Pennsylvania officials announced the relaunch of the Agriculture Linked (Agri-Link) Investment Program this week. The program offers low-interest loans to Pennsylvania farmers and ag businesses implementing best management practices (BMPs).
Agri-Link is open to farmers in all 67 counties and offers low-interest loans up to $250,000 with terms no longer than 12 years.
“Programs that help farmers finance conservation improvements enable us to do even more to protect the land, local waterways and other natural resources,” PFB President Rick Ebert said. “Farmers are leaders in environmental stewardship and want to build upon our efforts. But few farms have the resources available to pay for these initiatives on their own. Public investments in farm conservation play a crucial role in helping farmers make improvements that benefit both our farms and our communities.”
A previous version of Agri-Link was discontinued more than a decade ago. The program was re-established by Act 37 of 2019, and allows the State Conservation Commission (SCC) at the Department of Agriculture to subsidize qualifying loans.
Those interested in applying for the program can do so through their local lending institution or a Farm Credit Service institution. County conservation districts and the SCC review applicants’ projects to determine whether they meet Act 37 criteria. To be eligible, borrowers must have BMP projects included in an approved nutrient management, manure management, agricultural erosion and sedimentation, or other SCC-approved federal or state conservation plans.
More information is available on the Agri-Link page on PDA’s website.