Seed, fuel and fertiliser are due now, and the income arrives after harvest.
- Indicative assessment within 2 business days, with facilities typically in place within 1 to 6 weeks
- Loans from $100K to $10M for seasonal limits, machinery, livestock and inputs
- Croppers, graziers, dairy and horticulture businesses, and the contractors and suppliers that work with them
- Covers seed, fertiliser, chemicals, fuel, feed, stock purchases, tractors, headers, sprayers and irrigation equipment
- Full-doc (tax returns), low-doc or alt-doc (BAS, bank statements or an accountant's letter instead) options across our 90+ lender panel
A farm pays most of its costs months before it is paid. Inputs go in at sowing, feed is bought through a dry spell, and store cattle (younger cattle bought to grow out and sell) are paid for long before they are sold. Rural and agribusiness finance covers that stretch. It can be a seasonal limit drawn as bills arrive and cleared from crop, wool, milk or stock sales, a loan for a tractor or header, or funding for livestock. Joseph Farhat and his team look at your production cycle, your records and the security on offer, then find lenders whose repayments can follow your season.
Who we can help access finance
- A grain grower funding seed, fertiliser, chemicals and fuel at sowing, with the crop sold after harvest.
- A grazier buying store cattle and paying for them months before the sale.
- A dairy business carrying higher feed costs through a dry period while milk income is lower.
- A cotton or horticulture business replacing a picker, tractor or sprayer before the season starts.
- An agricultural contractor adding a header, baler or spray rig to take on more harvesting, hay or spraying work.
- A farm business looking at a Regional Investment Corporation (RIC) loan, which needs a commercial lender alongside it.
How Rural and Agribusiness Finance Works
Farm lending is built around the season rather than a monthly pay cycle. A seasonal working capital facility is often set before the season starts, drawn as input bills come in, and paid down from sales. Many lenders allow interest-only payments during the season. Machinery is usually funded with a chattel mortgage (a loan where the machine is the security), hire purchase (the lender owns the machine until the final payment) or a lease (you rent the machine for a set term), and some lenders set annual, half-yearly or quarterly repayments so payments fall when the farm is paid. Livestock can be funded inside a broader facility, and some lenders take security over the stock itself. Joseph Farhat and his team match the file across our panel of 90+ bank, non-bank, and specialist lenders.
Government lending can sit beside a commercial facility. The RIC is a federal lender that offers several farm loans, including Farm Investment and Drought Loans of up to $2M. Those loans run for 10 years, with the first 5 years interest only, and at least 50% of the farm's total debt must initially stay with a commercial lender. RIC lends directly, and we do not arrange RIC loans. Where one is relevant, we can look at seasonal, machinery or livestock finance beside it.
When cash is tight, borrowing is not always the first step. The Rural Financial Counselling Service is a free, independent service for eligible farmers, fishers, foresters and small related businesses in, or at risk of, financial hardship. If the business may not be able to pay its debts as they fall due, speak with your accountant or a registered insolvency practitioner before taking on any new loan. We are a finance broker, not an accountant, financial counsellor or lawyer.
What Lenders Assess for Rural and Agribusiness Finance
Production history
yields, stocking rates, stock sold each year and prices received over several seasons, showing what the farm earns in a good year and a lean one.
Seasonal cash flow budget
a month-by-month view of costs and income, which sets the size of the limit and when repayments fall.
Security on offer
machinery, livestock, stored grain or farm property the business already owns. Where farm property is offered, it is at risk if the loan is not repaid, so get independent legal advice before signing.
Existing debt
other lenders, machinery loans and any RIC loan, and how repayments on each have been met.
Seasonal and market exposure
rainfall, water access and commodity prices, and how the business came through lower years.
Records
BAS, business bank statements, tax returns and, for some lenders, a farm management report or an accountant's summary.
The Rural and Agribusiness Finance Process: What to Expect
- Tell Joseph Farhat and his team what the funding is for, the amount, when the costs fall due and when the income comes in.
- Share recent BAS, bank statements, your last returns or financials, and a seasonal budget if you have one. Your accountant can help prepare the budget.
- We compare seasonal limits, machinery finance and livestock options across the panel, and show you the repayment timing and total cost of each. Each credit enquiry is recorded on your file, so we pick the lender before applying.
- The lender assesses the file, may inspect the stock or machinery, and issues an approval setting out the limit, rate, fees, security and repayment dates. We go through it with you before anything is signed.
- Funds are drawn as bills arrive or paid to the machinery supplier, and repayments follow the schedule agreed for your season.
Indicative Finance Options
| Lender Type | Indicative Rate | Security | Typical Loan Range | Loan Term | Speed to Funding |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bank | From ~7% p.a. | Farm property, machinery or livestock, plus a guarantee | $100K to $10M | Seasonal limits reviewed yearly; machinery 1 to 7 years | 2 to 6 weeks |
| Non-Bank Lenders | From ~9.5% p.a. | Machinery, livestock or business assets, plus a director guarantee | $100K to $3M | 6 months to 7 years | 1 to 3 weeks |
| Private Finance | From ~1.25% per month | Property security | $100K to $5M | 1 to 12 months | Available for unique scenarios |
Indicative figures only. Actual rates and terms depend on your project, financial position, property location, and lender assessment at the time of application. Rates are subject to change.
Why borrowers choose Settled With Joe for rural and agribusiness finance
We represent you, not the lender
Joseph Farhat and his team act for the farm business from the first budget conversation through to the first draw.
Repayments set around your season
we look for lenders whose repayment dates match when grain, wool, milk or stock is sold, not the calendar month.
Agri appetite known
some lenders run dedicated agribusiness teams and take livestock or stored grain as security, while others fund machinery only. We know which is which.
Government support kept in view
where an RIC loan or a rural financial counsellor is relevant, we tell you and point you to them.
Total cost shown in full
seasonal limits carry line fees and review fees as well as interest, and we set those out before you choose.
Fewer enquiries on your file
we choose the lender that suits your enterprise before anything is lodged.
90+ bank, non-bank, and specialist lenders
a farm with strong records can go to a bank at a sharper rate, and a business with a lean season behind it still has options.
Private finance for unique scenarios
where bank and non-bank lenders are not the right fit, we can introduce you to private finance options.
Usually no direct cost to you
as a broker we are typically paid by the lender on settlement.
An honest answer early
if inputs need ordering before the season opens, talk to us early and we will tell you what can realistically be in place by then.
Frequently asked questions
What is rural and agribusiness finance?
It is business lending for farms and the businesses that serve them, built around seasonal income. It covers operating costs such as seed, fertiliser, chemicals, fuel and feed, machinery such as tractors, headers and irrigation equipment, and livestock purchases. Repayments can be set to match when the farm is paid, and security can be machinery, livestock or property the business already owns. Property offered as security is at risk if the loan is not repaid, so get independent legal advice before signing.
How does a seasonal working capital facility work?
The lender sets a limit before the season, based on your budget and production history. You draw on it as input bills arrive, often paying interest only while the crop grows or the stock fattens. When the produce or stock is sold, the proceeds clear the balance, and the limit is usually reviewed each year. Expect line and review fees as well as interest.
Can livestock purchases be financed?
Yes. Some lenders fund store stock purchases inside a seasonal facility, and some take security over the livestock itself, with repayment due when the stock is sold. Lenders look at the class and number of head, the expected sale timing and price, feed and water for the period, and your record of buying and selling stock.
How do RIC loans fit with a commercial loan?
They sit alongside it, not in place of it. RIC Farm Investment and Drought Loans go up to $2M over 10 years, with the first 5 years interest only, and at least 50% of the farm's total debt must initially be with a commercial lender. The AgBiz Drought Loan, for farm-related small businesses, goes up to $500K. The Government announced an additional $1 billion in new RIC loan funding from 1 July 2026, and RIC has said current dry conditions may affect demand and its decision timeframes. Eligibility and applications go through ric.gov.au directly. We do not arrange RIC loans.
What is farm debt mediation?
In NSW, the Farm Debt Mediation Act 1994 means lenders generally must offer farm debt mediation before enforcing a farm mortgage. A farmer can also ask for mediation, whether or not they are in default. The scheme is run by the NSW Rural Assistance Authority, which can confirm whether and how it applies to your loans. Your lawyer or rural financial counsellor can explain what it means for you.
What help is there if the farm is under financial pressure?
Start with the Rural Financial Counselling Service, a free and independent service for eligible farmers, fishers, foresters and small related businesses in, or at risk of, financial hardship. It is an ongoing program. The Farm Household Allowance is a fortnightly income support payment for farmers and partners in hardship, with income, asset and activity tests, and Services Australia sets out who qualifies. If the business may not be able to pay its debts as they fall due, speak with your accountant or a registered insolvency practitioner before any new borrowing.
Can I get rural finance on low-doc?
Sometimes. For machinery and smaller seasonal amounts, some lenders will work from BAS, business bank statements and an accountant's letter rather than full financials. Larger seasonal limits and livestock facilities usually need tax returns, a budget and production records, because the lender is sizing the limit to a full season. Joseph Farhat and his team will tell you which lenders accept the records you have.
Do you work with borrowers with bad credit?
Yes, we do. A default, arrears or a judgment on the file does not rule out farm finance, and you will not be judged for raising it. Agricultural lenders look closely at production history, the seasonal budget, the security and how recent repayments have been met. Several lenders on our panel weigh those more heavily than the credit file and may price for the risk. Tell us early, so the first lender approached is one that suits and no extra enquiries go on your file. Joseph Farhat and his team will tell you honestly what is achievable before anything is lodged.
Why work with Settled With Joe to arrange your rural and agribusiness finance?
Because you get one conversation instead of a round of applications to lenders with very different appetite for farm risk. Most of the people we help are farm owners, company directors and agribusiness operators working to the season: inputs to order before sowing, store cattle to pay for at the saleyard, or a header that has to be replaced before harvest. Those situations are familiar to us. What matters to lenders is your production history, a realistic seasonal budget, the security on offer and a clear repayment from sales. Our panel covers 90+ bank, non-bank, and specialist lenders, so a farm with strong records can go to a bank at a sharper rate, and there are still options when the season or the records are less straightforward. We are based in Sydney and work with farm businesses Australia-wide. Joseph Farhat and his team will tell you early whether we can help and what can be in place before your costs fall due.
Do you give financial advice?
No. We do not guide you on your finances, nor give financial advice. We focus on outcomes and solutions of presenting your unique scenario to the right lender so you can access funding in a timely and compliant manner.
Do you help with rural and agribusiness finance outside Sydney?
Yes. Settled With Joe is based in Sydney and arranges rural and agribusiness finance Australia-wide, covering both metro and regional areas. We work with clients in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, and Canberra, as well as regional areas including Newcastle, Wollongong, Geelong, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, and Toowoomba. Farms well beyond those centres are handled by phone and email. Joseph Farhat and his team will look for lenders with agribusiness appetite for your region and enterprise.
