Fact Sheet Farm Credit Administration

1501 Farm Credit Drive

McLean, VA 22102-5090

Aug. 9, 2018 Contact: Mike Stokke or Toni DeLancey, 

703-883-4056

Email: info-line@fca.gov

Website: www.fca.gov

Fact Sheet on Farm Credit System 

Young, Beginning, and Small Farmer Lending Results for 2017 

The following information summarizes Farm Credit System 2017 lending activity to young,

beginning, and small (YBS) farmers, ranchers, and producers or harvesters of aquatic

products.

Outstanding loans

From Dec. 31, 2016, to Dec. 31, 2017, dollar volume outstanding for total System loans

grew by 3.1 percent. Loan dollar volume outstanding to young farmers grew by 4.8 percent,

to beginning farmers by 5.3 percent, and to small farmers by 2.0 percent.

While the dollar volume of loans outstanding grew, the number of total System loans

outstanding declined by 3.2 percent. The number of loans outstanding to young farmers

declined by 1.9 percent but remained the same for beginning farmers, and the number of

loans outstanding to small farmers declined by 2.3 percent.

New loans

The System’s overall new loan dollar volume declined by 0.9 percent in 2017. New loan

dollar volume to young farmers declined by 1.5 percent, to beginning farmers by 1.8

percent, and to small farmers by 4.2 percent.

For total System loans, the number of new loans made in 2017 dropped by 9.8 percent

compared with 2016. The number of loans to young and small farmers dropped by 8.5

percent, and the number of new loans made to beginning farmers dropped by 6.8 percent.

Young — In 2017, the System reported making 56,705 loans to young farmers — that is,

to those who are 35 years old or younger. The volume of total new loans to young farmers

amounted to $9.1 billion. The loans to young farmers in 2017 represented 17.3 percent of

all loans the System made during the year and 11.8 percent of the dollar volume of loans

made. At the end of 2017, the System reported 187,156 loans outstanding to young

farmers, totaling $29.1 billion.

Beginning — In 2017, the System reported making 73,752 loans to beginning farmers — 

that is, to those who have been farming for 10 years or less. The volume of total new loans

to beginning farmers amounted to $12.4 billion in 2017. The loans made to beginning 

farmers in 2017 represented 22.5 percent of all System loans made during the year and 

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2 

16.2 percent of the dollar volume of loans made. At the end of 2017, the System reported 

279,027 loans outstanding to beginning farmers, totaling $45.1 billion.

Small — In 2017, System institutions reported making 136,910 loans, totaling $11.7 

billion, to small farmers — that is, to those with gross annual sales of less than $250,000. 

The loans in 2017 to farmers in this category represented 41.8 percent of all loans made 

during the year and 15.2 percent of the dollar volume of loans made. At the end of 2017, 

the System reported 489,694 loans outstanding to small farmers, totaling $48.7 billion.

Total — In 2017, the System reported making a total of 327,493 new loans, totaling $76.8 

billion. The total number of outstanding loans at year-end 2017 was 1,006,067, amounting 

to $260.2 billion.

YBS loans made during 2017

YBS 

category

Number of 

loans

Percentage 

of total 

number of 

System 

loans

Dollar 

volume of 

loans in 

millions

Percentage

of total 

volume of 

System 

loans

Average 

loan size

Young 56,705 17.3 $9,072 11.8 $159,994

Beginning 73,752 22.5 $12,445 16.2 $168,738

Small 136,910 41.8 $11,688 15.2 $85,367

YBS loans outstanding as of Dec. 31, 2017

YBS 

category

Number of 

loans

Percentage 

of total 

number of 

System 

loans

Dollar 

volume of

loans in 

millions

Percentage 

of total 

volume of 

System 

loans

Average 

loan size

Young 187,156 18.6 $29,105 11.2 $155,513

Beginning 279,027 27.7 $45,073 17.3 $161,535

Small 489,694 48.7 $48,668 18.7 $99,385

Sources: Annual YBS Farmer Reports submitted by each System lender through the Farm Credit banks.

Note: Because the YBS mission is focused on each borrower group separately, data are reported separately for 

each of the three YBS borrower categories. Since some loans fit more than one category, adding the loans across 

categories does not produce an accurate measure of the System’s YBS lending involvement.

In addition to collecting quantitative data, System institutions are required to provide 

qualitative data about their service to YBS borrowers. In 2017, institutions reported taking a 

number of measures to strengthen their service to these borrowers, such as 

creating new lending programs, 

enhancing the training they offer, 

bolstering outreach to farmers and ranchers who are not currently borrowing from 

the System, and 

continuing market studies to identify new customer needs and increase coordination 

with third parties.

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