Overview
The lab's motto: Finance the farm without hiding the obligation. It compares real program structures (official facts checked August 25, 2026), but the game's approvals, amounts and schedules are fictional. A warning on the page says it is an educational simulation, not financial advice, and that a coin is not one U.S. dollar.
Readiness score
Your game readiness (0–100) starts at 22 and adds 7 per prepared document, 5 per finished Farm Business lesson in the Academy, 2 per Quality systems or Commercial operations lesson, up to 12 for recorded revenue, up to 8 for profit and up to 6 for cash on hand. It loses 9 per missed payment and 5 per open loan account. Bootstrapping, on-time payments and conservation contracts nudge it up.
The ten documents
- Use-of-funds plan
- Farm business plan
- Balance sheet
- Projected cash flow
- Production assumptions
- Debt and credit schedule
- Land control
- Vendor quotes
- Historical records
- Identity and compliance
The programs
| Program | Type | Game max | Game APR | Payments | Docs | Score | Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🌱 Bootstrapped growth | Self-funded | — | — | — | 2 | 30 | 1 |
| 🌾 FSA Operating Microloan | Term loan | 800 | 5.25% | 12 | 4 | 48 | 2 |
| 💳 Business credit card | Revolving | 350 | 22.9% | — | 2 | 38 | 2 |
| 🧰 SBA Microloan | Term loan | 650 | 10.5% | 12 | 4 | 52 | 3 |
| 🌎 NRCS EQIP conservation contract | Assistance | — | — | — | 5 | 58 | 3 |
| 🌦️ Seasonal operating line | Revolving | 700 | 10.5% | — | 5 | 60 | 4 |
| 🚜 FSA Direct Operating Loan | Term loan | 2,200 | 5.25% | 18 | 6 | 62 | 5 |
| 🏚️ Farm Storage Facility Loan | Term loan (15% down) | 1,400 | 4.375% | 16 | 6 | 60 | 5 |
| ⚙️ Equipment financing | Term loan (10% down) | 1,500 | 8.5% | 16 | 5 | 58 | 5 |
| 🪙 Beginning Farmer Down Payment | Term loan (5% down) | 3,000 | 2% | 24 | 8 | 70 | 6 |
| 🤝 FSA Guaranteed / EZ Guarantee | Term loan (5% down) | 2,600 | 7.5% | 20 | 7 | 68 | 6 |
| 🏪 SBA 7(a) | Term loan (10% down) | 2,800 | 9.5% | 20 | 7 | 70 | 6 |
| 🏡 FSA Direct Farm Ownership | Term loan | 4,000 | 6% | 26 | 8 | 72 | 7 |
| 🦋 NRCS Conservation Stewardship Program | Assistance | — | — | — | 6 | 68 | 7 |
| 🏭 SBA 504 | Term loan (15% down) | 4,200 | 7% | 26 | 8 | 76 | 8 |
Applying and closing
- Meet the program's farm level, document count, readiness score and any down payment ('modeled equity').
- Choose an amount (at least 100 coins, up to the game max) and apply.
- A decision comes in 2 to 6 farm weeks. Approval needs your score at submission to meet the program's score.
- Close the loan: pay the down payment and receive the principal. A revolving line opens a limit instead, with no cash until you draw. Assistance contracts never deposit cash.
Repaying
- Payments come due every 4 farm weeks. Interest per payment is the APR ÷ 13.
- Revolving balances need at least 8% of the balance (minimum 5 coins).
- A protected debt reserve, if you have one, covers a payment when cash runs short.
- A missed payment adds that period's interest plus a 2% late cost to the balance, lowers readiness by 5 and morale by 4, and sends an urgent phone message.
Tips
- Bootstrapped growth creates no debt and still counts as a funding choice.
- Compare total repayment before closing: a long term lowers each payment but adds interest.
- Older saves that had an Operations loan were moved into the lab as a 'Legacy simulator farm note'.
See also
Written from the game itself. Spot something out of date? and our farm team will check it.
