Nebraska FSA Service Centers
Nebraska has 26 USDA Farm Service Agency county offices. Contact your local office to begin a Direct Farm Loan application — processing times average 60 days for Direct loans and 30 days for Guaranteed loans.
Nebraska's Beginning Farmer Program offers a partial property tax exemption plus financing assistance for farms under $300,000. Administered by the Nebraska Department of Agriculture, the program helps new farmers reduce carrying costs on their first land purchases. Learn more at nda.nebraska.gov →
Best Farm Lenders for Nebraska Farmers
Rates current as of May 2026. Lender availability confirmed for Nebraska.
Farm Lenders — Nebraska
5 lenders · Sorted by editorial rating| # | Lender | Loan Type | Rate Range | Max Loan | NE Presence | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Farm Credit Services of America
4.8 ★ · Dominant NE ag lender
|
Land, Operating, Equipment | 5.85%–9.25% | $50M+ | ✓ Nebraska | Apply → |
| 2 |
National Funding
4.6 ★ · Best for working capital
|
Operating, Equipment | 7.00%–24.00% | $500,000 | ✓ Nebraska | Apply → |
| 3 |
Fora Financial
4.4 ★ · Fast operating capital
|
Operating, Equipment | 7.00%–35.00% | $1,500,000 | ✓ Nebraska | Apply → |
| 4 |
Lendio
4.3 ★ · Marketplace — compare multiple lenders
|
Operating, Equipment, Land | Varies | $5,000,000 | ✓ Nebraska | Apply → |
| — |
USDA FSA Direct Loans
Government program · No affiliate relationship with USDA
|
Land, Operating, Emergency | 4.75%–5.50% | $600,000 | 26 NE Offices | Learn More → |
Nebraska Farmland Loan Market: What to Know in 2026
Nebraska farmland averages $4,200 per acre statewide, but the range is significant. Highly productive eastern Nebraska irrigated corn and soybean ground reaches $7,000–$8,500 per acre, while dryland ground in western Nebraska trades considerably lower. Nebraska's significant irrigated acreage — fed by the Ogallala Aquifer beneath the Sandhills — makes irrigation infrastructure a key component of land value and loan underwriting.
Farm Credit Services of America holds a dominant position in Nebraska ag lending, providing the bulk of long-term farmland mortgage financing in the state. Nebraska's corn and soybean rotation, combined with high operating input costs on irrigated ground, means operating loan needs are substantial — many Nebraska farmers carry $150–$300 per acre in operating credit annually.
Nebraska-Specific Underwriting Considerations
Nebraska lenders typically underwrite irrigated cropland at 70–80% LTV, with dryland ground at 65–75% LTV. Well permits and irrigation rights documentation should be gathered early — they materially affect appraised value and lender appetite on irrigated properties. The Nebraska Beginning Farmer Program's tax exemption can meaningfully reduce annual carrying costs on qualifying purchases.
Nebraska Farm Loan Application Checklist
Gather these documents before contacting lenders to speed up the underwriting process.
- 3 years federal tax returns (Schedule F for farm income)
- Current balance sheet (assets, liabilities, net worth)
- Current year cash flow projection (include irrigation operating costs)
- Legal description, appraisal, and well permits (if irrigated land purchase)
- FSA farm records (farm number, crop history) from your county FSA office
- Government-issued ID and Social Security number for credit pull
- Existing loan statements (machinery notes, operating lines, land mortgages)