Agriculture business loans

Customized financing to plant the seeds of your success

From purchasing equipment and machinery to hiring seasonal employees, financing can carry your agricultural business through any climate.

Find your best options

Here’s what you can get from our trusted partners:

Funding amount:
$3,000 – $600,000

Time to fund:
1-3 days

Term length
3 – 24 months

Small business loans for agriculture businesses made easy

When equipment breaks, or it’s time to hire seasonal staff, your agriculture business can’t wait for a slow decision process. That’s where we come in. When you fill out the quick online form on this page, we match your agriculture business’s information to the financial providers that are best suited to your unique needs.

You choose which one you want from the list and apply directly with them. The money can be approved and in your account fast and hassle-free. You can use it for replacing irrigation systems, buying vehicles like tractors and combines, acquiring more land, purchasing supplies to build a new greenhouse or chicken coop, and covering payroll while you staff up for the busy season.

Click here to get matched with the top agriculture business loans and farm equipment financing or keep reading to learn more about how farm loans work.

Small business loans for agriculture businesses made easy
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What agriculture business loans are

Agriculture business loans are a form of financing that focuses on the needs of farms, food processors, and other agricultural businesses. The money is designed to be used specifically for the agriculture industry. It can be farm equipment financing to purchase or lease tractors, combines, irrigation systems, or upgraded processing systems and software.

Agriculture business loans can also be used to purchase livestock, seed, or feed. They can be used to repair housing and boarding facilities, from farmhouses to coops for chickens to barns for cattle. And there is no shortage of places where you can apply, including the SBA, alternative online lenders, and traditional banks or credit unions. That’s where we come in.

When you use our quick and secure online form, our system pairs you with the top financing providers for your needs and profile. It only takes seconds.

What agriculture business loans are

The different types of agriculture business loans

There are six main types of agriculture loans including farm equipment financing for machinery and equipment, working capital for hiring staff and making sure they have the tools and supplies needed, short-term business loans, and more. Each one is designed to keep your agribusiness running smoothly. Here is a bit more information to help you decide which is right for your needs.

Farm equipment loans
For businesses that need to cover the cost of an unexpected equipment purchase or simply need to upgrade, farm equipment financing offers a solution. These small business loans allow agriculture business owners to purchase or lease crucial equipment to keep their business running smoothly. Most will cover any type of farming equipment whether it is new or pre-owned.

Short-term farming loans
Short-term business loans are meant to cover immediate cash flow gaps and have shorter repayment periods so you can clear the debt faster.
The loan terms typically range from six to 18 months.2 Short-term farm loans tend to be some of the fastest for approvals because there is less risk for the lender with the faster payback period compared to a five-year term loan where anything could happen during the period (from droughts to a drop in demand).

Working capital loans
If your business is lacking cash flow in an off-season, a working capital loan can help cover operational expenses including utilities, system and equipment repairs or upgrades, costs for feed and seed, and other day-to-day operational expenses. It is designed for short-term use and offers fast approval times just like short-term loans.

Farming microloans
A microloan provides a smaller amount of funding for short-term, specific needs. This loan type is typically suited for farmers just launching their operation or looking to purchase seeds or other equipment that will grow their business. Microloans are common loan types for farmers and ranchers who need just a little financing to go a long way.

Installment loans
An installment loan or business term loan is a general term that refers to any loan repaid on a regular payment. With an installment loan, a fixed amount must be paid with regularly scheduled payments, normally on a monthly or even weekly basis. Each payment includes a portion of the principal amount borrowed and the interest payment, similar to a mortgage on a home.

Commercial real estate loans
A real estate loan is used for purchasing land, housing or commercial property, which is perfect if you’re buying a neighbor’s land, looking to build a new production facility or processing plant, creating a retail and visitors center, or need a new storage structure.

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The ways you can use a farm loan

Farm loans can be used to help sustain your business or help expand it. They can be used for expenses like: 

Financing farm equipment 

  • Keep your business running effectively with critical equipment like tractors or combines. 
  • Buy or lease new or pre-owned equipment. 

Hiring seasonal and full-time farm workers 

  • Improve production with a bigger workforce. 
  • Prevent livestock or crop loss by having staff available around the clock. 

Stock up on farm inventory 

  • Pay for items like pesticides or seeds needed for your business. 
  • Buy grass, hay, grains, or other animal feed for livestock in cattle and poultry farms. 

Pay for farm operation expenses 

  • Cover everyday expenses like utility bills or hardware. 
  •  Make payments toward existing debts to keep your farming business afloat. 

Expand your agribusiness 

  • Get financing to invest in your business’s future. 
  • Acquire more crops, livestock, or land to increase production and grow your profits. 
The ways you can use a farm loan

How to qualify for a farm loan

The requirements to qualify for a farm loan vary by financing provider. Traditional lenders, credit unions, government agencies, and alternative online lenders are all going to have certain minimum requirements that applicants need to meet to get funded. These may include a minimum amount of time in business (i.e., six months to a year), a minimum amount in annual sales, and an established credit score (from poor to excellent).

Regardless of the amount of time you’ve been in business, your annual revenue, and your FICO score, SmallBusinessLoans has solutions for you through our extensive network of trusted partners. Click here to see your matches now.

The agriculture loan application process

Once you know the type of farm loan you’ll be applying for, it’s a simple process, especially when you use a platform like ours.

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Determine the amount of financing you need.

  • Get a quote or appraisal if you need land or equipment.
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Gather the needed documents including appraisals, financial statements, and credit score.

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Fill out the quick and secure online form on our site. Then select the provider that best meets your agribusiness’s needs.

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Apply directly with the financial provider you select.

  • If approved, you negotiate and agree to the terms and conditions. Then you sign and receive the funds.
  • If you’re declined, the provider will let you know the reasons why and you can either reapply or choose a different provider from your recommended partners.

Once you’ve agreed to the terms and conditions and the funds are released, you’ll begin making payments on the loan per the schedule in the farm loan agreement.

Apply for farm loans with SmallBusinessLoans

Whether you want to grow or sustain your poultry farm, cattle farm, or small agribusiness, fast and reliable funding is the way to achieve your goals. At SmallBusinessLoans, we have already done the legwork of sourcing the best financial partners who work with farmers and agribusiness owners, so we can match you with one that’s dedicated to your success. 

We’re committed to securing funding for agricultural small businesses quickly and efficiently so you can get back to running your operations and not spending countless hours on applications only to find out you may not qualify. Get started today and get the farm financing you deserve! 

3 steps are all you need to unlock real solutions

Step 1

Tell us about your business and your unique funding needs.

Step 2

We’ll find you the best financing in seconds. No credit impact.1

Step 3

Our trusted partners can fund you in as fast as 24 hours.3

Frequently asked questions

Yes, you can get a loan to start farming or any type of agriculture business, but it is difficult to get a loan in any industry without being established and having proof of success. Agriculture businesses have an advantage over other industries as government agencies like the Farm Service Agency offer assistance to farmers launching their business. Plus, companies like ours find funding partners that provide farm financing options to help you secure the cash you need.

The best type of loan for an agriculture business depends on how much funding you need and what the funding will be used for. Hiring seasonal staff and making sure they have the tools they need will require a working capital loan, while buying new equipment is easy with a farm equipment financing loan.

A farm equipment financing loan is specifically designed for buying or leasing new or pre-owned equipment and machinery. Alternatively, you could get a short-term loan to cover equipment costs and additional expenses.

The key difference should be noted in the contract, where a loan designed specifically for farm equipment financing may be restricted to the equipment only, and a short-term loan will allow you to use the financing for staff, uniforms, feed, and other purposes as well.

Yes, SBA loans can be used for farm businesses and can have lower interest rates for agribusinesses. However, SBA loans may take a significantly longer time to get approved. If you need funding quickly, it is recommended to work with an alternative lender to secure financing fast.