Ag & Business Legal Strategies: Tips to Boost Approval Odds for 2026 Operating Line of Credit Applications

Joe Peiffer with Ag & Business Legal Strategies advises farmers on end-of-year financial planning, including preparing records, avoiding common credit mistakes, and evaluating equipment purchases for 2026.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (RFD-TV) — As the year winds down, many farmers are taking a close look at their balance sheets and cash-flow records to prepare for tax season and make smart decisions about input purchases for the year ahead. With 2026 operating line of credit applications underway, financial planning is top of mind across the countryside.

Joe Peiffer with Ag & Business Legal Strategies joined us on Monday’s Market Day Report to offer timely end-of-year guidance.

In his interview with RFD-TV News, Peiffer outlined the key records and materials farmers need to have updated before applying for their 2026 operating line of credit. He also discussed some of the most common mistakes producers make during the application process and how avoiding those pitfalls can improve their chances of approval.

Peiffer addressed the frequent end-of-year rush to purchase equipment in hopes of claiming capital expenses on spring tax returns. He shared several important factors farmers should weigh when deciding whether to buy now or hold off until next year. He also explained how a producer’s current debt load should influence that decision.

Finally, Peiffer cautioned farmers to think carefully before making a purchase they are only “mostly sure” they need before the end of the year, highlighting why the perceived tax advantage may not outweigh long-term financial considerations.

Related Stories
Key signs of the U.S. beef herd’s recovery are improved pasture conditions, lower feed costs, and increased regulatory alignment and support for producers to implement targeted grazing practices.
Dr. Mark Svoboda with the National Drought Mitigation Center discusses a new global drought report and resources to help operations increase drought resilience.
Despite tariffs having a less significant impact on exports, corn producers struggle with tariff-related increases on inputs, which complicates their bottom line.
Jack Daniel’s will end its Cow Feeder Program, which served around 100 livestock operations near the distillery, and redirect spent grains to its anaerobic digester.
Prepare for acute UAN risk and a brief urea shock; maintain steady ammonia and phosphate plans, and monitor potash basis on the coasts.
Software developers at John Deere Digital are addressing challenges with their new Operations Center, which helps farmers make decisions on the fly.
Catch the special, “Praise and Worship: More Than a Hollow Hallelujah,” on The Gaither Gospel Hour, Friday at 8 PM ET only on RFD-TV!
National FFA Organization Chief Program Officer Christine White previews the programs and activities planned for this year’s FFA Convention.
Dave Kestel, a farmer from Will County and member of the Illinois Farm Bureau, joins us to share a boots-on-the-ground update on the 2025 corn harvest.

Marion is a digital content manager for RFD-TV and The Cowboy Channel. She started working for Rural Media Group in May 2022, adding a decade of experience in the digital side of broadcast media and some cooking experience to the team.

LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

Global nitrogen and phosphate prices remain high despite improved supply fundamentals, with limited Chinese exports and stronger fall applications tightening availability.
The Court may limit emergency tariff powers, complicating a key bargaining tool; ag could see shifts in input costs and export dynamics as China, Brazil, and India talks evolve.
David Klein with the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers (ASFMRA) shares an end-of-harvest update and a peek at the farmland market in Central Illinois.
Host of RealAg Radio Shaun Haney discusses how the proposed reductions to agriculture programs in Canada’s new budget could affect research and support programs that farmers need.
Highly Pathogenic Avian Flu (HPAI) cases are rising. In the last week, seven commercial turkey, duck, and egg layer flocks were culled across five Midwest states and California.
A SCOTUS ruling on Trump’s tariffs could have long-term implications on the authority of future administrations to control U.S. trade policy, according to RFD-TV legal expert Roger McEowen.