Championing Agriculture Through Smarter Lending

More than 20 years is a significant milestone for any business. Over that time, Agri-Access has helped lenders provide financing for farmers and growers across the U.S.

Today, that mission remains just as important as community banks continue to navigate evolving market conditions, rising borrower expectations and increased competition for quality ag loans.

We do this by offering participation loans calibrated for the needs of agriculture. Farmers need financing to expand their operations at terms that protect their working capital. We’re proud of our legacy of bridging that gap, enabling banks and other financial institutions to offer those extended loan terms and balance risk through collaboration. Together, we’re positioning farms, ranches, dairies and orchards for growth so they can meet global food needs in the decades to come.

With more than 20 years in the business, we continue to build on that foundation — evolving our approach and expanding how participation lending supports agriculture.

History of Agri-Access: How it started

Agri-Access was established in 2003 in the heart of corn country, with the aim of providing a means for lending partners to collaborate in ag finance. It initially started as a concept to work with lending partners on leasing products. But the team quickly discovered what lenders really want: a way to provide longer-term fixed rate financing for agricultural loans.

Joining forces with a community bank in a participation loan, Agri-Access helped finance a farmer’s real estate transaction. A year later, we opened our headquarters in Johnston, Iowa.

• “It really took off from there,” says Chad Steele, who was with Agri-Access at its inception, serving as its managing director since 2018. “We work with partners throughout the country to find additional funding opportunities to better serve our lending partners, farmers and ranchers. We’ve continued to build opportunities to work alongside these partners to better serve their clients.”

We chalk up our success to the fact that we’re dedicated to helping lenders and producers succeed in challenging and ever-shifting ag market conditions.

• “It has been tough to compete in a higher rate environment,” says a vice president at an Iowa financial organization. “Agri-Access made several underwriting enhancements to keep the flow of new deals moving.”

Another lending partner tells us they appreciate “the ease of booking loans and the margins a lender can retain. Agri-Access allows a lender to stay competitive in the longer-term rate market.”

• “We find the products and service to be excellent,” another lending partner responded. “The conversion option for loans is an excellent tool in this rate environment.”

As we expanded our services to other ag-producing states, we made it a priority to establish a physical presence across these regions to build expertise and trust. That matters because each region has its own mix of commodities — apple orchards in Washington, beef cattle in Texas and Oklahoma, corn and soybeans in the Midwest, lobster and blueberries in Maine. Each requires a unique understanding of lending structures, cycles and growth opportunities.

• “We’ve grown that expertise to cover the full ag industry, all commodities up and down the food supply chain,” says Brandon Lytle, VP of Institutional Lending at Agri-Access.

Getting to the why: Our vision and mission, then and now

Over more than 20 years, our mission has centered around enriching agriculture and rural communities.

• “Agri-Access is a relationship business,” Lytle says. “Everyone here cares deeply about agriculture and helping the end client, the producer. That remains our number one goal. Going forward, we’ll continue to develop solutions that serve the ag producer.”

Our solutions make a measurable difference. That gets to the root of what we care about: supporting the future success of agriculture and rural communities. To us, our mission and our services provide a meaningful way to advocate for agriculture.

Our difference: The evolution of Scorecard

From the start, we wanted to counter the stigma that participation loans add time and complexity. So we set out to create a smooth lending experience that enhances your loan offering.

• “Over move than 20 years, Agri-Access has been foundational in providing funding opportunities that help meet the changing dynamics of agriculture,” says Steele.

That’s where Scorecard comes in. For more than 20 years, Scorecard has been a key differentiator. With this program, lenders and their ag borrowers get answers quickly — today, often within 48 hours

• “Our digital application continues to receive strong feedback from lenders,” says Adam Sperfslage, Product Owner of the Lender Portal. “It helps move partners closer to real-time credit decisions.”

With a simple application, lenders can determine eligibility and secure financing without the time-consuming underwriting process.

Over time, the value and potential of Scorecard has expanded alongside larger loan sizes and broader lending needs.

• “In 2003, Agri-Access would score up to $300,000 in commitment. Today, that limit has expanded to $5 million, with LTVs up to 75% for smaller transactions,” says Steele.

Bolstering value to lenders with expanded products and services

Over the years, we’ve continued listening to our lending partners, expanding services that help streamline ag lending.

• Participation lending: Our core solution allows lenders to offer competitive terms while managing risk. Learn more about our Participation Lending offerings.
  
  
• The Lender Portal: Our intuitive platform is your one-stop shop to initiate, close and monitor loans. Access tools, resources and applications through the Lender Portal.
  
  
• Scorecard Guide: Get a deeper understanding of how our streamlined credit decision process works with the Scorecard Guide.
  
  
• Streamlined appraisals: Save time with programs that connect you with trusted appraisers and options that help expedite the process.
• Leasing: Whether adding a grain bin or building a new facility, we provide a seamless path to ownership through lease structures.

Champions of agriculture: The power of advocacy

Everything we do is rooted in advocating for agriculture. Many of us have ag backgrounds, whether on the family farm or in ag-centered communities.

• “I’ve been in ag my whole life,” says Chad Brown, relationship manager at Agri-Access. “I’ve had the dirt under my fingernails and understand how to run the numbers.”

We champion agriculture and rural communities through lending solutions that make financing more accessible. By offering extended terms with shared risk, we help support the long-term success of producers and the communities around them.

We also lead conversations around key ag issues, helping lenders stay informed on market conditions and emerging trends. From commodity cycles to succession planning, our insights are designed to help partners make informed decisions.

• “Advocacy for rural communities is core to who we are,” Lytle says. “We’ll continue to ensure producers are heard while finding new ways to deliver capital that helps operations grow and succeed.”

Meeting the future of agriculture with innovation

With growing global demand and increasing pressure on productivity, agriculture will continue to evolve — creating new opportunities for lenders.

The future of farming is dynamic. Participation lending will remain a critical tool in helping finance the next generation of ag.

• “The definition of the farmer is changing, and that creates opportunity for us to serve a broader market,” says Sperfslage.

Agri-Access brings the expertise and tools to help lenders turn borrower vision into reality. As ag production evolves, we will continue expanding our digital capabilities and lending solutions to meet those needs.

• “We’re operating in a more digital environment,” says Lytle. “But what makes us successful hasn’t changed — strong relationships, reliable service and a continued focus on the producer and rural communities.”

The value of partnership: Helping ag thrive

As a secondary lender, the value of partnering with Agri-Access goes beyond capital.

We strengthen your lending capabilities with fast answers through Scorecard, along with leasing solutions and specialized ag expertise. Our focus is agriculture, giving you the confidence to deliver competitive terms while protecting borrower working capital.

Learn more about our participation lending solutions and connect with a relationship manager to get started.