California FarmLink: Powering conservation through digital solutions for small farmers

Our programs

How California FarmLink supports small businesses in the United States

  • Small farmers are often hesitant to invest in conservation practices such as irrigation efficiency and soil building because of the high initial investment cost and their limited cash flow. They are also often unable to collect the data that would help them to understand and invest in more efficient solutions or new technologies.
  • As a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), California FarmLink helps farmers address these challenges through digital tools and lending models tailored to the specific conservation needs of small farms.  
  • Since 1999, California FarmLink has developed and grown a sustainable farm and ranch business program tailored to the on-farm realities of limited-resource, small- and mid-scale agricultural producers — particularly in rural California farming communities.

Program overview

Our work together

  • California FarmLink’s partnership with Mastercard Strive USA builds on their mission and status as an agricultural CDFI and focuses on developing a conservation incentive program powered by digital tools that improve farm-level data collection such as soil moisture monitoring to support efficient fertilization and irrigation practices. 
  • To improve access to financial support, California FarmLink works directly with farmers to develop a “payback period” analysis that incentivizes farmer adoption of conservation practices. With Mastercard Strive USA’s support, California FarmLink is piloting the integration of in-field monitoring equipment to improve data around both efficiency and sustainability. Participating farmers can use this information to adjust management decisions and qualify for potential public cost-share incentives. 
  • California FarmLink aims to enroll 10+ farmers in the pilot, providing incentive capital and strengthening their farm business management and in-field conservation practices. California FarmLink will then scale their activities based on lessons learned from this pilot to better serve small farmers throughout California.

By the numbers

Since becoming a direct small business lender in 2011, FarmLink has provided over $80 million in loan capital primarily to small agricultural businesses across rural California.

“With support from Mastercard Strive, California FarmLink is meeting farmers' needs for conservation financing and technologies to conserve water, apply the appropriate amount of fertilizer, and improve their business performance.”

Brett Melone

Chief Credit Officer, California FarmLink

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