Browse Ambrook’s collection of funding programs by Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry (ME DACF)

1. Before you complete any forms, take time to update your business plan, budget & financial projections to include the proposed project. Contact DACF staff with any eligibility questions in advance of submitting your proposal.
2. Complete the fillable Project Eligibility Form (PDF) digitally, and email it to DACF.
3. DACF will review your Project Eligibility Form and may contact you to conduct a telephone interview and make a site visit.
4. The Commissioner will then either issue a Letter of Eligibility for your project or recommend that you revise and resubmit your Project Eligibility Form for reconsideration.
5. If the Commissioner issues a Letter of Eligibility for your project, then you, as an eligible Borrower, may submit your completed AMLF Loan Application and FAME Personal Financial Statement to FAME. You must do this within 90 days. Please see FAME's Agricultural Marketing Loan Fund webpage for more details and forms.


FAME

The Agricultural Marketing Loan Fund (AMLF) provides financing to help Maine agricultural businesses undertake projects to enhance the viability and vitality of the farm, and improve the manufacturing, marketability and production of their products.



An eligible Borrower must: be an agricultural or aquaculture enterprise; be located in the State of Maine and currently engaged in growing or harvesting plants, raising animals, growing/obtaining/adding value to plant or animal by-products, aquaculture, or producing/processing/storing/packaging/marketing a commercially sold product derived from such a business; and propose a project that is an eligible use of the fund.

Eligible Uses: The Fund may be used for a wide variety of capital expenditures to improve farm business operations and profitability, including to purchase equipment; design, purchase, renovate, or improve farm buildings or structures; develop a new water source or purchase irrigation equipment; diversify existing farming enterprises by adding or testing new products; expand an existing agricultural enterprise to comply with land use regulations; improve pastureland to promote rotational grazing; or implement climate change mitigation strategies. Construction projects are eligible as 'take-out financing': borrowers secure a construction loan from another lender until the project is complete, at which point the loan can be transferred to AMLF.

Ineligible Uses: working capital (including payroll, marketing expenses, seeds, supplies, or inventory); or refinancing projects commenced, costs incurred, or expenses paid prior to loan application (a written waiver request may be submitted for Commissioner approval).

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

Loan

- Application—Agricultural Marketing Loan Fund
- Personal Financial Statement
- AMLF Fact Sheet (PDF)
- Eligibility Form (PDF)


Certification

Distribution

Diversification

Events

Trade Show

HVAC

Lighting

Repairs

Buildings

Construction

Fencing

Greenhouse

High Tunnel

Irrigation

Storage

Trade Relief

Certified Organic

Water Management

Infrastructure

Marketing

Regenerative

Conservation

AMLF provides eligible Borrowers direct loans of up to $250,000. The interest rate for these loans is either the federal prime rate or 5%, whichever is lower at the commencement of the loan. Any eligible Borrower who previously received a Maine Farms for the Future Phase I grant may request the recommendation of the Maine Farms for the Future program for a 2% fixed interest rate. Loan terms run up to 30 years, determined by the useful life of the asset(s) being financed.

1. Before you complete any forms, take time to update your business plan, budget & financial projections to include the proposed project.
2. Submit completed Project Eligibility Form (PDF) to DACF.
3. The DACF will review your Project Eligibility Form and may contact you to conduct a telephone interview and make a site visit.
4. The Commissioner will then either issue a Letter of Eligibility for your project or recommend that you revise and resubmit your Project Eligibility Form for reconsideration.
5. If the Commissioner issues a Letter of Eligibility for your project, then you, as an Eligible Borrower, may submit your completed DIF Loan Application and FAME Personal Financial Statement to FAME. You must do this within 90 days. Please see FAME Dairy Improvement Fund webpage for more details and forms.


The Dairy Improvement Loan Fund (DIF) provides financing to help Maine agricultural businesses undertake projects to enhance the viability and vitality of the farm, and improve the manufacturing, marketability and production of their products.



Eligible Borrower
An eligible Borrower must:
- Be a dairy enterprise, dairy, dairy farm, or business making milk products;
- Keep cows, sheep and/or goats that contribute milk to your products;
- Be located in the State of Maine and currently producing milk products that are sold commercially; and
- Propose a project that is an eligible use of the fund.
Eligible Uses of the Fund
The Fund may be used to:
- Design, construct, or improve milking parlors, dairy barns and structures, and dairy feed storage structures; or
- Purchase, construct, or renovate buildings, land and equipment to maintain and enhance the viability and vitality of an established dairy enterprise, dairy, dairy farm, or business making milk products, located in the State of Maine.
Ineligible Uses of the Fund
The Fund may not be used for:
- Working capital; or
- Refinancing projects commenced, costs incurred, or expenses paid prior to loan application. However, the Borrower may submit a written request for a waiver. Such waiver must be approved in writing by the Commissioner of the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry (DACF).


Dairy

Cow Milk

Butter

Cheese

Yogurt

Goat Milk

Milk

- Rules for Dairy Improvement Fund (DOCX)
- Dairy Inspection Program

Equipment

Deferred principal and interest payments may be available up to 24 months from closing; interest accrues beginning at closing.

Up to 30 years and determined by the useful life of the asset(s) being financed.

Fees
- Loan origination fee: 1% (for loans over $100,000).
- Borrower is responsible for all loan closing costs.

Request application from and submit application to the Maine Potato Board:

Maine Potato Board
744 Main Street, Room #1
Presque Isle, ME 04769
207- 769-5061
800-553-5516

If the project is deemed eligible, the Maine Potato Board will notify the applicant(s) and will forward the application to FAME for financial review. Final approval is granted by the commissioner of the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry.

Maine Potato Board

The Potato Marketing Improvement Fund Program provides low-interest financing to help Maine&#x2004;potato growers and packers improve the quality and marketing of their potatoes. Potato Marketing Improvement funds may also be used to improve the economic viability of the potato industry.


Funds may be used for:

- New construction or improvements to storage and packing facilities;

- Purchase of packing, sizing, washing and drying equipment;

- New construction or improvements of structures which augment potato production; or

- Purchase, construction or improvements that add value to farm production with direct benefit to potato production.



The Potato Marketing Improvement Fund Program provides low-interest financing to help Maine potato growers and packers improve the quality and marketing of their potatoes. Potato Marketing Improvement funds may also be used to improve the economic viability of the potato industry.

Funds may be used for:
- New construction or improvements to storage and packing facilities;
- Purchase of packing, sizing, washing and drying equipment;
- New construction or improvements of structures which augment potato production; or
- Purchase, construction or improvements that add value to farm production with direct benefit to potato production.

Generally, any person or business engaged in growing, processing or marketing potatoes in Maine. All potatoes stored or packed in Potato Marketing Improvement Fund-financed facilities must be produced in Maine.

Potatoes

Potato Seeds

Processing Potatoes

Russet Potatoes

Sweet Potatoes

Vegetables

Specialty Crops

Local Food

Farmers Market

Four loan types with different terms are available
New Facilities Loan Fund may be used for acquisition/improvement projects, or new construction of storages and/or centralized packing facilities and actuation of equipment.
Storage Retrofit Loan Program may be used for upgrading storages with energy efficiency improvements, and climate control equipment.
Support Facilities Loan Program may be used for construction and acquisition, or improvement of buildings and other structures which augment the production and/or storage of potatoes, or help meet food safety standards.
Value Added Loan Program may be used for construction, or for improvements of facilities and equipment to add value to farm production with a direct benefit to potato production.
Security
Asset(s) being financed or other collateral, as required or available.
Guarantees of business principals owning 20% or more of the business, or 5% or more and receiving significant income from the business.
Fees
Borrower is responsible for all loan closing costs.

List of Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry (ME DACF) Funding Opportunities