Browse Ambrook’s collection of funding programs by Iowa Finance Authority

1. Complete the Loan Participation application with your lender.
2. Submit the completed application and the $100 application fee to the IADD office by the first of the month.
3. The IADD Board reviews the application; if approved, a Conditional Commitment to Participate is sent to the lender.
4. After the conditional commitment is completed, the loan may be closed and the lender continues to service it.

Deadline text on the page: Submit the completed application and the $100 application fee to the IADD office by the first of the month.

Iowa Agricultural Development Division (IADD)

A state participation loan that acts as the down payment for beginning farmers buying farmland, machinery, equipment, breeding livestock or buildings. IADD takes a last-in/last-out participation in the participating bank's loan, covering up to 30% of the purchase price or $200,000, whichever is less, at a 2026 rate of 3.50%. It can be combined with the Beginning Farmer Loan Program.



- Resident of Iowa and 18 years of age.
- Net worth of no more than $901,000.
- Sufficient education, training or experience for the anticipated farm operations.
- Access to adequate working capital, equipment and other items necessary to operate the farm.
- Be the owner/operator.
- Off-farm income of no more than 50% of projected total gross income.
- Current ratio not less than 1.1, debt-to-asset ratio not over 80%, and debt service coverage not less than 120%, unless there is a guaranteed source of repayment.
- Corporations, partnerships and LLCs are eligible, but the beginning farmer must be listed as a co-borrower.

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

Loan

- Maximum loan: 30% of purchase price or $200,000, whichever is less.
- Closing fee: 1.50% of the IADD participation loan; $300 minimum.
- 10-year terms: amortized over 20 years for land purchases or 12 years for facilities, with a balloon at 10 years.
- 2026 interest rate: 3.50% (reviewed annually by the IADD board).
- Application fee: $100.

Published amounts: Maximum Loan: 30% purchase price or $200,000, whichever is less. 2026 Interest Rate: 3.50%

1. Complete Beginning Farmer Loan application with lender or seller.
2. Negotiate loan terms, including interest rate, length of loan, prepayment options, service fees and repayment schedule with lender or seller.
3. Submit application, financial statement, background letter, other required materials and nonrefundable $100 application fee to IADD by the first of the month.
4. The IADD Board will review the application at their monthly board meeting.
5. After final approval by the IFA Board, the loan can be closed (the closing fee is 1.5% of bond, with a minimum of $300). The total process takes about six weeks. During that time, the lender can provide interim financing, if necessary.
6. Please note: if the loan is for a confinement facility, feeding contracts must be on a per-head/per-day basis.

Application 


The Beginning Farmer Loan Program (BFLP) assists new farmers in acquiring agricultural property by offering loans at reduced interest rates.

The program may be used to assist in the purchase of agricultural land, depreciable machinery or equipment, breeding livestock or buildings. It may also be used to improve existing buildings or farmland but it cannot be used to refinance existing debt.



The Beginning Farmer Loan Program (BFLP) assists new farmers in acquiring agricultural property by offering loans at reduced interest rates.
The program may be used to assist in the purchase of agricultural land, depreciable machinery or equipment, breeding livestock or buildings. It may also be used to improve existing buildings or farmland but it cannot be used to refinance existing debt.

- Applicants must be a resident of Iowa and 18 years of age at the time of application.
- Have a net worth of no more than $901,000.
- Have sufficient education, training or experience for the anticipated farm operations.
- Have access to adequate working capital, equipment, and other items that are necessary to operate the farm.
- Be the owner/operator.
- Own no more land than 30% of the county median acres.
- There is no restriction on off-farm income.


Historically Underserved

- Beginning farmer loans typically carry interest rates of 20 to 25 percent below prevailing market rates.
- Maximum loan amounts: land $682,700; farm improvements and new depreciable property $250,000; used depreciable property $62,500.
- Down payment is negotiated with the bank or contract seller; it can be combined with an FSA down payment loan or IFA's Loan Participation Program.
- $100 nonrefundable application fee; closing fee 1.5% of bond, $300 minimum.
- Cannot be used to refinance existing debt.

Certification Forms will be made available in September with the deadline for submission to Iowa Finance Authority remaining December 1. Available Leases will be posted no later than November 1.

Process for beginning farmers once they have identified a lease they would like to apply for.
- Apply for Beginning Farmer status with Iowa Finance Authority by December 1.
- Beginning Farmer Application should be submitted to Iowa Finance Authority – Not the DNR
- Contact listed DNR contact by December 1st to confirm interest. Required to be considered for lease
- Iowa Finance Authority will notify DNR if you are approved.
- Priority will be given to first time beginning farmers if more than one applies for a specific lease.
- If more than one beginning farmer applies for the same lease, lots will be publicly drawn to determine who gets the lease.
- If no beginning farmers apply for a lease, it will be offered to the general public.

Iowa Finance Authority will notify applicants and DNR once the application has been approved or denied by December 31, 2026.

Include the following with your certification request or it will be returned as incomplete:
- IADD Certification Form
- Financial Statement of Beginning Farmer, spouse, and minor children - within approx. 30 days
- Financial Statement of Business if applicable - within approx. 30 days
- Background Form or Letter from Beginning Farmer

Leases occasionally come available throughout the year. If you would like to be notified when leases come available, apply for Beginning Farmer status with the Iowa Finance Authority and let the local DNR contact know you would like to be contacted.

Prospective tenants should check back every year for new available leases. Beginning Farmers approval is only valid for the leases offered this year. In subsequent lease offerings, prospective beginning farmers will have to apply to Iowa Finance Authority to be certified a beginning farmer.

Sabryna Gwinn

Land Management Specialist

Iowa DNR Customer Service

The Lease to Beginning Farmers Program provides opportunities for beginning farmers to lease agricultural land that the DNR holds and manages for Wildlife Habitat.


The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) maintains a portion of the public lands it stewards for Iowa citizens in agricultural production as a cost effective and efficient way to achieve wildlife habitat goals and objectives. These lands are planned and managed in cooperation&#x2004;with the USDA-NRCS through an approved Soil and Water Conservation Plan. The DNR manages 356,000 acres of land as public wildlife areas. About 10 percent of these lands are in some form of crop rotation.


The Beginning Farmer Program was created in 2013 through the passage of H.F. 457 Agricultural Land Leases for beginning farmers. It allows local farmers and ranchers to farm or ranch wildlife management areas managed by the DNR in accordance with Wildlife Management Area Management Plans.



The Lease to Beginning Farmers Program provides opportunities for beginning farmers to lease agricultural land that the DNR holds and manages for Wildlife Habitat.

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) maintains a portion of the public lands it stewards for Iowa citizens in agricultural production as a cost effective and efficient way to achieve wildlife habitat goals and objectives. These lands are planned and managed in cooperation with the USDA-NRCS through an approved Soil and Water Conservation Plan. The DNR manages 356,000 acres of land as public wildlife areas. About 10 percent of these lands are in some form of crop rotation.

The Beginning Farmer Program was created in 2013 through the passage of H.F. 457 Agricultural Land Leases for beginning farmers. It allows local farmers and ranchers to farm or ranch wildlife management areas managed by the DNR in accordance with Wildlife Management Area Management Plans.

- To lease the DNR land through this program a Beginning Farmer must be certified as eligible by the Iowa Agricultural Development Division (IADD) of the Iowa Finance Authority (IFA)
- Applicants must be a resident of Iowa and 18 years of age.
- Have a net worth of no more than $901,000 (2026).
- Have a sufficient education, training or experience for the anticipated farm operations.
- Have access to adequate working capital, equipment and other items that are necessary to operate the farm.
- Be the operator of the farm they are wanting to lease.
- Under Iowa Code section 16.59, an individual applicant’s aggregate net worth includes the beginning farmer, the beginning farmer’s spouse, and the beginning farmer’s minor children.
- IADD certification applies only to the individual(s) or entity specifically identified on this eligibility certification.

Help getting onto farmland — a lease, a lease-to-own option or a purchase arranged by the organization — rather than money.

Land Access

2027 Beginning Farmer Leases
DNR Lease to Beginning Farmer Program (Iowa Finance Authority)

Conservation

Wildlife habitat management goals for these agricultural lands differ by area, but generally include:
- the provision of food, winter cover, and nesting cover
- control of natural succession and annual weeds
- provide lure crops to help reduce wildlife depredation on adjacent private lands
- prepare soil for permanent seedings
- attract wildlife to public hunting areas for improved hunting opportunity.

Each lease on the annual list sets its own lease term, acreage, annual rent and payment schedule. From the 2027 lease list:
- Terms of the Habitat Lease Agreement will be strictly enforced; violations may be cause for termination.
- The operator may be billed for area expenses not to exceed the annual rent.

Applications are processed on a first-come/first-completed basis until August 1 or until the tax credit allocation is awarded. Completed applications are processed first; incomplete applicants have 30 days to supply missing documents before the application is withdrawn. Submit all materials in one packet to: Iowa Finance Authority, Attn: Iowa Agricultural Development Division (IADD), 1963 Bell Ave., Des Moines, IA 50315. The 2026 application period is closed; the 2027 application is expected early in 2027 (the 2026 application was announced in the January 28, 2026 IADD annual update).

Deadline text on the page: Applications will be accepted until the deadline of August 1, 2026, or until all the tax credit allocation has been awarded – whichever comes first. ... The 2026 Beginning Farmer Tax Credit application period is now closed.

General office

Beginning Farmer Tax Credit Program Team

An Iowa income tax credit for owners of agricultural land, equipment and buildings who lease those assets to a qualifying beginning farmer. Cash-rent leases earn a credit of 5% of the cash rent and crop-share leases earn 15%. Leases must run two to five years. The program is administered by the Iowa Agricultural Development Division (IADD) of the Iowa Finance Authority.



- The beginning farmer (tenant) must be a resident of Iowa and at least 18 years of age.
- Have a net worth of no more than $901,000.
- Have sufficient education, training or experience for the anticipated farm operations.
- Have access to adequate working capital, equipment and other items that are necessary to operate the farm.
- Be the owner/operator.
- There is no restriction on off-farm income.
- The credit is claimed by the agricultural asset owner who leases to the beginning farmer.

A reduction or waiving of fees for meeting a certain criteria.

Discount

- Lease must be for a minimum of two years but no more than five years.
- Cash rent leases: credit equals 5% of the cash rent; cash rent cannot be more than 30% above the average cash rent for the county according to the most recent ISU cropland survey.
- Crop share leases: credit is 15%.

Published amounts: For cash rent leases, the tax credit equals 5% of the cash rent. ... For crop share leases, the tax credit is 15%.

List of Iowa Finance Authority Funding Opportunities