By Robert King, Team Leader – PoultrySouth Team at Southeastern Land Group
If you’ve been waiting for the government to reopen before making your move on a poultry farm, that moment has arrived. But so has the clock.
Loan guarantee programs through the FSA and SBA — which support around 80–90% of all poultry farm transactions — are coming back online now that the shutdown is lifting. That’s great news for buyers. But here’s the catch: with Thanksgiving and Christmas just ahead, the number of effective working days between now and the end of the year is very limited.
In other words, the opportunity is real — and it’s short.
If you’re serious about owning a poultry farm, your next move should happen this week, not next month. Because by the time the holidays hit, it may already be too late to take advantage of the window that just opened.
A Reset Market — And a Rare Window
Let’s talk about what’s actually happening:
- Government-backed loan programs are reactivating. Lenders can now resume processing deals that stalled during the shutdown.
- FSA Participation loans — which are built for experienced operators — are now accessible again for seasoned farm buyers who were previously sitting on the sidelines.
- Interest rates are expected to drop again by 0.25% to 0.5% this month, giving buyers already in motion a significant financing advantage.
- Seller flexibility may improve as they recognize the urgency of this reopening and want to sell while funding and buyer traffic are in motion.
In short: all the pieces that buyers said they were waiting for are falling into place.
Why Now Beats January
You might be tempted to wait until “after the holidays.” That’s a mistake.
Here’s why:
- Agencies like FSA and SBA are going to prioritize deals already in process.
- With only a few full work weeks between Thanksgiving and New Year’s, the processing time for new deals will be limited.
- Unallocated 2025 funding may be available now — but will be gone soon.
- Getting in early could secure you priority for 2026 allocations if your file is ready.
- Waiting until January puts you behind every buyer who’s already lined up.
Business purchases nearly always favor the proactive. And poultry farms are businesses — cashflow over time, not emotional investments.
Poultry Farms Are Selling Again — Quietly and Strategically
Over the last two months, activity in the Southeast poultry farm market has surged — even before the government reopened. Prices have softened slightly. Down payments are more manageable. Lenders are eager to lend. And most importantly, buyers are finally making moves again.
Website traffic is up. Showings are up. Contracts are being written. The market’s been stirring — and with loan guarantees back in play, it’s about to move harder.
We’re seeing more experienced operators step back in, thanks in large part to the return of FSA Participation loan access. These are people who understand farm operations and are now financially positioned to take the next step.
The sellers? They’re listening. And we expect many of them to show greater urgency now that the systems are working again.
The Risk of Talking Yourself Out of It
You might be thinking:
“What if I wait for rates to fall further?”
“Maybe there will be more farms to choose from next year…”
“Shouldn’t I hold off until everything is fully stable?”
Here’s the hard truth: the market doesn’t wait for perfect conditions. It moves when opportunity appears — and right now, it has.
I’ve been doing this over 20 years, and I’ve never seen all the stars align. Buyers who wait for the perfect moment almost always watch it go by. Then they’re left chasing higher prices, tighter inventory, or tougher lending timelines.
What Should Buyers Do Right Now?
Start the conversation. Get your file moving. Talk with a PoultrySouth team member and figure out:
- What kind of farm fits your income and location goals?
- How does your cashflow plan line up with today’s interest rates?
- What timeline are you realistically working with?
Then let us introduce you to lenders who are already processing — not still gearing up.
A Final Word of Caution: This Window Will Close Fast
Here’s how this could play out if you wait:
- Government programs ramp up and clear a wave of backlogged files.
- Unclaimed 2025 funds get allocated quickly.
- Holidays stall new file processing.
- You start your file in January — behind everyone else.
- Rates shift. Inventory tightens. Sellers get stiffer.
And the farm that made sense in November? It’s gone.
It’s a pattern we’ve seen before. And we’ll see it again. The only question is: will you be part of the wave — or behind it?
If You Were Waiting, Your Wait Is Over
The shutdown is ending. The phones are ringing. The lenders are back in gear. And the market is wide open.
But not for long.
If you’re ready to buy — or even just serious about learning what it takes — now is the moment to engage. We’re ready to walk with you every step of the way.
Let’s get to work.
