The Arkansas Department of Agriculture, in partnership with local conservation districts and participating banks, offers low-interest loans to agricultural landowners for the installation of conservation practices that reduce nonpoint source pollution and improve water quality.
This program supports on-the-ground efforts that protect Arkansas’s natural resources while helping producers invest in sustainable, long-term land management.
Loan Eligibility and Application Process
Any interested agricultural landowner, whether an individual, fiduciary, partnership, LLC, or corporation, should begin by contacting their local conservation district to obtain an application. Once the application is completed and endorsed by the district, the applicant becomes eligible to receive a low-interest loan of up to $250,000 from a participating bank, pending bank approval.
- Loan terms are determined by the bank but may not exceed 20 years
- Interest rates are set by the bank in conjunction with the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission
Applicants must agree to maintain the project throughout the life of the loan and allow USDA-NRCS site inspections during the loan period.
Eligible conservation practices include:
- Construction of tail water recovery systems
- Construction of irrigation reservoirs
- Purchase of no-till drills
- Construction of stacking sheds
- Construction of ponds and fencing for livestock
- Land leveling
Forms and Resources
Below are the necessary documents and tools for applicants, participating banks, and conservation districts:
- Agriculture Water Quality Loan Program Handbook
- Agriculture Water Quality Loan Project Plan Application
- Funding Application (pdf savable/fillable)
- Certificate of Qualification (pdf savable/fillable)
- Financial Institution Quarterly Report (excel savable/fillable)
- Financial Institution Quarterly Report (pdf savable/fillable)
- Conservation District Quarterly Tracking (pdf savable/fillable)
- Project Inspection (pdf savable/fillable)
- Approval Letter (word, fully editable)
- Denial Letter (word, fully editable)
- Participation Survey for land owner/lessee (pdf savable/fillable)
- Conservation District Survey (pdf savable/fillable)
Submit completed applications via email to: [email protected]
Program Contact: Debby Dickson
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (501) 682-0548