FCC Young Farmer Loan
Eligibility & Details
What this program funds and who can apply
Program Description
Preferential lending for qualified producers under 40 — up to $2M with no processing fees, 18-month purchase window, and AgExpert software bundle. Addresses young farmers' challenge acquiring land and equipment amid rising costs.
Eligibility Requirements
- Agricultural producer under 40 years of age
- Purchasing agriculture-related assets
- Establishing or expanding an agricultural operation in Canada
Quick Assessment
Funding Details
- Amount
- Up to $2,000,000
- Type
- Loan
- Level
- Federal
- Co-Funding
- Up to 100% of eligible costs
- Deadline
- Ongoing
Program Scorecard
Competition, effort, and approval at a glance
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How to Win
Insider tips, common pitfalls, and what successful applicants look like
Insider TipThe 18-month purchase window is key — get pre-approved then take time to find the right asset. Combine with FCC Starter Loan ($150K) for initial purchases. AgExpert bundle ($499/yr) activates on approval.
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Success Profile
Farmer under 40 with clear asset purchase plan, demonstrated farm income, reasonable credit. Farm transfers/retirement sales most common.
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Evaluation Criteria
Creditworthiness-based assessment, not competitive. Key criteria: applicant under 40 years of age, qualified agricultural producer (demonstrated farm income or farm background), reasonable credit history, viable asset purchase plan with clear connection to agricultural operations, ability to service the debt based on current and projected farm income, and personal equity investment in the operation.
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Application Playbook
Step-by-step process, required documents, and expenses
Application Steps
Required Documents 7
Eligible Expenses 9
- Farmland acquisition
- Agricultural equipment and machinery purchase
- Farm building and infrastructure acquisition or construction
- Livestock purchase
- Agricultural vehicles
- Farm technology and precision agriculture systems
- Quota purchases (supply-managed commodities)
- Leasehold improvements on agricultural properties
- Farm transfer and succession purchases
Ineligible Expenses 4
- Non-agricultural assets and properties
- Personal expenses unrelated to farming operations
- Working capital and operating expenses (separate FCC products exist for this)
- Non-Canadian agricultural investments
Intake Periods
Rolling intake year-round with no application deadlines. Contact FCC at any time. The 18-month purchase window begins upon pre-approval, giving borrowers time to find and negotiate asset purchases.
Deadline Notes
Rolling intake year-round. Contact FCC at 1-888-332-3301.
Open Application Portal →Ineligible Organizations
- Individuals aged 40 or over (firm age cutoff)
- Non-agricultural operations
- Non-Canadian farming operations
- Entities without demonstrated agricultural production activity
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Funding Stack Strategy
Compatible programs, clawback risk, and combined funding potential
Compatible Programs
Clawback Risk
Low RiskSee which programs combine with this one — and how much more you could get. Unlock with Premium →
How FCC Young Farmer Loan Compares
Side-by-side with similar programs
| Program | Amount | Difficulty | Payment | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FCC Young Farmer Loan | Up to $2,000,000 | Easy | Loan | Ongoing |
| CanExport SMEs | Up to $50,000 | Moderate | Mixed (Advance + Reimb.) | Annual intake window.... |
| Export Development Canada (EDC) Finan... | Varies | Easy | Equity | Ongoing |
| Farm Credit Canada (FCC) Financing | Varies | Easy | Loan | Ongoing |
| Genome Canada | Up to $10 million | Hard | Reimbursement | Ongoing |
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