Desjardins — Agriculture loans and financing

• The applicant must be a farm business (agricultural enterprise) seeking financing to start, grow, transfer or take over a farm.
• The project must relate to farm development or operations (e.g., upgrading buildings/equipment, purchasing farmland/quotas/animals/machinery, optimizing or automating operations, sustainability/productivity innovation, diversification including food processing).
• For a secured farm loan option, the loan must be eligible to be guaranteed by the Financière agricole du Québec (FADQ).
• The applicant must be located in Quebec or Ontario (services offered by Desjardins agriculture specialists in these provinces).

Who is eligible?

• Farm businesses (agricultural enterprises) in Quebec and Ontario
• Young farmers starting or taking over a farm business
• Agri-food businesses (food processing and related agri-food operations)

Eligible expenses

• Upgrades and modernization of farm buildings.
• Purchase of farm equipment and machinery.
• Purchase of farmland.
• Purchase of production quotas.
• Purchase of livestock/animals.
• Investments to optimize or automate farm operations.
• Investments to improve sustainability or productivity.
• Costs to diversify operations (e.g., new crops, new livestock, or food processing activities).

Eligible geographic areas

• Quebec
• Ontario

• Desjardins has agriculture specialists located across Quebec and Ontario, and applicants can work with an assigned account manager.
• Desjardins indicates it can provide advice and information about government programs alongside its agricultural financing support.
• Some secured farm loans are guaranteed by the Financière agricole du Québec (FADQ), which may provide access to a discounted interest rate.
• Desjardins notes it is actively involved with various agricultural industry organizations (e.g., UPA, Lactanet, CRAAQ, VIA, Sollio Agriculture).