Agricultural equipment finance · Agriculture
Agricultural equipment finance for agriculture
Agricultural finance is lending structured around a single annual income event, using seasonal repayments, equipment finance for machinery and working capital that carries a farm from planting through to sale.
How agricultural equipment finance works for agriculture
Agricultural equipment finance is where the seasonal structures live. A header used for four weeks a year can be written over five to seven years with a single annual repayment timed a month after the crop is sold, so the machine is paid for out of the income it helped produce. Lenders that specialise in ag understand hours, condition and the resale market for used machinery, and will consider older gear than a general equipment lender. Balloons are common on tractors that will be traded on a cycle.
The cash-flow pattern we plan around
Costs spread across the growing season with income concentrated into a harvest, shearing or livestock sale window, sometimes only once a year.
What agriculture typically fund
- Tractors, headers and implements
- Irrigation and water infrastructure
- Seed, fertiliser and chemical before planting
- Livestock purchase and handling equipment
- Silos, sheds and on-farm storage
Agricultural equipment finance for agriculture: the numbers
| Typical amounts | $20,000 – $3,000,000 |
|---|---|
| Term | 12–84 months |
| Indicative rates | 6.7% – 14% p.a. |
| Repayments | Monthly, annual or seasonal to match income |
| Speed | 2–5 business days |
| Documents agriculture usually need | ABN and land ownership or lease details · Two years of tax returns and financials · Machinery quote or livestock purchase details |
Rates are indicative, change without notice and depend on the lender, product, asset, term and your credit profile at the time of application. They are not an offer of finance. Comparison rates, where shown, are true only for the example given.
Key terms
Agricultural equipment finance
Agricultural equipment finance is secured lending for farm machinery such as tractors, headers, sprayers and irrigation systems, commonly written over three to seven years with annual or seasonal repayments aligned to harvest income.
Seasonal repayment structure
A seasonal repayment structure is a loan schedule where repayments fall due when farm income arrives — annually after harvest or in set months — rather than in equal monthly instalments.
What is agricultural equipment finance?
Agricultural equipment finance is secured lending used to acquire farm machinery and infrastructure such as tractors, headers, irrigation systems and livestock handling equipment, with the equipment as security and repayments often aligned to seasonal income.
What are seasonal repayments?
Seasonal repayments are a schedule where payments fall due when farm income is received — annually after harvest, or at set livestock sale points — rather than in equal monthly instalments through the year.
Can you finance used farm machinery?
Yes. Farm equipment accumulates fewer working hours than construction plant and holds resale value well, so specialist lenders fund used tractors, headers and implements, including auction and private-sale purchases with a clear PPSR result.
Questions from agriculture
Can farm finance repayments be matched to harvest or livestock sales?
Yes. Agricultural lenders offer seasonal, half-yearly and annual repayments so machinery and working capital are paid for when grain, wool, livestock or milk income arrives rather than monthly, and some allow a repayment holiday while a crop is in the ground. Tell your broker when income arrives and the structure is built around it.
How do farmers fund inputs between planting and harvest?
A seasonal line of credit or a working capital loan secured against the farm covers seed, fertiliser, chemicals, fuel and contractors through the growing season and is repaid from the harvest. Some input suppliers offer finance, and a broker compares it against the panel. Livestock producers use the same structure across the sale cycle.
Can I finance machinery bought at a clearing sale?
Yes. Clearing sale and private purchases are financed with a PPSR clearance, an inspection and a signed sale agreement, and lenders are relaxed about the age of tractors and headers from major brands. Pre-approval before the sale lets you bid with confidence and settle to the vendor within days.
Can I buy the neighbouring farm or more land with finance?
Yes. Rural property loans fund land purchases, water entitlements and farm improvements against the value of the land and the enterprise’s earnings, usually over 15 to 30 years. Lenders look at the farm’s history, the combined operation’s cash flow and equity. Lyft Money works with agribusiness lenders as well as the major banks.