Financing Resources for Cooperative Development

The Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) program enables producers to get coverage through this safety-net program for another year as well as get additional assistance through the Supplemental DMC. DMC continues to offer protection to dairy producers when the difference between the all-milk price and the average feed price (the margin) falls below a certain dollar amount selected by the producer.

Farm Service Agency offers a variety of Disaster Assistance Programs to help farmers, ranchers, and others that have been hard hit by natural disaster events. Visit farmers.gov for additional USDA programs that can help agricultural producers recover. Sign up to receive Disaster Assistance Program email updates.

Facility loan programs help producers build or upgrade farm storage and handling facilities.

USDA Farm Service Agency Heirs' Property Relending Program provides loans to intermediary lenders, who then relend the funds to producers. Intermediary lenders will make loans to heirs who: are individuals or legal entities with authority to incur the debt and to resolve ownership and succession of a farm owned by multiple owners; are a family member or heir-at-law related by blood or marriage to the previous owner of the property; agree to complete a succession plan. See website for Approved Lenders to connect if you are interested in assistance.

The Farm Service Agency offers loans to help farmers and ranchers get the financing they need to start, expand or maintain a family farm. Use the Loan Assistance Tool to check your eligibility for FSA Loans, discover FSA loan types, learn about FSA Loan requirements, and walk through the easy-to-understand instructions when completing the forms. Use our Farm Loan Discovery Tool to find the loan that’s right for you.

The USDA Farm Service Agency offers direct microloans to address the unique financial operating needs of beginning, niche, and very small for-profit cooperative operations and other businesses and individuals. Microloans may be used to buy land, improve buildings, take soil and water conservation measures; refinance debt; buy livestock and farm equipment; and pay for training costs, for example. Cooperatives and farmers may apply through FSA for farm ownership, operating, emergency, and conservation loans under the direct loan program loans or through a credit union, bank, the Farm Credit System, or other type of lender for a guaranteed loan.

Organic Certification Cost Share Program (OCCSP) provides cost share assistance to producers and handlers of agricultural products who are obtaining or renewing their certification under the National Organic Program (NOP). Certified operations may receive up to 50 percent of their certification costs paid during the program year, not to exceed $500 per certification scope.

The Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) is a land conservation program administered by the Farm Service Agency (FSA). In exchange for a yearly rental payment, farmers enrolled in the program agree to remove environmentally sensitive land from agricultural production and plant species that will improve environmental health and quality. Contracts for land enrolled in CRP are from 10 to 15 years in length. The long-term goal of the program is to re-establish valuable land cover to help improve water quality, prevent soil erosion, and reduce loss of wildlife habitat.

The Market Facilitation Program (MFP) provides assistance to farmers and ranchers with commodities directly impacted by unjustified foreign retaliatory tariffs, resulting in the loss of traditional export markets. Assistance is available for agricultural producers of non-specialty crops, dairy, hogs, and specialty crops.

The Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) is a federal program that provides reimbursements for nutritious meals and snacks to eligible children and adults who are enrolled for care at participating child care centers, day care homes, and adult day care centers. CACFP also provides reimbursements for meals served to children and youth participating in afterschool care programs, children residing in emergency shelters, and adults over the age of 60 or living with a disability and enrolled in day care facilities. CACFP contributes to the wellness, healthy growth, and development of young children and adults in the United States.