Idaho Producers Encouraged To Apply For Conservation Loan

Idaho farmers and ranchers are encouraged to apply for a low-interest loan via the Soil and Water Conservation Commission, to finance conservation projects on agricultural lands. The Resource Conservation and Rangeland Development program has been around since the late 1980s, helping hundreds of growers across the state make conservation improvements.

SWCC loan officer Terry Hoebelheinrich said the program is a good fit for livestock operations, whether that’s fencing, cross fencing, fencing off riparian areas just to name a few.

“But it also can also be used for stock water pumping, and it could be getting systems up onto the grazing lands that maybe they couldn't graze as well," he noted. "Cattle don't want to walk three miles the water. So, we get a stock loader pumping system up there with tanks and all that. Then they can better utilize that and have more efficient grazing as well.”

Photo: Idaho State Department of Ag

Loans Can Be Used To Address Specific Concerns

Hoebelheinrich added loans can also be used for irrigation systems, minimum till and no till drills and much more. He encouraged producers to reach out to his office, and they can work on the details of how the loans can benefit their operation. He added farmers interested in using these loans to promote conservation efforts need to understand the process takes a lot of time, and it’s not like visiting a commercial bank; farmers and ranchers need to develop a conservation plan prior to applying.

“Essentially they describe what your particular problem is, and then and then there's a solution for that," Hoebelheinrich noted. "So, everyone has a conservation plan. But if you work with your local soil, water conservation district or the local NRCS office, you know it's the same concept that developing a conservation plan and the implementation of that plan, or that that solution, is what we would finance. And the term loans are designed for projects or equipment or something like that. It's not an operating loan.”

Loan amounts can cover costs up to $600,000 per project. Current rates and terms include:

3% interest for seven-year loans
4% interest for ten-year loans
5% interest for 15-year loans

For more information on the Resource Conservation and Rangeland Development program, contact Terry Hoebelheinrich, SWCC Loan Officer, via E-mail or (208) 332-1793.

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