NATIONWIDE — The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) reminds agricultural producers that farm loan programs can be used to support a variety of climate-smart agriculture practices. These can build on many practices that farmers and ranchers already use, such as cover cropping, nutrient management and conservation tillage.

“Farmers and ranchers are already doing their part to be stewards of our land, but some may lack the financial resources to take their efforts to the next level,” said FSA administrator Zach Ducheneaux. “USDA’s Farm Service Agency offers a variety of loans that can help those who would like to make their operations more efficient and have a positive impact on our environment.”

Climate-smart agricultural practices generate significant environmental benefits by capturing and sequestering carbon, improving water management, restoring soil health and more. Farm loan funding complements other tools to help producers adopt climate-smart practices, such as FSA’s Conservation Reserve Program, crop insurance options that support conservation, and conservation programs offered by USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).

FSA offers multiple types of loans to help farmers and ranchers start, expand or maintain a family agricultural operation. These loans can provide the capital needed to invest in climate-smart practices and equipment including the establishment of rotational grazing systems, precision agriculture equipment or machinery for conversion to no-till residue management. Additionally, for the Conservation Reserve Program or the NRCS conservation program, where USDA and the producer share the implementation cost, a farm loan could be used for the producer’s share, if consistent with the authorized loan purpose. 

Visit the Climate-Smart Agriculture and Forestry webpage on www.farmers.gov to learn more and see detailed examples of how an FSA farm loan can support climate-smart agriculture practices.