Digger magazine

Serving the Northwest Nursery Industry for Over 50 Years

  • Farwest-50th-banner-DM.com-728x90-1.jpg
  • NGW-728x90-v2.png
  • Digger-Employment_banner-2020-728x90px.jpg
  • NG-Survey-banner-728x90-1.jpg
  • Home
  • Articles
    • Nursery News
    • Features
    • Plants
    • Growing Knowledge
    • Operations
    • Nursery Country
  • Issues
  • Events
  • Farwest
  • Columns
    • Director’s Desk
    • Mike Darcy
    • Pivot Points
    • President’s Message
  • Employment Classifieds
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe to Digger
You are here: Home / Oregon launches loan program for young farmers

Oregon launches loan program for young farmers

By Curt Kipp — Posted April 25, 2014

Demographic tides are moving farmers, as a group, in an older direction.

The average U.S. farmer is now 59.6 years old — up from 57.5 in 2007 and 54.9 in 2002. Oregon is not immune to this trend; in fact, Oregon farmers are, on average, even older. It’s a trend that state officials and industry leaders would like to see reversed. After all, future farms will need people who are qualified and skilled at running them.

Enter the Beginning and Expanding Farmer Loan Program.

This program, otherwise known as the Aggie Loan program for short, has existed in various other states. Now, thanks to action by the 2013 Oregon Legislature, it is coming to Oregon. The idea is to encourage young people to farm, by helping them overcome the significant capital hurdles needed to get their business going.

From an Oregon Department of Agriculture press release:

“We recognize the challenges faced by young or beginning farmers and smaller farm operators who just don’t have the money to move forward,” says Oregon Department of Agriculture Director Katy Coba. “It takes capital to succeed in agriculture. These farmers are able and willing to do all that it takes to have a viable operation, they just need a financial shot in the arm. The Aggie Bond Program can be an effective tool to make it happen.”

Borrowers must get through a qualification process, just like any other bank loan. Proceeds can be used for land, equipment, livestock and other needs, including the purchase of the business from parents or relatives seeking to hand off the family business.

Those interested in this program can find more information here, and the application here (PDF).

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: 2013 Legislature, Christmas trees, Finance, Greenhouses, Management, Oregon Department of Agriculture, Retail Nurseries, Wholesale Nurseries, Young Nursery Professionals

About Curt Kipp

Curt Kipp is the director of publications and communications at the Oregon Association of Nurseries, and the editor of Digger magazine.

NURSERY NEWS

Hall of Famers give gift towards horticultural industry advocacy

Verl Holden retires from Oregon Garden Foundation Board

Fall Creek promotes Dave Daniel to general manager for U.S. and Canada

NWFCS, Farm Credit West create new association

Bailey Nurseries announces leadership transition

More Nursery News

FARWEST SHOW UPDATES

Secure your 2023 Farwest hotel room and save

Farwest Show to celebrate 50th anniversary in 2023

Nursery professionals connect at Farwest

These 12 products had buyers buzzing at Farwest

Nightfall Snowbell sweeps top honors in Farwest New Varieties Showcase

More Updates from Farwest

From the pages of Digger

March 2023: Water Outlook 2023

February 2023: Greenhouse Issue ’23

January 2023: The Retail Issue

December 2022: Oregon is Nursery Country

November 2022: Transportation and Logistics

More issues of Digger

The Value of Membership

OAN Member Profile: Oregon Flowers Inc. 

These 12 products had buyers buzzing at Farwest

Creating the future generation of nursery leaders

More member stories

CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE

Virtual is the new reality – for now

Trade shows in the time of COVID

A demand ‘renaissance’ for nurseries

Western Nursery & Landscape Association falls victim to pandemic

MANTS 2021 to move online due to COVID-19

More articles

Nursery Guide LIVE

Nursery Guide LIVE clicks into place

Booth spaces still available for Nursery Guide LIVE March 17–18

Nursery Guide LIVE virtual marketplace postponed due to winter storm damage

Keynote presentations at Nursery Guide LIVE virtual marketplace provide insight on green industry trends in 2021 and beyond

More Posts from this Category

​

Updates to exisiting subscriptions can be sent to info@oan.org

News

  • Nursery News
  • Growing Knowledge
  • Nursery Operations

Features

  • Plant Features
  • OAN Members
  • Oregon Nursery Country

Columns

  • Director’s Desk
  • Mike Darcy
  • Pivot Points
  • President’s Message

Resources

  • OAN Home Page
  • Job Listings
  • Subscribe to Digger
  • Advertise in Digger
  • Online Plant Search

© Copyright 2022 Oregon Association of Nurseries · Admin