Financing Grain Chains in the Midwest

Models and Opportunities for Financing Grain Chains in the Midwest

Jaime Silverstein

July 2024

Diverse grain crops are increasingly important to the Midwest agricultural landscape. More and more farmers are starting to shift away from commodity grains, primarily used for livestock feed and ethanol, to artisan food-grade grains as a larger portion of their operations.

In a region that is dominated by conventional commodity row crops and traditional financing, a need and opportunity exists for innovative and flexible capital for agricultural operations producing for alternative markets. To accommodate the variability in production practices and markets for artisan grains, creative and transformative capital is needed to grow this sector. To catalyze truly resilient grain value chains, farmers and entrepreneurs need access to capital that aligns with the unique needs of their business.

This report describes the various types of funding suitable for entrepreneurs across the grain value chain including farmers, processors, and end-users. The report concludes with recommendations for funders to catalyze and expand financing opportunities for grain-chain participants.

This report was developed in collaboration with Artisan Grain Collaborative. 

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