As noted previously, in response to an exceptionally difficult year for Utah agriculture, the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food (UDAF) has taken an unprecedented step to provide direct financial relief to agricultural producers with active UDAF loans. Beginning Nov. 1, 2026, interest rates on all existing UDAF loans will automatically be reduced to 0% for one year. If temporarily pausing your loan payment would further assist in your recovery, farmers and ranchers may apply to defer your payments for up to 12 months., giving producers additional flexibility as they recover from the challenges of the 2026 production year.

If taking advantage of the optional loan payment deferral, the deadline to submit your deferral request via the UDAF official online form is no later than October 31, 2026. To opt in for payment deferral, you MUST fill out the form online no later than October 31, 2026. If you receive a submission confirmation, your request is in queue and loan staff will reach out as quickly as possible.

Beginning November 1, 2026, interest rates across all existing UDAF loans will be set to 0% for one full year to support producers in Utah. No action is required on the part of farmers, as this change will apply automatically to every active loan. On November 1, 2027, interest rates will automatically revert to the interest rate stated in the farmers' promissory note.

“Utah’s farmers and ranchers have faced challenge after challenge this year, and we want them to know that we are in their corner,” said UDAF Commissioner Kelly Pehrson. “We know producers are hurting, and we want to help. UDAF’s job is to make agriculture work in Utah, and right now that means doing everything we reasonably can to give producers some breathing room and help keep their operations moving forward.”

Governor Spencer Cox championed these unprecedented relief measures as a meaningful investment in the farmers and ranchers who feed Utah and sustain rural communities across the state. By providing immediate financial relief during an exceptionally difficult year, state leaders are sending a clear message to Utah producers: we are committed to helping you weather today’s challenges and continue operating for years to come.

“It is encouraging to see the support that our Governor and his administration is so supportive of our industry, that they are taking these steps to help out in a very difficult year,” said ValJay Rigby, President of the Utah Farm Bureau and an Agricultural Advisory Board member. “While this action can’t take away the extraordinary challenges of this year, it is a tool that some can use to bridge to what we hope is a more successful future.”

More information and the payment deferral form are available at UDAF’s Agricultural Loans webpage: https://ag.utah.gov/conservation/agricultural-loans/.