Browse Ambrook’s collection of funding programs by Bank of North Dakota (BND)

Apply through your local North Dakota lender, not directly to BND. "BND offers this loan by partnering with local lenders. To apply, contact your lender." The ND lender then contacts BND and advises whether it wishes to participate in the loan or prefers BND to proceed without participation.

BND's published process:

1. Ag commodity exporter contacts primary lender.
2. Primary lender contacts Bank of North Dakota; may choose to participate.
3. BND gathers information from the lender or exporter.
4. BND determines if the export transaction qualifies — if not, the request is closed.
5. BND contacts Ex-Im Bank.
6. Ex-Im Bank reviews and determines if qualified — if not, the request is closed.
7. BND writes the request for approval by its Investment Committee and Ex-Im Bank.
8. Transaction terms set; loan documents signed.
9. Exporter completes the transaction.
10. Payment made by BND with Ex-Im insurance.
11. Transaction settled; BND paid.

Questions: (701) 328-5795 or bnd@nd.gov.

Bank of North Dakota Ag Lending

A Bank of North Dakota program, offered in partnership with the Export-Import Bank of the United States, that provides export credit insurance and financing for North Dakota bulk and processed agricultural export sales.



The applicant must be a North Dakota ag commodity exporter. Allowed activities are "the export of bulk ag commodities and food-grade, value-added ag products."

Eligibility does not rest on the exporter alone — the foreign buyer and their country are also screened: "Ex-Im Bank determines eligibility based on financial strength of the foreign buyer and financial and political stability of the country where the buyer is located."

BND separately determines whether the individual export transaction qualifies before referring it to Ex-Im Bank; either party can close the request at its review stage.

A price safety net or insurance on a product that might face situational changes.

Insurance

- Ag Commodity Export Enhancement Program Process (PDF): https://bnd.nd.gov/pdf/agcommodityexportenhancementprogram_process.pdf
- BND Export Enhancement Program (non-ag companion program): https://bnd.nd.gov/business/export-enhancement-program/
- BND contact page: https://bnd.nd.gov/about-bnd/contact/

Insurance coverage of "not less than 90 percent" on bulk commodity sales as well as processed ag product transactions. The program "insures either the ag commodity exporter or BND against the non-payment risks of the foreign buyer, depending upon needs."

- Minimum transaction: $200,000.
- Term: the credit facility runs a maximum of one year. The underlying eligible receivables to be financed are limited to a maximum of 180 days.
- Interest rate: a floating rate based on a fixed spread over a variable rate index determined by BND's Investment Committee.
- Collateral: the Ex-Im insurance policy.
- Fees (all borrower-paid): a facility fee for the administrative costs of quoting the loan, gathering information and making a preliminary qualification determination; trade broker fees, since "because of the complex nature of these transactions, BND will engage an experienced trade broker throughout the process"; and a policy premium to Ex-Im Bank, which is "contingent upon the loan closing and may be eligible to be financed as part of the loan."

Apply through a local lender that partners with Bank of North Dakota for the interest buydown.

Bank of North Dakota's Agriculture Partnership in Assisting Community Expansion (Ag PACE) is an interest-buydown program that reduces the interest rate on loans for nontraditional agriculture, value-added, or farm-income-supplementing projects such as irrigation, grain storage, and livestock improvements.



North Dakota farmers and ranchers undertaking eligible nontraditional-ag, value-added, or farm-income-supplementing projects.

A payment that must be returned to the provider following specified terms of repayment and interest rate.

Loan

Water Management

Infrastructure

Marketing

Buys down the interest rate by up to 4.00% (to a minimum resulting rate of 1.00%). The buydown benefit is capped at $50,000 per project and $100,000 total across projects per borrower (the $100,000 figure is the absolute maximum benefit to one recipient).

Apply through a partnering local lender, which submits the participation request to BND.

A Bank of North Dakota participation loan helping beginning farmers and ranchers purchase equipment or livestock (chattel) at a reduced interest rate.



Beginning farmers/ranchers who have been farming for 15 years or fewer and have a net worth under $1.5 million. Arranged through the borrower's local lender.

HVAC

Lighting

Repairs

Historically Underserved

Lifetime cap of $750,000. Seven-year term. Fixed interest rate 1.00% below BND's base rate (maximum 6.00%) for the first five years.

Apply directly to Bank of North Dakota (may be arranged with a local lender).

A Bank of North Dakota direct loan enabling beginning farmers to purchase agricultural real estate at favorable terms.



Beginning farmers with a net worth under $1.5 million who have not owned more than 30% of the county-average farm size.

Lifetime cap of $1.2 million. Up to 75% loan-to-value. Thirty-year term. Interest rate approximately 1.00% below BND's base rate.

Apply through a partnering local lender for the interest buydown.

A Bank of North Dakota interest-buydown program that reduces the loan interest rate for North Dakota biodiesel, ethanol, and green-diesel facilities, and for value-added livestock (dairy/feeding) operations.



North Dakota biodiesel/ethanol/green-diesel facilities and value-added livestock operations (e.g., dairy and feeding operations). Arranged through a local lender.

Biofuel

Hydro Power

Solar Power

Wind Energy

Alternative Energy

Buys down the interest rate by up to 5.00%. Maximum buydown benefit is $500,000 for fuel facilities and $250,000 for value-added livestock operations.

A Bank of North Dakota participation loan that finances a producer's purchase of equity shares in a North Dakota agricultural-processing plant, or finances a feedlot or dairy that uses ethanol or biodiesel byproducts as feed.



North Dakota producers investing in an eligible ag-processing plant, or operating a qualifying feedlot/dairy using ethanol/biodiesel byproducts. Arranged through a local lender.

Inputs

BND participates in up to 70% of the loan at approximately 1.00% below its base rate. Qualifying feedlot/dairy projects may also receive an interest buydown of up to 4.00%, capped at $20,000. No fixed maximum loan amount is published.

A Bank of North Dakota direct loan for experienced farmers and ranchers to purchase agricultural real estate.



Established (experienced) North Dakota farmers and ranchers.

Business Plan

Cash Rent

Refinancing

Transition

Succession

Maximum loan of $6,000,000. Up to 65% loan-to-value. Twenty-five-year term. Market interest rate. $500 origination fee.

Apply through a local lender that partners with Bank of North Dakota; the lender submits the participation request to BND.

A Bank of North Dakota participation loan to purchase or refinance farmland, equipment, or livestock, or to restructure operating debt for North Dakota family farm operations.



North Dakota farmers and ranchers with a net worth of $1.5 million or less. Arranged through the borrower's local lender.

Legal & Finance

BND participation is up to $750,000 or 90% of the loan. Interest rate is approximately 1.00% below BND's base rate (variable).

The local lender requests a participation from Bank of North Dakota to complete the financing.

A Bank of North Dakota participation loan that extends financing beyond a local lender's legal lending limit for farm/ranch real estate, equipment, or livestock.



North Dakota farmers and ranchers whose financing needs exceed their local lender's legal lending limit. Arranged through that local lender.

Loan amount is negotiable. Terms range from 5–7 years (equipment/livestock) up to 15–25 years (real estate).

Apply through a local lender that partners with Bank of North Dakota. The local lender originates the loan and submits the participation request to BND.

A Bank of North Dakota (BND) participation loan — made through the borrower's local lender — that helps North Dakota farmers and ranchers finance annual operating-year expenses. BND buys a participation in the local lender's loan at a reduced interest rate to lower the producer's cost of borrowing.



North Dakota farmers and ranchers with a debt-to-asset ratio above 50% or a net worth under $1.5 million. The producer is the ultimate borrower; the loan is arranged through a partnering local lender.

BND participation is up to $750,000 or 65% of the loan, whichever is less. Interest rate is approximately 1.00% below BND's base rate.

The local lender applies to Bank of North Dakota for the guarantee on the farmer's loan.

A Bank of North Dakota loan-guarantee program that guarantees a portion of a farm real estate purchase or debt-restructuring loan, reducing the local lender's risk.



North Dakota farmers purchasing farm real estate or restructuring farm real estate debt, financed through a local lender.

Guarantees 75% of principal, capped at $400,000 per borrower. Guarantee fee of 0.50% per year or 1.50% one-time. Maximum five-year term.

Apply through Bank of North Dakota's aggie-bond process, typically in coordination with a local lender.

North Dakota's federal "aggie bond" program, administered by Bank of North Dakota, providing tax-exempt financing that lets first-time farmers and ranchers acquire agricultural property at a negotiated tax-exempt interest rate.



First-time farmers/ranchers with a net worth of $1.5 million or less.

Up to $543,800 for land and improvements (of which up to $250,000 may be for improvements/equipment, and up to $62,500 for equipment only). $100 application fee plus a 1% loan fee. This is a federal tax-exempt "aggie bond" — a separate authority from other state first-time-farmer programs.

The originating lender arranges the sale of the FSA-guaranteed portion to Bank of North Dakota.

A Bank of North Dakota secondary-market program in which BND purchases the FSA-guaranteed portion of a farmer's promissory note from the originating lender, giving lenders access to low-cost funding so they can serve more farm borrowers. The farmer is the ultimate borrower.



North Dakota farmers with an FSA-guaranteed loan through a participating local lender; the lender sells the guaranteed portion to BND.

Rates on the purchased guaranteed portion are approximately 5.03%–5.91% (as of August 2026). No per-borrower dollar cap is published — the loan size is set by the underlying FSA-guaranteed note.

Applicant must complete the ADD application form (PDF) and submit a complete business plan, current balance sheet and income statement along with full sources and use of funds. The completed application must include original signatures of the applicant, project advisor if applicable, and lender.
To email the application and supporting documents: Send to bndinfrastructure@nd.gov.
To postal mail the application and supporting documents: Send to
Bank of North Dakota
Agriculture Diversification and Development Committee
1200 Memorial Highway
Bismarck, ND 58504

Daniel Ratajczak

The Agriculture Diversification and Development Fund (ADD) was established through [HB No. 1475](https://www.legis.nd.gov/cencode/t04-1c01-1.html) during the sixty-seventh Legislative Assembly to support new or expanding value-added-agriculture businesses that demonstrate financial feasibility, enhance profitability for farmers and ranchers, create jobs and grow North Dakota’s economy. The funding opportunities include grants, interest rate buydowns and loans.



The Agriculture Diversification and Development Fund (ADD) was established through HB No. 1475 during the sixty-seventh Legislative Assembly to support new or expanding value-added-agriculture businesses that demonstrate financial feasibility, enhance profitability for farmers and ranchers, create jobs and grow North Dakota’s economy. The funding opportunities include grants, interest rate buydowns and loans.

Value-added agriculture business registered with the North Dakota Secretary of State’s office or North Dakota resident that diversifies a crop or animal industry and provides collateral uses for agriculture resources. Businesses with a majority ownership comprised of North Dakota residents will have priority over majority non-North Dakota-owned applications. Companies outside North Dakota must have an established relationship with a North Dakota partner which includes individual, company or agency to validate the credibility of the proposal and comply with the intent of the Code. The types of projects may include but are not limited to:
- Food production and processing facilities
- Feed or pet food processing facilities
- Commodity processing facilities
- Agriculture product manufacturer
- Animal production facilities


A lump sum of money for a specific purpose that does not need to be paid back.

Grant

Certification

Distribution

Diversification

Events

Trade Show

Trials

Certified Organic

Trade Relief

Funding Amounts
Grants: Grants are limited to $500,000; the Agriculture Diversification and Development Fund Committee reserves the right to increase or decrease requested funding based on its findings. Grants are administered by the North Dakota Department of Agriculture (NDDA). Application deadlines for 2026–2027 are October 1, 2026; January 1, 2027; April 1, 2027; and July 1, 2027.
Interest buydown: Administered by the Bank of North Dakota. The program limits the borrowing rate to 5.00% below the yield rate, but in no event may the interest rate be more than five hundred basis points below the national prime interest rate (if the prime rate is published as a range, the highest rate is used). In no case will the ADD Fund buy down an interest rate below 1.00%. Lifetime maximum buydown is $1 million per borrower.
Loan: Amount determined by the ADD Committee.

List of Bank of North Dakota (BND) Funding Opportunities