Center Members only

Barry Ryan discusses what The Rural Center is doing to support rural economic development in North Carolina.

View More Agriculture Finance

-Aggie Bonds

CDFA Annual Volume Cap Report: An Analysis of 2016 Private Activity Bond & Volume Cap Trends

This annual CDFA report reviews the use of private activity bond volume cap and the issuance of cap-subject private activity bonds in every state.

Harvey Rogers, Economic Development Financing in Oregon: from the Sublime to the Ridiculous Members only

Harvey Rogers described the current bond market in Oregon and explored bond financing case examples which prove their effectiveness in addressing critical infrastructure needs.

Financing Solutions for Rural Food and Agricultural Systems: Aggie Bonds Members only

Tammy Nebola from Iowa Finance Authority covers Beginning Farmer Loan “Aggie Bond” Program from the perspective of the most active issuer of the bonds.

CDFA Annual Volume Cap Report: An Analysis of 2015 Private Activity Bond & Volume Cap Trends

This annual CDFA report reviews the use of private activity bond volume cap and the issuance of cap-subject private activity bonds in every state.

IRS Publication 4078: Private Activity Bonds Members only

This IRS Publication 4078, Tax-Exempt Private Activity Bonds, provides a revised overview of the general federal tax law rules that apply to qualified private activity bonds.

More Aggie Bonds

-USDA Resources

Leveraging Multiple Federal Programs - USDA Members only

Joseph Ben Israel with the U.S. Department of Agriculture presents on the Community Facilities Loan Program.

2018 Federal Financing Webinar Series: U.S. Department of Agriculture Members only

Presentation slides from the 2018 Federal Financing Webinar Series: U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Brownfield Beginnings Members only

Charlie Bartsch of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency defines what brownfields are and how to take advantage of the opportunities they offer.

Brownfield Finance Strategies – Federal Resources to turn Brown Into Green Members only

Charlie Bartsch explains the Federal financing tools available for Brownfield redevelopment in this presentation.

Getting to the "Nuts & Bolts"Members only

The various financing tools and approaches for brownfields redevelopment is described by Charlie Bartsch from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

View More USDA Resources

-Case Studies

Agricultural financing tools are essential to American rural development and sustainability. CDFA has collected dozens of case study examples.

Maximizing Rural Opportunities for Businesses and Communities in Wisconsin Members only

Financing the Local Food System in Washington Members only

A Look at Financing First Time Farmers in Iowa Members only

Tammy Nebola from the Iowa Agricultural Development Division of the Iowa Finance Authority discusses farming in Iowa and what it takes to finance first time farmers around the state.

Succession Opportunities in Local Food Systems Members only

The Rural Center Members only

Barry Ryan discusses what The Rural Center is doing to support rural economic development in North Carolina.

View More Case Studies

-Headlines

Communities throughout the country finance agriculture every day and CDFA collects headlines on projects and news daily.

How Can We Produce Enough Protein to Feed 10 Billion People?
World Economic Forum | Jan. 14 | Agriculture Finance | Food Systems Finance | Public-Private Partnership (P3) Financing

Loan Programs Help Farmers Enter the Industry
AgriNews | Jan. 3 | Access to Capital | Agriculture Finance | U.S. Dept. of Agriculture (USDA)

How Investing In Regenerative Agriculture Can Help Stem Climate Change Profitably
Forbes | Dec. 12 | Agriculture Finance | Food Systems Finance

Urban Agriculture Sprouting Roots In IL Legislative Soil
Next City | Dec. 12 | Agriculture Finance | Food Systems Finance | Urban Development

View More Headlines

-Training Courses

The Intro Rural Finance Training Course focuses on how the development finance toolbox can be structured to support rural communities and help them with strategies to invest in infrastructure, redevelopment, and job creation. This course differs from other curriculums in that it focuses on designing programs targeted to serve rural communities.

Leaders in rural and agricultural development finance will discuss how to develop and establish long-term financing within rural communities. In addition, the course will highlight successful programs that are working throughout the country in communities with varying levels of capacity and size. Topics discussed during the course include targeted financing programs available at the federal, state, and local levels for rural communities, along with best practices for employing these financing programs.

-Webcasts

CDFA // BNY Mellon Webcast Series: Opportunities and Advancements in Water Finance Members only

During this installment of the CDFA // BNY Mellon Development Finance Webcast Series, learn from expert speakers Jordan Dorfman from the EPA, Tyler Old from PFM, John DeLuca from CoBank, and Jong Sook Nee from McManimon, Scotland & Baumann, LLC as they discuss developments in the water finance space and how different financing mechanisms like bonds, RLFs, P3s, and other tools are being used to address today’s water infrastructure projects.

Community Facilities Infrastructure Toolkit Webinar - Rural Development Staff

Community Development | Rural Development | U.S. Dept. of Agriculture (USDA) | Webcasts

The Community Facilities Infrastructure Toolkit can be used as a guide to help organizations and community leaders better understand the complex process that is required to successfully develop and construct a new facility. This webinar is designed to train Rural Development staff how to effectively use the toolkit by discussing the major capacity, credit, and logistical challenges that particularly confront America’s small towns and rural areas. The webinar will focus on sections within the Community Facilities Infrastructure Toolkit, which include concept development, planning, designing, environmental compliance, finance, and construction.

CDFA // BNY Mellon Webcast Series: Connecting CRA to Development Finance Projects Members only

The role of CRA in forwarding development finance initiatives is explored in this BNY Mellon Development Finance Webcast by speakers Sharon Canavan and David Black of the Office of Comptroller Currency, Laura Choi of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, and Rena Nakashima of BNY Mellon.

CDFA USDA Rural Project Marketplace Information Session

As part of the CDFA & USDA Rural Finance Partnership, a Project Marketplace will be created. This informational video helps explain the partnership and marketplace.

CDFA-Stifel Webcast: Paving the Way to Sustainable Rural Infrastructure and Energy Financing Members only

The various targeted financing solutions to revitalize rural infrastructure and energy systems is explained in this webcast by Gary Bojes, Ph.D. of USDA, Bennett Johnson III of Ocean's Energy, Andrew Jacob with CoBank, and Christopher Sheehan of Stifel.