Young, Beginning, and Small Farmers Program

Farm Credit Midsouth realizes the future of agriculture rests with the young and eager agriculturalists who want to raise families on their own farms and continue the traditions our local communities hold so dear.

However, due to economic and political trends, the agricultural industry is not always kind to young, beginning and small farmers. In order to encourage and assist these budding agriculturalists, Farm Credit Midsouth developed a program to meet the specific needs of the next generation of farmers and ranchers.

One of the most significant challenges for many YBS farmers with little to no agricultural income or assets is complying with traditional loan underwriting standards. Typically, YBS farmers have a combination of little or no assets to pledge as collateral, little or no historical production records and little to no on-farm management experience.

Farm Credit Midsouth’s YBS Program allows its lenders to build relations with these promising clients who simply need a little help getting their operations off the ground.

To Qualify for the YBS Program, You Must Meet at Least One of the Following Criteria:

• Age 35 or younger

• Less than 10 years of agricultural experience

• Annual farm production less than $250,000

YBS Program Minimum Requirements for New Borrowers:

• 3 Years of Income Tax Returns

• Current Balance Sheet and Financial Information

• Agree to Provide Farm Credit Midsouth with Annual Financial Information

• Annual Farm Inspection and Loan Performance Meeting with Loan Officer

YBS Program Benefits:

• Patronage Payout Program

• Both New and Existing Borrowers Qualify

• Relaxed Underwriting and Special Lending Standards

• 50% Reimbursement (up to $250) when YBS farmers attend business, production, financial management or ag leadership development events that will be better their own operations

Part-Time and Aspiring Producers

We understand it’s tough to meet lending requirements when you’re trying to either get started or make farming a full-time occupation.

At Farm Credit Midsouth, we treat part-time YBS farmers as bona fide, full-time farmers if they demonstrate a high degree of commitment to begin, grow and remain in production agriculture and demonstrate an intent to progress towards agricultural production as their primary business or vocation.