Livestock

Loans

USDA may be able to help you access capital. And we can be a good partner if you aren’t able to get funding from a traditional lender. 

Farm Loans

We offer loans directly through USDA and also guarantee loans through other lenders.

Loans available directly through USDA range from $50,000 microloans to a maximum of $400,000 for operating loans and up to $600,000 for ownership loans.

Alternatively, you can apply for a guaranteed loan through USDA-approved banks and other commercial lenders. The maximum loan amount for a Guaranteed Farm Operating Loan is adjusted annually each Fiscal Year based on inflation.

Microloans are a great option for livestock producers. They can help you make a down payment on land, expand your herd, purchase needed farm equipment, and more.

More information on these loans can be found in our Farm Loan Assistance Tool.

Other Loans

USDA also offers:

• Farm Storage Facility Loans (FSFL): Funds are used to build or upgrade on-farm storage facilities and to purchase handling equipment.
• Marketing Assistance Loans (MAL): Funds are used to provide interim financing to producers so eligible commodities, such as wool and honey, can be stored and sold when market conditions are better.

To get help, contact the Farm Service Agency (FSA) at your local USDA Service Center.

Protection and Recovery

Disaster Assistance Programs

If disaster strikes, we offer other disaster assistance programs to offset losses and get you back on your feet.

For livestock operations, some relevant programs include:

• Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honey Bees, and Farm-Raised Fish (ELAP) offers financial assistance to eligible livestock producers for losses due to adverse weather events.
• Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP) provides benefits for livestock who suffered injury or death due to an adverse event.
• Livestock Forage Program (LFP) provides compensation to producers who suffered grazing losses due to drought or fire.

Emergency loans provide up-front funding to support recovery, and the Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) covers costs of restoring conservation practices and can also provide assistance for fence replacement and repair following a qualifying disaster event. If you’re enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program, CRP Haying and Grazing may also become available under certain conditions to provide emergency relief to livestock producers. 

For other disaster programs, contact the Farm Service Agency (FSA) at your local USDA Service Center or use the Disaster Assistance Discovery Tool.

Conservation

We can help you plan and implement conservation practices to benefit both natural resources and your bottom line.

Planning

The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) will work with you to discuss your goals and develop a conservation plan for your operation. If you want to get started at home, you can also use our Conservation Concerns Tool to explore the different types of conservation issues that could impact the natural resources and productivity of your operation and conservation practices that might be right for you.

Common Conservation Activities

NRCS can share the cost with farmers and ranchers to implement conservation activities through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP).

Common conservation activities for livestock producers include:

• Prescribed Grazing: managing the harvest of vegetation with grazing animals.
• Nutrient Management: managing the use of nutrients to reduce environmental impacts.
• Livestock Pipeline: conveying water for livestock or wildlife.

Easements

If certain parts of your farm are not ideal for cultivation, conservation easements or longer-term conservation options may be right for you.  

To learn more about conservation, contact the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) or Farm Service Agency (FSA) at your local USDA Service Center. 

Fair Competition

The U.S. Departments of Agriculture (USDA) and Justice (DOJ) launched an online tool, located at FarmerFairness.gov, which allows farmers and ranchers to anonymously report anticompetitive practices in the livestock and poultry sectors. Through each respective mission and legal authority, USDA and DOJ are committed to working together to ensure fair and competitive livestock and poultry markets and reviewing and addressing concerns, complaints, and tips received through this website, as well as other established processes.

Additional Resources

• April 17, 2023: USDA Announces Grassland Conservation Reserve Program Signup for 2023
• April 7, 2023: USDA Invests $12 million in Cooperative Agreements for Conservation on Grazing Lands and Support for Farmers and Ranchers
• January 23, 2023: USDA Announces Additional Assistance for Dairy Farmers
• January 11, 2023: USDA Reminds Producers of Continuous Certification Option for Perennial Forage