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
The USDA is working with 14 different states, including Georgia, to develop and implement block grants to address the unique disaster recovery needs for each state.
September 30, 2025 10:25 AM
·
We caught up with Karen Braun, Chief Market Analyst at Zaner Ag Hedge, at the Women in Agribusiness to discuss the data behind commodity trading.
September 29, 2025 03:30 PM
·
Weston Brown joined us on Monday in the RFD-TV Studios in Nashville to share how he is preparing for the upcoming National FFA Convention & Expo.
September 29, 2025 02:58 PM
·
Missouri Director of Agriculture Chris Chinn joined us Monday to share highlights from Secretary Brooke Rollins’ visit and her perspective on USDA’s new initiatives.
September 29, 2025 02:14 PM
·
RFD-TV Farm Legal and Taxation expert, Roger McEowen, with the Washburn School of Law, joined us Monday to break down the changes and explain what producers should know.
September 29, 2025 01:57 PM
·
Dividing up a family farming operation can be challenging, especially for children who may not want to become farmers themselves.
September 29, 2025 01:24 PM
·
Land values are increasing faster than farm income, making it more challenging for young and beginning farmers to expand, but supporting equity for current landowners.
September 29, 2025 09:58 AM
·
Beginning Farmers and Ranchers, Crop Insurance, and a Business Planning Complication
September 28, 2025 01:56 PM
·
RFD-TV Farm Legal and Taxation expert Roger McEowen joined us Friday to break down the executive order and what it means for farmers and ranchers.
September 26, 2025 02:47 PM
·
