In order to provide insight into how loan officers face the challenges of California's highly diversified agricultural commodities, the findings of a study on current agricultural lending practices in California are summarized. Interviews with California lenders pointed out that differences in the degree of risk associated with the income from production of a commodity is a major factor influencing the loan analysis process. Stricter underwriting standards and higher loan pricing can result from perceived riskiness of a commodity, but there is no evidence that loan evaluation standards vary by the region in the the state or by the size of the farm. Other aspects of loan analysis are addressed.