A majority of States have implemented State-sponsored agricultural credit programs to help resident farmers obtain capital to begin or sustain agricultural production enterprises. The programs are designed to improve access to needed capital and to lower interest rate costs. Surveys conducted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Economic Research Service indicate that 32 States currently provide 81 credit programs with preferential credit terms for farmers and ranchers. This handbook details the programs offered on a State-by-State basis. For a credit program to be included, loan proceeds had to be used to purchase land, machinery, or other operating inputs used in the agricultural production enterprises. The number of States sponsoring credit programs is rising, with a trend toward programs that move expenses off budget and reduce the associated financial risk to the States. Information presented in this handbook should be useful to policymakers, program administrators, and public and private entities interested in designing future programs.