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
Cotton farmers should weigh potential PLC payments against STAX coverage and act before the September 30 deadline.
Kevin Charleston with Specialty Risk Insurance joined us Tuesday to share his perspective on farm safety and risk management during fall harvest.
Theresa Long and Theresa Pittman joined us on behalf of the AgriSafe Network to discuss the health and social issues impacting families in agriculture.
UNL Animal Science Ph.D candidate Anna Kobza joined us on Tuesday’s Market Day Report to share her agriculture story and tips for other producers hoping to share their ag stories online or with the media.
Rollins says the new trade relationship with Taiwan, which is committed to buying a significant amount of U.S. soy, could not come at a better time for farmers facing financial strain.
Let’s meet an inspiring young farmer leading the Tennessee FFA this year, but now has his sights set on the National stage.
While symbolic, the WTO’s youth hackathon reflects growing calls for creative approaches to food trade and security, with potential implications for reducing losses, expanding biofuel markets, and stabilizing grain flows.
American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) economist Danny Munch explains how the Emergency Livestock Relief Program application process differs from other USDA aid programs.

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:

The Senate has cleared a path to reopen USDA, but full restoration of services depends on House approval and the President’s signature.
Verified U.S. data show real leather’s carbon footprint is lower than advertised — an edge for the American cattle industry in both marketing and byproduct value.
Stagger buys and diversifies fertilizer sources — watch CBAM, India’s tenders, and Brazil’s import pace to time urea, phosphate, and potash purchases.
Tight cattle supplies keep prices high for ranchers, but policy shifts, export barriers, and packer losses signal a volatile road ahead for the beef supply chain.
Distillers dried grains (DDG) values follow corn and soybean meal trends, with ethanol grind and feed demand shaping costs into early 2026.
Pork producers should prioritize health and productivity gains, hedge feed and hogs selectively, and watch Brazil’s export pace and China’s sow policy for price signals.