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Almond orchard rows in California Central Valley
HomeAgriculturalAlmond & Nut Growers
California almonds & Oregon hazelnuts — two of the most valuable tree nut crops in the country, both requiring lenders who understand permanent planting economics.
Almond & Nut Grower Loans

Tree Crops Run Deep. So Does Our Financing.

Almonds are California's #1 agricultural export. Oregon's Willamette Valley grows over 99% of the U.S. commercial hazelnut crop. We finance both — with loan structures built around long production cycles, orchard establishment costs, and the unique income patterns of permanent tree crops.

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$500K – $20M+

Loan Range

20–30%

Min. Down Payment

Almonds, Hazelnuts & More

Crop Types

Up to 30 Years

Amortization

Overview

Financing Built for the Long Arc of Tree Crop Agriculture

Tree nut operations don't fit a standard agricultural lending template — and they certainly don't fit a residential one. Almonds take five to seven years to reach full production. Hazelnut orchards require years of establishment investment before the first meaningful harvest. Water infrastructure, bee pollination contracts, and commodity price volatility all shape the financial picture in ways that generic underwriting models miss entirely.

California's Central Valley produces roughly 80% of the world's almonds — a commodity valued at over $5 billion annually in California alone. In Oregon, the Willamette Valley accounts for over 99% of the U.S. commercial hazelnut supply, with demand growing steadily as domestic specialty food markets and export buyers compete for supply. Both crops reward patient, well-capitalized growers — and both require lenders who understand that the investment horizon in permanent plantings is measured in decades, not months.

Our almond and nut grower loan programs are structured around how tree crop operations actually generate income — with consideration for orchard age and productivity curves, establishment period financing, water rights and irrigation infrastructure, forward marketing contracts, and the commodity pricing dynamics that define profitability in nut production.

Who This Is For

Almond growers and orchard investors in California's Central Valley
Hazelnut farmers in Oregon's Willamette Valley (Lane, Linn, Benton, Polk, Marion, Yamhill counties)
Buyers acquiring established producing orchards
Growers financing young or developing orchards in establishment phase
Vertically integrated nut processors combining land, facility, and operating debt
Family farm LLCs and partnerships managing generational orchard assets
Investors expanding nut production acreage through adjacent land acquisitions

Key Features

What Makes This Program Work

Orchard Establishment Financing

We lend on pre-production orchards and factor in the establishment curve — recognizing that a 3-year-old almond orchard has real collateral value even before first full harvest.

Commodity Income Underwriting

Almond and hazelnut commodity income is underwritten using multi-year averages, forward contracts, and crop insurance — not just last year's Schedule F.

Water Rights & Irrigation Infrastructure

Groundwater rights, surface water allocations, and drip irrigation systems are evaluated as productive assets and factored into both collateral value and income analysis.

Crop Insurance Considered

MPCI and revenue protection policies on nut crops are counted as income stabilizers, strengthening your debt service coverage during low-yield or low-price years.

Harvest-Aligned Payment Schedules

Annual or semi-annual payment structures that align with fall harvest and commodity sale timing — not arbitrary monthly calendars that ignore when nut income actually arrives.

Oregon & California Expertise

We understand both the Central Valley water politics and San Joaquin irrigation district structures that define almond lending in California, and the hazelnut expansion dynamics in the Willamette Valley.

The Process

How It Works

1

Operation Review Call

We start with a 20-minute call to understand your orchard — acreage, crop type, tree age, water rights, and financing goal. We know the right questions to ask.

2

Documentation Package

We'll request farm tax returns, Schedule F, water rights docs, crop insurance policies, any forward marketing contracts, and a property description. We keep it focused.

3

Orchard Income Analysis

Our underwriters build income using a multi-year commodity average, forward contracts, and crop insurance — accounting for the production curve of your specific orchard age and varietal mix.

4

Collateral & Water Rights Valuation

An MAI-certified appraiser with permanent planting and tree crop experience evaluates the orchard. Water rights and irrigation infrastructure are assessed as part of the collateral package.

5

Loan Structuring

We present a loan structure — amount, term, payment schedule, and rate — designed around your harvest timing and commodity income calendar.

6

Close & Get Back to the Orchard

Efficient closing with no last-minute surprises. You fund, we record, and you get back to managing your trees.

Requirements

General Qualifications

Minimum 20–30% down payment (established producing orchards may qualify at the lower end)
2 years of farm tax returns including Schedule F, or equivalent crop income documentation
Crop insurance in force or commitment to obtain at closing
Water rights documentation — well permits, irrigation district membership, or surface water rights
Debt service coverage of 1.15x or higher preferred (lower considered with compensating factors)
Orchard age, varietal composition, and production history reviewed as part of collateral analysis
Entity borrowers (LLC, LP, family S-corp, trust) accepted with full documentation
Licensed in Oregon and California (NMLS #1498678)

Get in Touch

Ready to chat with one of our Ag specialists?

Schedule a consultation by calling us directly or completing the contact form — we'll get back to you within one business day to review your operation, walk through your options, and identify every program you qualify for. No cost, no obligation.

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503-966-9255

Mon – Fri, 8 am – 6 pm PT

Licensed in Oregon & California · NMLS #1498678 · Agricultural Lending Division

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We'll get back to you within one business day

FAQ

Common Questions

What Our Clients Say

Five-Star Reviews from Real Borrowers

All reviews verified on Google

"Great communication, efficient processing and good turn around times on approvals and closings."

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Laura Garifalakis

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"Lumen Mortgage is the absolute best mortgage team we have ever done business with. We felt through the entire process that we were working with them as a team for one goal, to get us in the right home at the right price for us."

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"David and his team are top-notch. We've worked with many lenders over the years and David is in a league of his own. We'll never use a different lender!"

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Wendy Lewis

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"With mortgage rates at historic lows, I decided to refinance. Unimpressed with my current mortgage lender's rates (Bank of America), I did some digging and found great rates that would need to be brokered privately. I remember a friend mentioning Lumen, so I fired off an email, and what do you know - ~2 weeks later I closed at a fantastic rate! 2 weeks!"

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Derek Meyer

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"Lumen Mortgage was excellent to work with. They were there step by step explaining everything. This was exceptional as I was helping my parents (English 2nd language) through this process. The team was patient and super informative."

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Tony Singmeuangthong

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"Great experience working with Lumen Mortgage. Extremely knowledgeable and professional. I would highly recommend!"

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Agricultural Lending Division · NMLS #1498678

Your Land. Your Terms.
Let's Build the Right Loan.

Our ag loan specialists will review your scenario, walk you through every option, and structure financing around how your operation actually works — with full transparency from first call to close.

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