FSA loan calculator
Estimate the payment, total interest and year-by-year schedule for an FSA farm operating loan, farm ownership loan, microloan, down payment loan or emergency loan at FSA's posted interest rates. FSA decides eligibility and sets your actual terms.
FSA rates effective November 1, 2026 (FSA current rates) · Updated November 12, 2026
1. Loan type
2. Amount and term
Your estimate
The math: payment = P × r ÷ (1 − (1 + r)−n). Here P = $100,000, r = 0.05625 (5.625% a year) and n = 7 yearly payments: $100,000 × 0.05625 ÷ (1 − 1.05625−7) ≈ $17,675.
Payment schedule, year by year (7 years)
| Year | Payment | Interest | Principal | Balance left |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $17,675 | $5,625 | $12,050 | $87,950 |
| 2 | $17,675 | $4,947 | $12,728 | $75,221 |
| 3 | $17,675 | $4,231 | $13,444 | $61,777 |
| 4 | $17,675 | $3,475 | $14,201 | $47,576 |
| 5 | $17,675 | $2,676 | $14,999 | $32,577 |
| 6 | $17,675 | $1,832 | $15,843 | $16,734 |
| 7 | $17,675 | $941 | $16,734 | $0 |
| Total | $123,728 | $23,728 | $100,000 |
This shows equal payments for a loan that closes today and is paid exactly on schedule. FSA can also set interest-only or smaller payments in the first years for a new enterprise or after a disaster. Your loan officer sets the real schedule.
Ready to talk to a loan officer? Enter your ZIP to see your county's FSA office.
Find your FSA office
FSA farm loan interest rates and limits
FSA's posted rates for direct loans, effective November 1, 2026 (FSA current rates). The limit counts what you already owe on the same kind of FSA loan. Guaranteed loans aren't listed: your lender sets that rate, under a cap FSA publishes on the same page.
| Loan (FSA's name) | Rate | Limit | Longest term |
|---|---|---|---|
| Farm Operating - Direct | 5.625% | $400,000 7 CFR 761.8 | 7 years 7 CFR 764.254 |
| Farm Operating - Microloan | 5.625% | $50,000 7 CFR 764.51 | 7 years 7 CFR 764.254 |
| Farm Ownership - Direct | 6.250% | $600,000 7 CFR 761.8 | 40 years 7 CFR 764.154 |
| Farm Ownership - Microloan | 6.250% | $50,000 7 CFR 764.51 | 40 years 7 CFR 764.154 |
| Farm Ownership - Direct, Joint Financing | 4.250% | $600,000; FSA lends half or less of the total 7 CFR 764.154 | 40 years 7 CFR 764.154 |
| Farm Ownership - Down Payment | 2.250% | 45% of the price, at most $300,150 7 CFR 764.203 | 20 years 7 CFR 764.204 |
| Emergency Loan - Amount of Actual Loss | 3.750% | Your actual losses, up to $500,000 7 CFR 761.8 | Up to 40 years, by the loss 7 CFR 764.354 |
How FSA sets the rate and the payment
- Which rate you get. FSA charges the lower of the rate in effect when it approves your loan or when the loan closes (7 CFR 764.154(a)(4), 764.254(a)(3), 764.354(a)(2)). If you can't make a workable plan at the regular rate, ask about FSA's limited resource rate.
- Once a year. FSA schedules direct loan payments annually and considers when your income comes in when it sets the due date (FSA handbook 3-FLP, paragraphs 135 and 204).
- Equal payments are the standard. For a new enterprise, a farm being developed, or recovery from a disaster, FSA can schedule interest-only or smaller payments in the first years; each payment still has to cover that year's interest. Down payment loans are equal payments only (7 CFR 764.204).
- FSA decides. Eligibility, the amount, the term and the schedule come from your FSA loan officer, based on your farm plan and the security for the loan. Direct loans also require that you can't get enough credit elsewhere at reasonable rates and terms.
More on each loan, who qualifies and how to apply: FSA farm loans guide. For operating loans and microloans, see the FSA operating loans guide. To talk to a loan officer, find your FSA county office.
These are estimates for planning, not a loan offer or financial advice. FSA decides eligibility, loan amounts, rates and repayment terms. Your actual payment depends on your closing date, payment dates and the schedule FSA sets. Farmer's Navigator is not affiliated with USDA.