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The Ag PACE loan provides interest buydown on loans to farmers or ranchers investing in nontraditional agriculture activities to supplement farm income. The program is used to reduce the interest rate on loans which have been approved by a local lender and BND.

BND offers this loan by partnering with local lenders. To apply, contact your lender.

If you have any questions, contact us or call (701) 328-5795.

Bank Participation Loan Application (PDF)
Loan Renewal Application for Existing Participations (PDF)

To ensure proper functionality, BND forms MUST be downloaded and then opened with your system’s PDF application. Click here for download instructions.

If you are not able to access a PDF, please contact us for assistance.

The borrower must be a North Dakota resident whose principal occupation is farming or ranching. The project must be located in North Dakota. A qualified business must be conducted by the borrower or the borrower’s family and is integrated into the farm operation. These businesses include:

  • Nontraditional agriculture
  • Manufacturing
  • Processing, and value-added processing
  • Targeted services industries

It is desirable that the value-added processing is located in North Dakota; however exceptions may be made based on the overall economic benefits to the state. Traditional production agriculture does not qualify for this program.

Proceeds may fund value-added or non-traditional activities on farms and ranches located in North Dakota that supplement farming or ranching income. Examples include, but are not limited to:

  • Financing of subsurface field tiling projects
  • Purchase of irrigation equipment on new irrigated acreage
  • Purchase of shares in the startup or expansion of plants processing North Dakota-grown products
  • Purchase of capital improvements for retention of livestock
  • Purchase of capital improvements for dairy operations
  • Purchase of equity shares in a condominium grain storage entity.

A borrower that receives interest buydown from the Ag PACE is not eligible to receive interest buydown under Envest for the same project.

The total loan amount may not exceed the cost of the project.

Interest rate:

A fixed or variable interest rate may be used in the loan participation. The interest rate to the borrower is based upon the buydown requirements as outlined in the Buydown Requirement section.

Fees:

Origination fee $250 minimum to BND. Maximum service fee of 0.25%.

BND uses its normal credit standards in reviewing the loan. These standards include loan size and type of project.

Adequate collateral required

Appraisal requirements are evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

BND will evaluate all requests in the same manner as a Bank participation. BND’s participation must be 50-80%.

Ag PACE general guidelines

  • Total buydown amount per borrower may not exceed $20,000 per project or biennium. Buydown funds up to $60,000 over the lifetime of the borrower are available if applied for on a separate project or in a separate biennium.
  • To receive buydown funds in excess of $20,000, the applicant must have a net worth of less than $1.50 million.
  • Buydown of up to 4.00% below the yield rate with a minimum rate of 1.00%

Ag PACE Production Enhancement – Subsurface field tiling guidelines

  • Total lifetime buydown per borrower is $50,000 for subsurface field tiling projects.
  • Previous buydown amounts for subsurface field tiling count toward the $50,000 field tiling lifetime cap.
  • Buydown of up to 2.00% below the yield rate with a minimum rate of 1.00%

Department of Water Resources Funds – Newly irrigated acreage

  • Additional funding of $40,000 per borrower from the Department of Water Resources may be utilized per irrigation project.
  • Equipment: 5-7 years
  • Real estate: Up to 25 years

Ag PACE Production Enhancement: Subsurface field tiling

  • Equipment: 5-7 years
  • Second real estate mortgage: Up to 10 years.
  • First real estate mortgage: Up to 25 years amortization with 10 year balloon.

If the borrower is in default under the loan agreements, the interest rate on the loan changes from the buydown rate to the original higher interest rate. The borrower shall accrue interest at the higher interest rate and all interest rate buydown funding is suspended until the loan is brought current.