Nebraska's economy was founded by farmers and ranchers. NebraskaBeginningFarmer.org provides easy access to a number of entities which offer financial resources to individuals interested in agricultural production. These resources assist those desiring to pursue agricultural opportunities as well as those desiring to maintain/improve their viability in the industry. Click on the links below to learn more about these programs.

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Financing Programs
	Nebraska Department of Agriculture Recognizing the importance the agricultural industry continues to play in the state, the Beginning Farmer Tax Credit Program brings together the shared strengths and resources of existing and beginning farmers. The Program offers a refundable tax credit to existing farmer/livestock producers who agree to rent to beginning farmers. Click here for more information. NDA also has the opportunity to receive up to $284,484 in Specialty Crop Block Grant Program – Farm Bill funds to enhance the competitiveness of the state's specialty crop industry. NDA has developed a grant proposal process in order to provide organizations or groups of individuals, (including socially disadvantaged and beginning farmers or ranchers) an opportunity to access these funds. Grant proposal guidelines and application information are available on the NDA web site at www.agr.ne.gov
	Nebraska Investment Finance Authority The Nebraska Investment Finance Authority provides Nebraskans a broad range of financial resources, including its Beginning Farmer/Rancher Program for purchase of agricultural land, equipment/machinery, or breeding livestock. Working with banks, private seller-lenders or private investor lenders, the Program facilitates loans of up to $250,000 for land and depreciable property to be used in agricultural production for "first-time farmers" who have a net worth not in excess of $500,000. Also, read about the success of the Governor's Agricultural Excellence Awards sponsored by NIFA. Click here for more information.
	Nebraska Department of Revenue The Nebraska Advantage Rural Development Act, administered by the Nebraska Department of Revenue, will provide, beginning in 2007, a refundable tax credit against sales and use taxes or income tax liability for taxpayers engaged in livestock production who invests in at least $50,000 for livestock modernization or expansion. The amount of the tax credit for livestock production will be 10% of the investment, not to exceed $30,000. Click here for more information.
	United States Department of Agriculture - Farm Services Administration The USDA-Farm Services Administration (FSA) is a customer-driven agency dedicated to achieving a sound future for American agriculture. FSA offers direct and guaranteed farm ownership and operating loans to farmers and ranchers who are unable to obtain private, commercial credit. FSA loans can be used to purchase land, livestock, equipment, feed, seed and supplies. FSA loans may also be used to construct buildings or make farm improvements. FSA additionally offers a beginning farmer down payment loan for the purchase of a farm or ranch. Click here for more information.
	Farm Credit Services of America Farm Credit Services is a network of independently owned and operated credit and financial institutions that serve farmers, ranchers, and agribusinesses of every size and income range. Farm Credit Services offers a Young and Beginning Program providing financial resources for less established producers (age 35 or younger or less than 10 years experience). Qualifying farmers and ranchers can receive agricultural loans for land purchases, operations, insurance and more business education reimbursements (up to $500/year), youth in agriculture loans (up to $2500/student) and college scholarships ($2,000) are also offered by Farm Credit Services. Click here for more information.
	United States Department of Agriculture - Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) The Natural Resources Conservation Services (NRCS) offers free technical assistance for soil, water, wildlife conservation and management practices including irrigation and animal manure management. Beginning farmers/ranchers can receive up to 90 percent cost-share assistance with up to 30 percent in advance payments for planned practices in conservation programs like the Environmental Quality Incentive Program, and others. (In 2008, 76 beginning farmers/ranchers received nearly $2.8 million in cost-share funds.) In addition, to organizations assisting beginning farmers/ranchers, NRCS offers local meeting and economic development assistance through its 12 Resource Conservation and Development offices statewide. Details are available at local NRCS offices in USDA Service Centers. Click here for more information.
Other Links of Interest
	University of Nebraska - Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources (IANR) IANR is a provider of educational, research and outreach programs related to food, agriculture and agribusiness systems, natural resources and human resources. IANR is dedicated to providing the highest quality programs that are ecologically sound, economically viable, socially responsible and scientifically appropriate. Click here for more information.
	Center for Rural Affairs The Center for Rural Affairs, a private, non-profit organization based in Lyons, NE, works to strengthen small businesses, family farms and ranches, and rural communities. Click here for more information. Land Link, a program of CRA, helps beginning farmers and ranchers gain access to land, financing, knowledge and skills needed to make a successful start by matching retiring farmers with beginning farmers and others who desire to farm or ranch. The CRA website provides advice for beginners, introductions to farm transition and estate planning for retiring farmers, and links to resources for financing, work-in examples, high-value markets, and production information.
	University of Nebraska Rural Initiative The University of Nebraska Rural Initiative is a University-wide approach to focus the knowledge, skills, and creativity on the four campuses (Kearney, Lincoln, Omaha and the Medical Center) upon stabilizing and enhancing the economy and quality of life in non-metropolitan Nebraska. Click here for more information.
	Nebraska Farm Bureau Federation The Nebraska Farm Bureau Federation, founded in 1917, is Nebraska's largest voluntary agricultural organization. It represents more than 50,000 member families in all 93 Nebraska counties and has 85 organized County Farm Bureaus. The farmers and ranchers who belong to Farm Bureau raise various livestock species and grow a variety of crops such as sugarbeets, corn, and soybeans. The Farm Bureau's goals are to improve net farm income, to improve the quality of rural life, and to unite to analyze challenges and formulate appropriate solutions. Click here for more information.
	University of Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture (NCTA) Located in Curtis, Nebraska, the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture (NCTA) is part of the University of Nebraska System and dedicated to the same levels of excellence in providing its students with an agricultural education based on research that is critical to the future of Nebraska, the nation, and the world. NCTA, in partnership with the West Central Research and Extension Center (WCREC), has developed an agricultural education system, with an outstanding faculty, that will prepare you for dynamic careers in agriculture. The Curtis and West Central facilities include animal and cropping systems only available through NCTA. These systems include a 600-acre land and livestock laboratory adjacent to the NCTA Curtis campus, the 12,000-acre Gudmundsen Ranch, and a 2,000-acre crop and animal research laboratory at the West Central Research and Extension Center in North Platte. NCTA offers four Associate of Applied Science degrees for students interested in directly entering the agricultural industry upon graduation. NCTA also maintains an excellent Associate of Science degree that will allow you to transfer to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln or other four-year institutions to complete additional degrees. Click here for more information.
	Nebraska 4-H Foundation 4-H is one of the largest youth (ages 5-19) organizations in the United States with more than 6.8 million participants. The program partners the cooperative efforts of youth, volunteer leaders, state land-grant universities, state and local governments, 4-H Foundations, and the Cooperative State Research, Educational and Extension Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Click here for more information.
	Nebraska Future Farmers of America The Nebraska FFA Association is a state and national youth organization made up of students (Grades 7-12) from across the state and nation. It contains of over 7,000 members dedicated to agricultural education and youth leadership. Click here for more information.

Contact Nebraska Beginning Farmer