Bank of North Dakota Commits $400 million to Agriculture Producers

(North Dakota Monitor) – The North Dakota Industrial Commission  gave the state bank a green light to proceed with two loan programs aiming to provide relief to agricultural producers hit by a combination of tariffs, low commodity prices and high costs, as well as a series of summer storms.

The state-owned Bank of North Dakota is setting aside $300 million for the 2026 Farm Financial Stability Loan Program, the larger of the two initiatives. Farmers and ranchers who experienced an operating shortfall in 2024 or 2025 will be eligible to apply for low-interest loans through their local banks and credit unions.

“Ag is still the foundation of every single community in our entire economy in North Dakota,” said Gov. Kelly Armstrong, chair of the Industrial Commission, which oversees the Bank of North Dakota. “In these uncertain times, we need to help stabilize that foundation the best we can.”

Kaylen Hausauer, financial institutions market manager for the Bank of North Dakota, said the final interest rates available for the loans will likely be around 4.3% or 4.4%, below the bank’s current base rate of 7%. Up to 75% of the loan amount will be provided by the Bank of North Dakota, but ag producers will apply through their local lender.