USDA Loans Available For On-Farm Storage Facility Assistance
The USDA is offering low-interest loans to farmers to help reduce costs of on-farm storage, including building or upgrading storage, cold storage, and packing facilities. The loans, offered through the Farm Storage Facility Loan (FSFL) Program, have traditionally supported grain farmers, but has been extended to fruit and vegetable producers too.
See the summary of the program below and the full announcement here.
Uses of Loan: The Farm Storage Facility Loans have a wide array of uses, because the USDA understands that storage facilities can be costly to build and install, and in some cases, be impossible to finance for small and beginning farmers. Some uses include: packing sheds, walk-in coolers, various food safety equipment, graders, sorters, conveyors, washers, and drying tunnels, as well as shipping, preparation, and installation costs.
Eligibility: Any farmer with on-farm storage needs is eligible to apply for a FSFL, assuming they have satisfactory credit, plan to repay the loan, have proof of crop insurance, NAP coverage, or other risk management options.
Loan Value: Up to $500,000 and require 15% down payment, as well as a $100 non-refundable application fee. Loan terms are 7, 10, or 12 years and interest rate is fixed by U.S. Treasury (currently 2.5%).
Interested? Feel free to contact the Morrison Grants Team by email at grants@morrisonco.net or call us at 530-893-4764 with any questions.