Young, Beginning and Small Farmers
Farm Credit is committed to the future of agriculture. Every year, we help thousands of beginning farmers find their path in agriculture.
Supporting beginning farmers is our mission.
A critical component of Farm Credit’s mission focuses on providing assistance to beginning farmers.
Whether they choose to focus on conventional, organic, sustainable, local food-related operations, direct-to-retail or other emerging business models, Farm Credit supports beginning farmers and ranchers of all types.
The Farm Credit Administration defines young, beginning and small (YBS) farmers as:
- Young farmers are 35 years old or younger
- Beginning farmers have 10 years or less of experience
- Small farmers have less than $350,000 in annual sales
Every local Farm Credit institution understands and responds to the needs of beginning producers. Each lender has a dedicated program for them. Examples include training and seminars on topics such as intergenerational transfer of family farms, risk management techniques, financial skills training and establishing effective business plans. For more information, visit our Farmer & Rancher Business Resources page.
Support for Young, Beginning and Small
Producers in 2024
Total of Loans
Farm Credit made 129,100 new loans totaling $48.2 billion to young, beginning and small farmers.
*As of December 31, 2024. Beginning in 2024, the Farm Credit Administration revised the reporting categories for young, beginning or small (YBS) producers. Any YBS data prior to 2024 is reported separately.
We make loans of all sizes
The overwhelming majority of Farm Credit loans are small in size. 77 percent of Farm Credit borrowers have loans between $1,000 and $350,000.* Only about 8 percent of Farm Credit borrowers have loans of greater than $1 million, and those customers include many farmer-owned cooperatives, rural electric cooperatives and other rural infrastructure providers whose borrowing needs are vastly larger than those of nearly all farmers.
*Starting in the 2024 reporting year, the Farm Credit Administration (FCA) increased the threshold for the definition of a “small” farm from $250,000 to $350,000 in annual gross cash farm income.
*Beginning in 2024, the Farm Credit Administration has revised the reporting categories for Young, Beginning, or Small producers. Any YBS data prior to 2024 is reported separately.
We support the future of agriculture
In addition to financing, Farm Credit lenders serve beginning farmers through community involvement and volunteer efforts.
We support organizations, such as FFA and 4-H, by conducting training programs, management seminars and educational retreats for young farmers and offering scholarship programs for farm youth entering college. Farm Credit also supports the Farmer Veteran Coalition and actively reaches out to veterans and returning service members seeking careers in agriculture.
Supporting beginning farmers across the country
Whether they choose to focus on conventional, organic, sustainable, direct-to-retail or other emerging business models, Farm Credit supports all types of beginning farmers and ranchers.
