How to Obtain Agricultural Loans
Friday, December 24, 2010
If you are into agriculture and have farm land as well as livestock then there is a high probability that at some point in time you might need an agricultural loan. There are several different types of agricultural loans available including specific loans for farm land, live stock, and any other agriculture related requirement. But the question is how to obtain agricultural loans?
If you require agricultural loans then there are certain aspects to consider before you can obtain the loan. The different aspects include:
Business Plan: As an existing farmer or a new farmer applying for agricultural loans, the first step is to prepare a detailed business plan that will throw light on the cash flow forecasts for the near future. The projection of the cash flow in your business plan will help your lender to understand how much loan you require and how much you are capable of paying back. You can pick up a copy of Business Plans for Agricultural Producers from the Texas Cooperative Extension Service for $1.25 and read through it to understand how to make a well-projected and detailed business plan for the loans.
Compare terms: There are several financial institutions that offer agricultural loans and each institution has its own rates and minimum loan amount. Before you apply for agricultural loans it is always a good idea to compare the various aspects of the loan like lending terms, minimum amount, scheduled payment period, marginal payment options and much more. You can compare the above information offered by banks, financial institutions, and Farm Credit Associations over the internet.
State Agricultural Finance programs: Most US states offer several state agricultural finance programs while some of the states offer at least one loan program. State agricultural finance or loan programs include everything from farmer loans to short-term farm land loans, disaster recovery loans, livestock loans, agri-business loans, equipment loans, seasonal loans, and much more. One of the popular state agricultural finance programs is the Aggie Bond Beginning Farmer Loan Program. This program is currently available in 17 states and helps new farmers to obtain loans at reduced rates for livestock, buying land, etc. You can find details on agricultural loans and state agricultural finance programs at the National Council of State Agricultural Finance Programs.
Commercial lenders: You can check the various offerings by commercial lenders like banks and financial institutions as well. There are several commercial lenders who specialize in different types of agricultural loans. There are approximately 2,500 farm banks all across US that offer agricultural loans at good interest rates. You can also check out with banks because they offer more farm loans than any Farm Credit System in the US.
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) or Federal Government: Several types of agricultural loans are offered by USDA or the Federal government. You can pay them a visit if you are unable to get commercial credit or if you are unable to get the loan amount that you require for a specific agricultural requirement. There are several loan and farm land finance programs offered by the USDA Farm Service Agency.
Labels: Agricultural, Loans, Obtain
