In partnership with
Federal Programs
• Program | Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) 2026 Signup Summary | Income-support insurance for dairy operations when the margin (milk price minus feed costs) falls below a selected level. 2026 enrollment is currently open. What it pays for | Margin protection payments when triggered; premium depends on coverage level. Deadline | Feb 26, 2026 (USDA posted) Who can apply | Dairy operations of all sizes (must have production history on file). First action | Call your FSA office and enroll or update coverage before Feb 26.
• Program | FSA Direct Farm Ownership & Operating Loans (Rolling) Summary | Government-direct loans for land, equipment, and operating expenses; includes microloans and options for beginning and underserved farmers. What it pays for | Land purchase, capital improvements, equipment, operating costs; refinancing in limited cases. Deadline | Rolling; apply any time (subject to funding). Who can apply | Family-size farms; priority set-asides for beginning, veteran, and underserved producers. First action | Contact your county FSA office to pre-qualify and assemble financials.
• Program | Farm Storage Facility Loan (FSFL) Summary | Low-rate financing for on-farm storage and handling (grain bins, cold storage, silage structures, wash/pack). Certain renewable energy systems tied to storage may qualify. What it pays for | New/storage structures, handling equipment, trucks for storage use (limits apply). Deadline | Rolling; term up to 12 years depending on project cost. Who can apply | Producers of eligible commodities, including dairy, fruits/veggies, honey, and grains. First action | Get a contractor quote and call FSA for an FSFL pre-approval checklist.
State Programs
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• Maryland | MARBIDCO: Maryland Resource-Based Industry Financing Fund (MRBIFF) Summary | Low-interest loans for on-farm and processing projects; direct or participation loans with local banks/Farm Credit. What it pays for | Land purchase, equipment, facilities, working capital. Deadline | Rolling (subject to funds). Who can apply | Maryland farms and resource-based businesses (incl. beginning farmers). First action | Call MARBIDCO or your bank to scope a project and co-financing.
• Virginia | AFID Infrastructure Grants (local–state match) Summary | Cost-share for value-added ag infrastructure that strengthens local supply chains; requires locality sponsor. What it pays for | Equipment, facility upgrades, aggregation/cold storage. Deadline | Rolling with periodic review cycles. Who can apply | Virginia ag businesses with locality support. First action | Talk to your county/city econ dev office about a joint AFID proposal.
• Oregon | Beginning & Expanding Farmer Loan Program (Aggie Bonds) Summary | Tax-exempt bond financing via Business Oregon that lowers interest rates for qualifying beginning farmers. What it pays for | Farmland, buildings, equipment, breeding livestock. Deadline | Rolling (lender-driven). Who can apply | Oregon beginning farmers meeting federal/state caps. First action | Ask your lender about issuing a BEFL bond through Business Oregon.
• Minnesota | RFA Beginning Farmer Loan Program Summary | State-backed participation loans to help new farmers purchase land or equipment with reasonable down payments. What it pays for | Land purchase; equipment; improvements. Deadline | Rolling (subject to funding). Who can apply | Minnesota beginning farmers (training/experience required). First action | Call your lender and RFA to structure a purchase plan.
• Missouri | MASBDA Beginning Farmer Loan Program (Aggie Bonds) Summary | Tax-exempt interest loans via participating lenders, lowering rates for eligible beginning farmers. What it pays for | Land, buildings, equipment, breeding livestock. Deadline | Rolling (caps indexed annually). Who can apply | Missouri beginning farmers under statutory net worth limits. First action | Download the MASBDA application and loop in your bank.
• Nebraska | NIFA Beginning Farmer/Rancher Loan Program Summary | Tax-exempt bond financing purchased by your lender to reduce interest on eligible farm purchases. What it pays for | Land, equipment, breeding livestock, buildings. Deadline | Rolling. Who can apply | Nebraska beginning farmers/ranchers (net worth cap applies). First action | Discuss a NIFA bond structure with your bank or Farm Credit.
• New York | Linked Deposit Program (LDP) Summary | State places below-market deposits with your lender, which passes through an interest-rate reduction on your loan. What it pays for | Operating or capital loans that boost competitiveness. Deadline | Rolling (lender-driven). Who can apply | NY small businesses incl. agriculture. First action | Ask your lender if they participate in LDP and request a linked loan.
• Ohio | Ag-LINK (linked-deposit rate reduction) Summary | Interest-rate reduction on operating loans for farms, agribusinesses, and co-ops; administered by the State Treasurer. What it pays for | Operating lines (seed, feed, fuel, fertilizer, etc.). Deadline | Rolling with periodic enhanced windows. Who can apply | Ohio farm operators, agribusinesses, co-ops. First action | Contact your bank and apply through the Treasurer’s portal.
• North Dakota | Ag PACE (interest buydown via BND) Summary | State interest-buydown on approved ag loans for nontraditional or value-added farm activities. What it pays for | Equipment/facilities, value‑added projects, irrigation. Deadline | Rolling (lender applies). Who can apply | ND farmers and ranchers with lender-approved projects. First action | Work with your lender to submit an Ag PACE package to BND.
• Maine | Agricultural Marketing Loan Fund (FAME) Summary | Low-cost financing for projects that enhance production/marketability of Maine ag products. What it pays for | Processing, equipment, storage, product upgrades. Deadline | Rolling (subject to funds). Who can apply | Maine farms, aquaculture, food processors. First action | Call FAME to confirm eligibility and assemble a project budget.
• Texas | TAFA Agricultural Loan Guarantee (ALG) Summary | State-backed guarantees that help lenders finance ag expansions when collateral/cash flow are tight. What it pays for | Operating capital, equipment, expansion. Deadline | Rolling (lender applies). Who can apply | Texas producers and ag-related businesses. First action | Ask your lender about a TAFA-backed guarantee for your loan.
Your money needs a system. Yours might be broken.
Money always flows — the question is whether it’s flowing with you or against you.
The Find Your Flow Assessment reveals how your income, expenses, debt, and decisions interact as a system — and where misalignment is quietly costing you time, energy, and, well, money.
In 5 minutes, you'll see:
your current money flow clearly
get language for what's felt off
find a grounded starting point for better decisions.
So if you’re a founder and operator who knows something isn't working right, the Find Your Flow Assessment is the smartest way to spend five minutes today.
For educational purposes only.
Policy Pulse:
USDA’s $12B 'Farmer Bridge' payments aim to offset market disruptions. Use FSA dashboards to track how relief flows by crop and county.
• USDA Press Release on $12B 'Farmer Bridge' Payments — One‑time bridge assistance; details and implementation updates appear across FSA dashboards.
• Emergency Commodity Assistance Program (ECAP) Dashboard — Commodity‑specific relief tracking — review weekly.
• Supplemental Disaster Relief Program (SDRP) Dashboard — Consolidated disaster payments status/eligibility info.
• Marketing Assistance for Specialty Crops (MASC) — Program framework for specialty‑crop assistance — check with your county FSA for current sign‑up windows.
What to do this week
• Enroll in DMC before the Feb 26 deadline if you milk cows — run scenarios at your coverage level.
• Ask your lender about a linked-deposit or buydown option (NY LDP, OH Ag‑LINK, ND Ag PACE).
• Scope an FSFL‑eligible storage or wash/pack upgrade; get written quotes and photos for FSA.
• Pick one state program above and make a 15‑minute qualification call.
• Bookmark ECAP/SDRP and set a calendar reminder to check monthly.
Watch‑list (prep now)
• USDA REAP – Rural Energy for America
• USDA Value-Added Producer Grants (VAPG)
• Farmers for Soil Health (cover crops)
• State Specialty Crop Block Grants (via each state ag dept.)
Glossary
• Linked Deposit (interest buydown): State lowers your loan’s interest rate by placing a deposit with your lender.
• Aggie Bonds: Tax‑exempt bonds that give beginning farmers lower‑rate loans through local lenders.
• FSFL: Farm Storage Facility Loan; low‑rate financing for on‑farm storage/handling structures and equipment.
Sources (primary/canonical)
• USDA Press Release: $12B Farmer Bridge Payments • FSA – SDRP Program Page • FSA – SDRP Deadline (National Deadlines) • FSA – DMC Program Page • FSA – Farm Loan Programs • FSA – Farm Storage Facility Loan (FSFL) • MN RFA Loan Programs • ILFA Beginning Farmer Bond • BND Ag PACE • MT Beginning Farmer/Rancher Bonds • AK Agricultural Revolving Loan Fund • HI Agricultural Loans • OH Ag‑LINK • KY Beginning Farmer Loan (KAFC) • NY Linked Deposit Program • Idaho SCBG
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