Young, Beginning, Small & Minority Farmer Loans

The Future of American Agriculture

You need a bit of capital, just to get things up and running. You need a bit of guidance, too— insights from seasoned experts who will set you on a path toward lasting success in your industry. You're the future of American agriculture, after all. That's why AgGeorgia is investing in you through our Young, Beginning, Small, and Minority (YBSM) Farmer program.

Interested in submitting an application? Explore the eligibility requirements outlined in brief below, as well as the special opportunities available exclusively for YBSM Farmers, then reach out to one of our loan specialists for more information.

Loan Eligibility Requirements

AgGeorgia invests in the future with special loans designed to maximize the profit-making potential of YBSM Farmers. Build a bigger, stronger, more robust business and continue the good work that you’ve started.

If you're based in our 79-county service area in Georgia, are thirty-five years of age or younger, have ten or fewer years of professional experience (whether it's in farming, ranching, or aquatic agriculture development), or are a small-scale farmer making less than $250,000 in revenue from your agricultural or aquatic products, then we consider you a YBSM Farmer and you may be eligible for certain programs like the below (different programs have different qualifications). Talk to a loan specialist today for more information.

Beginning Farmer Downpayment Program

Through a unique partnership with Farm Service Agency (FSA), AgGeorgia and FSA can provide joint financing to give you a long-term fixed rate while keeping cash in your pocket for your growing farm’s needs. 

Advantages:

• Only 5% cash down payment
• 30 year term loan with AgGeorgia
• 20 year fixed rate through FSA
• AgGeorgia and FSA combine to finance up to 95%
• Share in our profits through our Patronage Refund Program!

To qualify for this program:

• You must have participated in the business operation of a farm for at least 3 years but not operated a farm for more than 10 years
• You cannot already own a farm property totaling more than 30% of the median farm size in the county where your farm is located
• You must provide at least 5% of the purchase price of the farm as a cash down payment.

Joint Financing Program

Like our Beginning Farmer Downpayment Program, the Joint Financing Program can help with similar terms when you don’t have much capital to get started with a farm purchase. Talk with a loan specialist for details. 

Don’t meet the requirements for the Beginning Farmer Downpayment Program or Joint Financing Program?  AgGeorgia is also an FSA Preferred Lender!  That can help YBSM farmers like yourself obtain an operating line of credit or purchase a poultry operation when you may not have the cash on hand or equity to obtain traditional financing, through an FSA guarantee of your AgGeorgia loan.  Talk with a loan specialist for more details.

Financial Education Program

AgGeorgia also supports YBSM Farmers with access to a comprehensive series of financial literacy and business workshops, collectively referred to as AGAware®, crafted specifically for borrowers in these demographics. Read more about the educational opportunities available through AGAware®.