Young, Beginning & Small Farmers

Rise and shine with financing from Alabama Ag Credit.

Whether you're just starting out or expanding your operation, we have the expertise in agriculture and rural financing to help you succeed.

New Generation Loan Program

Because the future of American agriculture depends on a new generation of ag producers, we offer a program with flexible underwriting to accommodate the unique needs of young, beginning, and small (YBS) farmers.

Our New Generation Loan Program makes our agricultural loans and land loans available to creditworthy YBS applicants. This program is designed to encourage lifelong lending relationships. In fact, most of our borrowers fall under one or more YBS categories.

New Generation financing is available for:

Land purchases, improvements, and refinancing
Agricultural production expenses
Livestock purchases and expenses
New and used equipment

To learn more about our New Generation Loan Program, including requirements and limitations, please contact the Alabama Ag Credit location near you.

Eligibility

The New Generation Loan Program is open to farmers, ranchers, and producers or harvesters of aquatic products who meet YBS criteria:
- Young: Age 35 or younger
- Beginning: One who has assumed the control and risk of an agricultural operation for 10 years or less
- Small: Less than $350,000 in gross cash farm income
The borrower must be the farm's or property's sole owner/operator.

Young AgVisory Council

Established in 2019, the Young AgVisory Council consists of young, beginning, and small farmers, rural landowners, and industry experts throughout central and south Alabama. The main objective for the council is to meet with Association leadership to help drive its efforts to fulfill and understand the needs of young, beginning, and small farmers.

Additionally they:

Assist the Association in developing marketing and lending objectives including but not limited to; products, services, rates, and underwriting standards in order to best reach the YBS demographic in our market and further meet the mission of the Farm Credit System.
Represent the Association at agricultural events and meetings as well as represent the Young AgVisory Council to the Board of Directors.
Provide valuable input on policy from the viewpoint of the YBS member to help the association remain relevant as the next generation of agricultural producers and rural land owners begins to become established.
Learn ways YBS members can further be involved in both the Association and the rural community as they continue their careers.

Learn more about or current Young AgVisory Council

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Alabama Cooperative Extension Resources

Available at the touch of a finger, the Farming Basics app from Alabama Extension is a science- and research-based information gateway for small and beginning farmers. The app will serve as a pocket guide to help growers answer everyday questions in the field.

Beginning Start-Up Farmers

For beginning farmers who are just getting started, we award five $10,000 grants that help provide additional support to help JumpStart them toward success. To find out more about the application process, eligibility criteria, and more click here.

Small Farmers

For small farmers who sell direct to consumer, we understand the littlest things can make the biggest difference. So we are proud to provide additional support for small farmers through our Farm Market Vendor Voucher Program which helps pay vendor fees to sell at local Farmer's Markets. To find out more about the program click here.

Sponsorship and Donations

Alabama Ag Credit is committed to supporting the state’s new generation of producers. Whether it’s a 4H member buying a show heifer for a foundation herd, a young person taking over the family farm, or an older couple investing in a new ag venture, we applaud their efforts. We sponsor or donate to numerous organizations that help educate young and beginning farmers. Some of these organizations include:

4H
FFA
Alabama Council of Cooperatives
Farm Credit System Foundation
Farm-City Week programs
Agriculture trade shows and commodity tours
Alabama Agriculture and Forestry LEADERS Program
Alabama Agribusiness Council
Alabama Young and Adult Farmers

For more information on Sponsorships and Donations, contact:
Amber.Pratt@AlabamaAgCredit.com

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