The Texas Agricultural Finance Authority ("Authority") was created in 1987 as a public authority within the Texas Department of Agriculture. The Authority provides financial assistance through eligible lending institutions to creditworthy individuals and businesses. TAFA encourages private commercial lending at below market rates, to eligible applicants for eligible projects.

An eligible applicant must be in the business or entering the business of: processing and marketing agricultural crops or livestock in this state; producing alternative agricultural crops and/or livestock, including certified organic production in this state; producing agricultural crops or livestock in this state, the production of which has declined because of natural disasters; producing agricultural crops or livestock in this state using water conservation equipment and techniques;
 for the development of water conservation projects; or 
providing nonagricultural goods or services in a rural area.