Industry data
Financing for poultry farms: what the loan data shows
365 SBA 7(a) loans went to poultry farms recently, at a median of $1,247,000. The lenders that make them, the terms they write, and what underwriters look at.
365 SBA 7(a) loans went to poultry farms in the most recent fiscal years, at a median of $1,247,000 over 195 months. 43.8% went to new or under-two-year-old businesses, and the most active lender was First Financial Bank.
Also searched as: chicken farm loans, poultry house financing.
What a poultry farm loan actually looks like
These are approvals, not advertised ranges. Computed from SBA 7(a) loan-level FOIA data released 2026-06-30.
| Measure | Poultry and broiler farms | All 7(a) borrowers |
|---|---|---|
| Loans approved, fiscal years 2023 to 2026, using data released June 2026 | 365 | 214,102 |
| Median loan | $1,247,000 | $150,000 |
| 25th - 75th percentile | $595,500 - $2,524,950 | $50,000 - $500,000 |
| Median term | 195 months | 10 years |
| Median initial rate | 8.25% | 10.25% |
| Share to new businesses | 43.8% | 33.6% |
| Charge-off rate, FY2010-19 | 3.2% | 7.1% |
What stands out
Reading these figures against all 7(a) borrowers:
- Loans here run larger than average. The median of $1,247,000 is 731% above the $150,000 national median. Expect lenders in this market to be geared toward bigger deals, and expect a small request to get less attention.
- New businesses do well here. 44% of these loans went to startups or businesses under two years old, against 34% nationally — an unusually open market if you have no trading history.
- One lender dominates. First Financial Bank alone made 42% of these loans, and the top three made 72%. That concentration usually means a lender with a dedicated program for this sector — worth starting there, but get a second quote so you know the terms are competitive.
- Rates run lower here. The median initial rate of 8.25% is 2.00 points below the 10.25% national median, which usually tracks loan size and perceived sector risk rather than geography.
- This market has performed well. Its FY2010-2019 charge-off rate of 3.2% is below the 7.1% overall figure, which is part of why lenders compete for it.
Which lenders actually fund poultry farms
Ranked by loans approved in this niche. The median, startup share and rate describe each lender's own loans to poultry farms, not its national averages — which is how you spot a genuine specialist.
| Lender | Loans | Median loan | Startup share | Median rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First Financial Bank | 154 | $993,000 | 34% | 8.15% |
| Live Oak Banking Company | 78 | $2,696,850 | 45% | 8.25% |
| BankPlus | 29 | $1,036,000 | 31% | 7.90% |
| First Service Bank | 24 | $1,177,450 | 96% | 9.30% |
| Renasant Bank | 13 | $1,175,000 | 62% | 9.50% |
| Community Bank of Mississippi | 11 | $875,000 | 54% | 7.50% |
| Southern Bancorp Bank | 10 | $2,538,500 | 90% | 7.75% |
| Stone Bank | 10 | $637,500 | 40% | 7.88% |
| Southern AgCredit, FLCA | 8 | $2,381,400 | 50% | 8.77% |
| Trustmark Bank | 6 | $22,800 | 0% | 7.00% |
Where these businesses borrow
Most active states for poultry farms: Mississippi (96), Arkansas (65), Alabama (36), Texas (31), North Carolina (26), Louisiana (24).
Which financing fits
| Product | Fit for this sector | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|
| SBA 504 | Strong fit — real estate is carrying these deals | 6.0% - 7.5% effective, fixed |
| SBA 7(a) | The dominant vehicle in this niche | 10.0% - 14.0% APR |
| Commercial mortgage | If you are buying the building | 6.5% - 9.5% APR |
| Equipment financing | For the hard assets, often cheaper separately | 7.0% - 30.0% APR |
| Business acquisition loan | If you are buying an existing operation | 10.0% - 14.0% APR |
Before you apply
- Check coverage first. Run the payment through the affordability calculator at 1.25x.
- Shortlist from the lender table, favouring ones whose median loan here is close to what you need.
- Assemble the documents — see the checklist.
- If you are buying rather than starting, read business acquisition loans first; the injection rules and diligence are different.