USDA Expands Transparency New Rural Lending Dashboard

Greater transparency into USDA-backed lending can help rural lenders and producers better assess credit availability and investment trends.

farm business biz handshake_stock image_AdobeStock_225938944.jpeg

StockMediaProduction – stock.adobe.com

WASHINGTON, D.C. (RFD NEWS) — Rural lenders, producers, and community leaders now have clearer insight into where federal capital is flowing, as USDA rolls out a new public dashboard designed to track Rural Development loan activity nationwide. The Lender Lens, launched January 19, makes USDA’s full commercial guaranteed loan portfolio accessible through the Rural Data Gateway.

The tool allows users to quickly evaluate loan performance, geographic distribution, sector exposure, and delinquency trends tied to USDA Rural Development guarantees. Data are refreshed monthly and can be downloaded down to the individual-loan level, giving lenders and rural stakeholders more timely visibility into credit conditions and investment patterns.

USDA says the dashboard strengthens transparency while helping communities monitor how federal dollars support business growth, healthcare access, infrastructure, and job creation across rural America. The platform also enables lenders to better manage risk and benchmark activity across regions and programs.

Lender Lens builds on the Rural Data Gateway, launched in 2023, which aggregates investment data from more than 80 Rural Development programs over the past decade. Together, the tools aim to improve access to capital by making information easier to analyze at the state, county, and congressional district levels.

Farm-Level Takeaway: Greater transparency into USDA-backed lending can help rural lenders and producers better assess credit availability and investment trends.
Tony St. James, RFD NEWS Markets Specialist
Related Stories
As the government shutdown pushes the farm economy closer to the brink, Sens. Grassley and Ernst of Iowa are raising their voices for agriculture.
RFD-TV farm legal and taxation expert, Roger McOwen, joins us with his perspective on what farmers can expect from the delayed aid package.
Microsoft’s partnership with the National FFA Organization is helping future ag leaders gain the tools they need to drive innovation in farming and beyond.
U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA) joined us on Wednesday’s Market Day Report to share why Ames is uniquely positioned to support expanded USDA operations.
Plan for a cooler global trade market in 2026 with tighter margins on exports, potential rate shifts, and premiums for reliable deliveries into Asian and African growth markets.
Crop insurance remains a vital tool for managing climate-driven risk.
RFD-TV Farm Legal and Tax Expert Roger McEowen with the Washburn School of Law dives into a “potpourri” of ag tax and law-related issues in his latest Firm to Farm blog post.
Texas A&M 4-H Director Montza Williams joins for an update on the expected timeline for the program’s new facility and all the associated benefits.
From tinkering with machines to building projects from scratch, students in the National FFA Organization develop skills to help shape future careers.

Tony St. James joined the RFD-TV talent team in August 2024, bringing a wealth of experience and a fresh perspective to RFD-TV and Rural Radio Channel 147 Sirius XM. In addition to his role as Market Specialist (collaborating with Scott “The Cow Guy” Shellady to provide radio and TV audiences with the latest updates on ag commodity markets), he hosts “Rural America Live” and serves as talent for trade shows.

LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

Only properly documented, unexhausted fertilizer applied by prior owners may qualify for Section 180 expensing; broader nutrient-based claims carry significant legal and tax risk.
Urea and phosphate see the biggest price relief from tariff exemptions, but nitrogen markets remain tight, and spring demand will still dictate pricing momentum.
Lower turkey and wheat prices helped ease Thanksgiving costs, but underlying farm-sector pressures remain significant.
Cattle and hog supplies continue to tighten while dairy output expands, creating a split outlook in which red-meat prices soften and milk values come under pressure from larger supplies.
Firm live cow prices and shifting dairy-side culling suggest cull cow values may stay stronger than usual this winter despite weaker cow beef cutout trends.
Lewis Williamson with HTS Commodities shares an update on post-WASDE grain movement, with corn leading export momentum, soybeans steady, and wheat and sorghum continuing to move selectively.