Agricultural Loans and Farm Mortgages for Farms, Ranches & Rural America.
UFIG originates agricultural loans nationwide for working farms, hobby farms, ranches, vineyards, orchards, equestrian properties, and rural land — from $500K. Farmer Mac, USDA B&I, SBA, and conventional farm loan programs. One dedicated ag loan officer from first call to closing.
Farm loans and agricultural financing for
every property type and operation.
UFIG finances a broad spectrum of agricultural real estate — from large-scale production farms and ranches to hobby farms, horse stables, vineyards, and orchards. If the property has agricultural use and meets our $500K minimum, we review it.
Working Farms
Row crop, grain, hay, and commodity operations of all sizes
Ranches & Livestock
Cattle, beef, feedlot, and grazing land operations
Vineyards & Wineries
Vineyard acquisition, expansion, and winery financing
Orchards & Groves
Apple, citrus, pecan, almond, and specialty tree crops
Equestrian Properties
Boarding, training and breeding facilities — see horse farm loans
Hobby Farms
Lifestyle farms, small acreage and recreational properties — see hobby farm loans
Poultry & Dairy
Poultry houses, dairy operations, egg production, and processing facilities
Specialty Agriculture
Aquaculture, timber, nurseries, greenhouses, and agribusiness facilities
Most lenders do not understand agricultural real estate.
Agricultural loans require lenders who understand seasonal cash flow, commodity cycles, crop insurance, land valuation, and the difference between a working operation and a speculative purchase. Most commercial lenders look at a farm file the same way they look at retail — and miss the deal entirely. UFIG reviews agricultural loan requests with the context they require.
- File reviewed within 24 hours — farm loans are not afterthoughts here.
- Hobby farms and lifestyle ranches are eligible — we do not turn away small operations.
- Farmer Mac, USDA B&I, SBA 7(a), SBA 504, and conventional farm loan programs.
- Seasonal payment structures — semi-annual and annual payment options available.
- One loan officer stays with your file from first call through closing.
- 01 The operation’s history, not just last year’s financials
- 02 Land value in the context of agricultural use — not just comparable sales
- 03 Seasonal income patterns — not all revenue arrives monthly
- 04 The borrower’s plan for the property, not just its current state
- 05 Whether the deal fits Farmer Mac, USDA, SBA, or conventional — and why
From your land to closed —
in four steps.
UFIG’s agricultural loan process is built for farm operators, not for paperwork. Here is exactly how it works.
Submit Your Deal
One quick form or phone call. Tell us about your farm, ranch, vineyard, or rural property.
24-Hour Ag Review
Your dedicated loan officer reviews the file the same day — with real agricultural lending expertise.
Program Match & Quote
We match your deal to Farmer Mac, USDA B&I, SBA, or conventional — and deliver a clear rate quote.
One Officer to Close
The same specialist stays with your file through underwriting, appraisal, and closing. No hand-offs.
Agricultural loan programs matched to
the property, the borrower, and the operation.
UFIG accesses multiple agricultural lending channels — Farmer Mac, USDA B&I, SBA, and conventional farm mortgage programs. The channel we use is determined by your deal, not our preference.
Farmer Mac Agricultural Loans
Long-term farm real estate financing with fixed and adjustable rate options. Competitive agricultural loan rates for working farms, ranches, and rural properties.
- LTV Up to 70%
- Terms 10–30 Years
- Payment Monthly, Semi-Annual, Annual
- Prepay Open or Restricted Options
- Min Loan $500,000
USDA Business & Industry Loans
Government-guaranteed agricultural and rural business financing. Higher leverage for qualifying farm operations and agribusiness facilities in eligible areas.
- LTV Up to 80–90%
- Terms Up to 30 Years (RE)
- Guarantee Up to 80%
- Use Acquisition, Refi, Equipment
- Min Loan $500,000
SBA 7(a), 504 & Conventional Farm Loans
Owner-user farm financing through SBA 7(a) and 504 programs, plus conventional bank farm mortgage options for stabilized operations.
- SBA LTV Up to 90%
- Conv. LTV Up to 75%
- Terms 10–25 Years
- Use Purchase, Refi, Expansion
- Min Loan $500,000
How Agricultural Mortgages Work, From Row Crops to Hobby Farms
A farm mortgage is underwritten differently from any other commercial loan. Here is how lenders size and price agricultural real estate, how livestock, dairy, poultry and equestrian properties are handled, what a farm equity line of credit is, and where UFIG arranges farm financing.
How a farm mortgage is underwritten
An agricultural mortgage is a long-term loan secured by farm or ranch real estate: land, improvements, and in many cases the house that sits on the operation. Lenders value the land for its agricultural use (soil class, water, acreage in production, improvements) rather than only on comparable sales, and they look at the operation’s history across several years because one season’s weather or commodity prices do not define a farm. Leverage runs 65% to 75% of appraised value for most working farms, higher for strong operators under Farmer Mac and SBA programs, and lower for specialty or single-use facilities.
Payment structure is the other difference. Farm loans are often paid semi-annually or annually to match harvest and sale cycles, and most programs offer a choice between fixed rates and variable-rate mortgages (VRMs) that stay fixed for 1 to 15 years and then adjust. Terms run 15 to 30 years with amortization to match. The rate sheet above shows the current Farmer Mac Standard and PortfolioDirect pricing UFIG places; pricing for a specific farm depends on loan size, leverage, the borrower’s financials and the product chosen.
What a lender asks for: three years of tax returns and financial statements for the operation and the owners, a current balance sheet, crop or livestock production history, leases if any ground is rented in or out, a purchase contract or payoff statement, and an appraisal from an appraiser who knows agricultural property. UFIG reviews the file within 24 hours and tells you which program fits before anything is submitted.
Livestock, dairy and poultry loans
Cattle ranches and livestock operations
Ranch loans are secured by the land, fencing, water, working facilities and any residence; the herd itself is normally financed separately or from operating cash. Lenders look at carrying capacity, grazing leases, and the operation’s history. Farmer Mac and conventional ag lenders are the usual fit for a ranch purchase or refinance; USDA B&I can apply when a rural processing or value-added business is part of the deal.
Dairy farms
Dairy is the most specialized agricultural credit: parlor and freestall improvements, herd size, milk contract or cooperative membership, and feed cost all drive the underwriting. Dairy loans above $5 million are priced individually rather than from the standard rate sheet. UFIG places dairy financing with lenders that underwrite dairies regularly, which matters more here than in any other farm category.
Poultry and chicken house loans
Broiler, layer and turkey operations are financed on the strength of the integrator contract, the age and condition of the houses, and the operator’s experience. New-house construction, house upgrades required by the integrator, and purchases of existing poultry farms are all financeable. Farmer Mac, USDA B&I and SBA each have a place depending on loan size and whether the borrower lives on the farm.
Horse and equestrian property loans
Equestrian property falls into two groups. A commercial horse property (boarding, training, breeding or show facility with income) is underwritten as an agricultural business on its revenue and the value of the barns, arenas and land. A horse property bought for personal use with a residence is a lifestyle-ranch loan, underwritten on the owner’s non-farm income. UFIG arranges both from $500,000: commercial facilities on our horse farm and equine facility loans page, private horse property through hobby farm loans.
Farm equity lines of credit and operating money
UFIG places the Farmer Mac AgEquity revolving line of credit: a line secured by farm real estate, with a term of up to 30 years, that can be drawn and repaid as the operation needs it for equipment, land improvements, expansion or working capital. It is the product most borrowers are looking for when they search for a farm equity line.
What UFIG does not arrange: annual operating or input loans, crop loans and FSA direct or guaranteed loans. Those are products of the Farm Service Agency and the Farm Credit system, and a borrower who needs them should go there directly. For working capital tied to a rural business or processing operation, USDA Business & Industry can be the better route.
Agricultural bridge loans
When a farm purchase has to close before a Farmer Mac or bank loan can be completed, when land comes up at auction, or when an existing loan matures mid-season, an agricultural bridge loan closes in two to three weeks on the value of the real estate and is refinanced into permanent farm financing afterward. Bridge loans carry a $1,000,000 minimum and a higher rate than a farm mortgage; they are a tool for timing, not a substitute for long-term financing.
Hobby farm loans
A hobby farm, a residence on acreage that earns little or nothing, is financed differently from a working farm: on the owner’s non-farm income, at up to 70% loan-to-value, from $500,000. Requirements, rates and answers are on the hobby farm and lifestyle ranch loans page.
Where UFIG arranges farm financing
UFIG arranges agricultural loans in all 50 states and Canada through a Capital Network of Farmer Mac sellers, agricultural banks, USDA B&I and SBA lenders, and private capital. The most active markets are the Mid-Atlantic and Shenandoah Valley, the Southeast, Oklahoma, Texas and the Plains, and the Midwest, with hobby farm and equestrian lending nationwide. Because UFIG works with lenders that already lend in your county, a farm in a market most national lenders skip is still financeable.
Farm loan rates by property type
Alongside the Farmer Mac sheet above, UFIG’s live rate sheet carries indicative conventional and SBA pricing by agricultural property type. For every program see today’s commercial mortgage rates.
| Agricultural property | Floating | 5-year fixed | 10-year fixed | SBA 504 composite |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading today’s farm loan rates… | ||||
Indicative rates for qualified borrowers at standard leverage, updated daily from market indices. SBA 504 composite blends a Prime + 1.50% first mortgage (50%) with the 25-year debenture (40%). Final rate depends on LTV, operation history, product and loan size.
Yes, UFIG finances hobby farms.
Most agricultural lenders overlook hobby farms, lifestyle ranches and small-acreage properties. UFIG does not. The Lifestyle Ranch Loan we place is qualified on your non-farm income, not the farm’s: 5 or more acres, a residence, up to 70% loan-to-value, 30-year terms with monthly payments, from $500,000 to $3,000,000, for a primary residence, second home or lifestyle property. The full program, requirements, rates and FAQs are on our hobby farm and lifestyle ranch loans page.
- Max Loan Size $3,000,000
- Loan-to-Value Up to 70%
- Minimum Credit Score 700
- Minimum Acreage 5 Acres
- Debt-to-Asset 55% Max
- Underwriting Basis Non-Farm Income
Current Farm Loan Rate Sheet
| Product Type | Payment | Term | Amortization | Standard Rate | Choice Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AgEquity RLOC | S/A | 30 years | 20/25 years | 6.10% | N/A |
| 1 Month VRM | Mo, S/A | 15/20/25/30 | 15/20/25/30 | 5.99% | 5.64% |
| 1 Year VRM | Mo, S/A | 15/20/25/30 | 15/20/25/30 | 6.21% | 5.86% |
| 3 Year VRM | Mo, S/A | 15/20/25/30 | 15/20/25/30 | 6.39% | 6.04% |
| 5 Year VRM | Mo, S/A | 15/20/25/30 | 15/20/25/30 | 6.46% | 6.11% |
| 7/1 ARM | Mo, S/A | 15 years | 15/25/30 | 8.40% | 8.27% |
| 10/1 ARM | Mo, S/A | 15 years | 15/25/30 | 8.40% | 8.27% |
| 10 Year VRM | Mo, S/A | 15/20/25/30 | 25/30 | 7.05% | 6.70% |
| 15 Year VRM | Mo, S/A | 20/25/30 | 25/30 | 7.33% | 6.98% |
| 10 Year Fixed | Mo, S/A | 10 years | 10 years | 6.62% | 6.27% |
| 15 Year Fixed | Mo, S/A | 15 years | 15 years | 7.02% | 6.67% |
| 20 Year Fixed | Mo, S/A | 20 years | 20 years | 7.38% | 7.03% |
| 25 Year Fixed | Mo, S/A | 25 years | 25 years | 7.55% | 7.20% |
| 30 Year Fixed | Mo, S/A | 30 years | 30 years | 7.79% | 7.44% |
| Product Type | Payment | Term | Amortization | Open Prepay | 7-Yr Restriction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 Year VRM | Mo, S/A | 15/20/25/30 | 15/20/25/30 | 7.08% | N/A |
| 5 Year VRM | Mo, S/A | 15/20/25/30 | 15/20/25/30 | 7.43% | N/A |
| 7 Year VRM | Mo, S/A | 15/20/25/30 | 15/20/25/30 | 7.78% | N/A |
| 10 Year VRM | Mo, S/A | 15/20/25/30 | 15/20/25/30 | 8.08% | 7.38% |
| 15 Year VRM | Mo, S/A | 20/25/30 | 20/25/30 | 8.33% | 7.63% |
| 10 Year Fixed | Mo, S/A | 10 years | 10 years | 7.58% | 7.08% |
| 15 Year Fixed | Mo, S/A | 15 years | 15 years | 7.98% | 7.33% |
| 20 Year Fixed | Mo, S/A | 20 years | 20 years | 8.18% | 7.53% |
| 25 Year Fixed | Mo, S/A | 25 years | 25 years | 8.33% | 7.68% |
| 30 Year Fixed | Mo, S/A | 30 years | 30 years | 8.38% | 7.78% |
⚠ Important Disclosures & Payment Notes
SPECIAL PRICING — Above rates apply on loans under $5 million. For quotes over $5 million and for highly specialized properties (dairy, swine, agribusiness, etc.), contact your Loan Officer. Effective 3/1/22 for loans $250,000 or less, add 0.25%.
PREPAYMENTS — Prepayments on all loan products between payment dates require interest to be paid to the next payment date, except for RLOC products.
PAYMENT DATES — Semi-annual payments are January 1 & July 1 or April 1 & October 1. Monthly payments are the first of every month. Annual payment option is available with a 15 bp premium.
VRM PRODUCTS — VRMs have a fixed interest rate for 1–15 years and adjust every 3/5/10/15 years thereafter to an interest rate term equal to the initial fixed term.
INTEREST RATE LOCKS — Credit approval required prior to rate lock. Rates subject to change and are determined at time of rate lock. Rates may be locked any business weekday from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM CST.
CHOICE RATES — Choice Rates must meet higher underwriting standards.
Common questions about
farm and agricultural financing.
Your farm deserves a loan correspondent who
understands agriculture.
Call during business hours to speak directly with an experienced agricultural loan officer, or submit your deal for review. We evaluate whether the file fits Farmer Mac, USDA B&I, SBA, or conventional farm lending — and tell you why.
Tell Us About
Your Agricultural Property.
- Response within 24 hours — often same day
- Pre-underwritten before any lender sees your file
- Farmer Mac, USDA B&I, SBA, and conventional programs reviewed
- Hobby farms, vineyards, orchards, and equestrian properties welcome
- If it can’t be placed, you’ll hear why — specifically, not vaguely
Landing Page Lead Form
Agricultural loans for farms, ranches, dairies, vineyards, orchards, hobby farms, equestrian properties, and poultry operations — UFIG originates farm financing nationwide through Farmer Mac, USDA B&I, SBA 7(a), SBA 504, and conventional agricultural lending programs from $500K. Learn about federal agricultural programs through the USDA Farm Service Agency, or contact our experienced agricultural lending specialists at (888) 556-4029.