(Columbus, N.J., July 20). U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development announced the Farmers Innovation Fund has been certified as a Rural Business Investment Company, broadening private‑sector investment opportunities for innovative agricultural businesses serving rural America.
“Under President Trump’s leadership, USDA is putting farmers first and driving investment to rural communities to ensure American agriculture leads the world in innovation,” said Rural Development Deputy Under Secretary Joe Gilson. “The Farmers Innovation Fund is a prime example of how this Administration is harnessing private capital and the ingenuity of American producers to build the next generation of agricultural technology right here at home, strengthening rural communities and our nation’s food security in the process.”
The Farmers Innovation Fund uses a farmer‑centered model to evaluate and advance agricultural technologies. Rather than relying primarily on laboratory research or small‑scale pilot studies, companies supported by the fund will work directly with farmers across diverse operations to test new technologies under real‑world conditions before they reach broader commercial use.
“The Rural Business Investment Program is a catalyst for private investment in rural America, helping connect capital with the entrepreneurs and businesses that drive economic growth in our nation's rural communities,” said USDA Rural Development's Rural Business‑Cooperative Service Acting Administrator Victoria Collin. “By certifying the Farmers Innovation Fund, we're giving agricultural innovators a direct line to both capital and the producers who will put these technologies to work, and that partnership is what will move new tools from the drawing board to the field faster.”
Rick Stern, USDA Rural Development State Director for New Jersey, underscored the significance of the fund for farmers and rural businesses in the region. “New Jersey’s agricultural producers are eager for practical, tested innovations that strengthen their operations and support long-term resilience,” Stern said. “This certification connects our rural entrepreneurs with the resources they need to bring new technologies to market while ensuring farmers can evaluate those tools where it matters most—right in the field.”
Supported by private investment, primarily from Farm Credit Institutions, and guided by farmers’ expertise, the fund aims to shorten the time it takes promising technologies to reach the market, reduce risks associated with adopting new innovations, strengthen agricultural supply chains, and create new opportunities for rural businesses, entrepreneurs, and manufacturers.
USDA Rural Development’s Rural Business‑Cooperative Service administers the Rural Business Investment Program, which licenses privately managed investment funds that provide financing to eligible rural businesses. Through this program, the Farmers Innovation Fund will deliver essential early‑stage capital to companies developing technologies that enhance farm productivity, profitability, resilience, and the long‑term competitiveness of U.S. agriculture.
By encouraging experienced private fund managers to partner with rural stakeholders, Rural Development continues to expand access to growth capital, promote free enterprise, strengthen rural economies, and support the creation of quality jobs.
About USDA Rural Development
USDA Rural Development is committed to improving the economy and quality of life in rural America. Through loan, grant and loan guarantee programs, USDA assists communities with infrastructure improvements; business development; housing; community facilities such as schools, public safety and health care; and high-speed internet access. For more information, visit www.rd.usda.gov.
For more information on USDA Rural Development investments in rural America, visit the Rural Data Gateway. The Rural Data Gateway is an online tool that strengthens USDA Rural Development partnerships with rural people, entrepreneurs, government officials and Congress by making investment data accessible to the public.
Learn more online at www.rd.usda.gov, subscribe to GovDelivery updates, and follow us on X at @RD_NewJersey.
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