About this programme
The Value-Added Ag Loan is a Wyoming Business Council (WBC) financing program that helps Wyoming agricultural producers and agribusinesses acquire the assets needed to process or package an agricultural commodity. A value-added product is one where the physical state or form of the raw commodity changes, such as milling wheat into flour, turning strawberries into jam, or processing livestock or poultry.
The structure is a bank participation loan: a bank is the actual applicant, while the producer, producer group or agribusiness entity is the beneficiary of the financing.
The program draws on federal funds through the Wyoming Rural Rehabilitation Program, under the Wyoming Business Council's Cooperative Use Agreement with USDA. Because of that federal funding source, projects must be in a rural area, defined as a population under 25,000.
How it works
Funds may be used for machinery, equipment and facilities necessary to process or package an agricultural commodity.
Funds cannot be used for working capital, production-related expenses, or to refinance existing debt.
The maximum loan-to-value ratio is 85%. The State of Wyoming can participate in up to 75% of the loan, as long as its portion does not exceed $200,000, with a minimum state participation of $20,000.
The State's portion of the loan carries a minimum loan fee of 1%, and a commitment fee of 0.25% if the loan does not close within 12 months of approval. The commitment period for loan disbursement cannot exceed two years. The interest rate is a minimum of the prime rate as published by the Wall Street Journal on the date of approval, and can be fixed or variable depending on the project. The maximum repayment term is 10 years, though it may be amortized over a longer term of up to 25 years.
Who can apply
Eligible beneficiaries include independent producers, agricultural producer groups, farmer or rancher cooperatives, majority-controlled producer-based business ventures, and Wyoming agribusiness entities whose projects benefit the agriculture industry.
Because the program uses federal Rural Rehabilitation Program funds, the project must be located in a rural area, meaning a population under 25,000.
How to apply
- Work with your commercial lender, since the bank is the applicant for this program; the producer or agribusiness is the beneficiary.
- Access the application through the Wyoming Business Council's website (also reachable via the Monday.com form linked on WBC's program page), or contact a regional director for assistance.
- Attach your local commercial lender's documentation checklist and all required documents, along with the Value-Added Ag Loan Fact Sheet's requirements, before submitting.
- Call the Wyoming Business Council office at 307-777-2800 for questions.
Documents you’ll typically need
- Value-Added Ag Loan Fact Sheet
- Local commercial lender's documentation checklist
Frequently asked
Who actually applies for this loan, the farmer or the bank?
The bank is the applicant; the producer, producer group or agribusiness entity is the beneficiary of the financing.
What can the loan pay for?
Machinery, equipment and facilities needed to process or package an agricultural commodity, such as milling wheat into flour or turning strawberries into jam.
Can I use it for working capital or to refinance existing debt?
No. The program excludes working capital, production-related expenses and refinancing of existing debt.
How much of the loan can the State of Wyoming cover?
Up to 75% of the loan, capped at $200,000, with a minimum state participation of $20,000. The overall loan-to-value ratio is capped at 85%.
What interest rate and term should I expect?
The State's portion carries an interest rate of at least the Wall Street Journal prime rate on the date of approval, fixed or variable depending on the project, with a maximum repayment term of 10 years (which can be amortized over up to 25 years) and fees of a 1% minimum loan fee plus a 0.25% commitment fee if the loan doesn't close within 12 months.
Does my project need to be in a rural area?
Yes. Because the program uses federal Rural Rehabilitation Program funds via a USDA agreement, projects must be in areas with a population under 25,000.
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Reviewed 2026-09-25. Programmes change, so check eligibility, amounts and deadlines on the official page before you apply. CapEasy is a private firm and is not part of any government body.