Young, Beginning and Small Farmers Program

Through our New Generation II Loan program, Alabama Farm Credit offers a reduced start-up cost and underwriting standards to accommodate the financial needs of young and beginning farmers. We also sponsor or donate to organizations that contribute to the education of this important group.

New Generation II Loan Program

Our Commitment

We’re Committed to Seeding the Market with Young, Beginning and Small Farmers

In marketing, seeding is the process of allocating marketing to target a specific group of customers. The idea is to encourage faster adoption of a product or concept. And while our concept of seeding agriculture with young, beginning or small farmers is a bit different, the broader intent is the same.

We understand our industry’s future depends on young, small and beginning farmers, and it’s our goal to make sure the next generation doesn’t find themselves burdened by unreasonable barriers to entry.

Removing Barriers

Even when the know-how and want-to are baked into the life experiences and characteristics of a young farmer or someone new to farming, these qualities may not be enough to overcome the financial commitment required early in farm ownership, long before profit is realized. Farming requires sizable start-up costs that include land acquisition and large capital investments in equipment and, often, labor as well. Those costs can create what may seem like impossible barriers of entry. We understand these hurdles because many of us have faced them in our own farming operations. Our goal at Alabama Farm Credit is to significantly lower those barriers so young, small and beginning farmers have a clear pathway to success and an on-ramp to get started.

Our Shared Future Depends on You

Whether you’re a 4-H member buying a show heifer for a foundation herd, a young person taking over the family farm or an older couple investing your savings in a new agricultural venture, we applaud and support your efforts. Through our New Generation II Loan program, we offer competitive financing for young and beginning farmers to the full extent of their creditworthiness.

Definition of Young, Beginning and Small Borrowers

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Young Farmer Loans

A farmer, rancher, producer or harvester of aquatic products who is age 35 or younger as of the loan transaction date.

Beginning Farmer Loans

A farmer, rancher, producer or harvester of aquatic products who has 10 years or less farming, ranching or aquatic experience as of the loan transaction date.

Small Farm Loans

A farmer, rancher, producer or harvester of aquatic products who normally generates less than $250,000 in annual gross sales of agricultural or aquatic products.

Get started by completing our loan application or contact an Alabama Farm Credit loan officer at (877) 681-6087.