From a new tractor at seeding to a second header before harvest, farm equipment is a serious capital cost — and cash flow on the land rarely lines up neatly with when you need the gear. Farm equipment finance lets you spread that cost over the working life of the asset, keep working capital free for inputs and wages, and often claim tax benefits along the way. Built for tradies — but we finance farmers, primary producers, contractors and ag businesses right across Australia.
Who farm equipment finance is for
If you run an ABN and need plant or machinery to earn, we can help — whether you’re a broadacre cropper, a grazier, a market gardener, an ag contractor or a mixed-enterprise family farm. We work with primary producers and rural businesses at every stage, including newer ABNs and self-employed borrowers who don’t have a stack of financials ready. Low-doc options are available for the right applicant, subject to approval.
What you can finance
Our lender panel funds most income-producing farm assets, new or used, dealer or private sale:
- Tractors — utility through to high-horsepower broadacre (see our tractor finance page)
- Harvesters & headers, balers, mowers, rakes and hay gear
- Seeders, air carts, sprayers and spreaders
- Earthmoving & handling — excavators, loaders, telehandlers, skid steers (see earthmoving equipment finance)
- Sheds, silos, feed systems, irrigation and fixed plant
- Trucks, utes and trailers that keep the farm moving
Farm equipment finance vs agricultural equipment finance
They are the same product — the wording just changes with who is asking. Farm equipment finance is how most Australian growers and graziers describe it. Agricultural equipment finance (or ag equipment finance) is the phrasing dealers, manufacturers and larger agribusinesses tend to use. Either way the lending works the same: a commercial facility secured by the machine, usually a chattel mortgage, assessed on your ABN and the asset rather than on a payslip.
- Farm equipment finance — the everyday term for funding machinery on a farming enterprise.
- Agricultural equipment finance / ag equipment finance — the same lending, described the way dealers, agribusiness and contractors describe it.
- Agricultural machinery finance / farm machinery loans — the same facility again, named after the asset rather than the industry.
Where a real difference shows up is scale and structure, not product. A single tractor for a family farm is a straightforward chattel mortgage. An ag business or contractor replacing several machines in a season may be able to arrange a pre-approved limit with some lenders so each purchase draws down without a full new application — availability varies by lender. And a contractor paid on contract rather than at harvest will often want monthly repayments where a cropping enterprise wants seasonal ones. This is broader equipment finance applied to agriculture, and it sits under the same asset finance umbrella as the rest of your plant.
How farm equipment finance works
Most farm gear is funded with a chattel mortgage — you own the equipment from day one, the lender takes security over it, and you repay over an agreed term (typically 2–7 years). You can tailor the deal with a deposit or trade-in, a seasonal or annual repayment structure to match your income, and a balloon (residual) at the end to lower regular repayments. GST-registered primary producers can often claim the GST on the purchase price up front, and interest plus depreciation are generally deductible — talk to your accountant about how the current rules apply to you.
Common ways to structure a farm equipment deal
| Structure | Best for | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Chattel mortgage | Most ABN farmers & producers | You own the asset; potential GST claim + interest/depreciation deductions |
| Seasonal / annual repayments | Cropping & harvest-driven income | Repay when the cheque comes in, not monthly |
| Balloon / residual | Keeping regular repayments low | Defers a lump sum to the end of term |
| Low-doc | Newer ABNs / limited financials | Approval on fewer documents, for the right applicant |
Example scenario
Say you’re financing a used $120,000 tractor over 5 years with a 20% balloon and no deposit. You can model the weekly, fortnightly or monthly repayment in seconds with our equipment finance calculator, then send us the details for a real, tailored figure. Estimates are a guide only — your actual repayment depends on the lender, the asset, your profile and the rate on the day.
Why farmers finance with Tradie Finance
We keep it fast, simple and light on paperwork, and we go looking for the best finance package for you across our panel of bank and non-bank lenders — not a one-size-fits-all rate. That means options for primary producers, seasonal structures, private-sale purchases and low-doc scenarios other lenders shy away from. One quick conversation and we’ll tell you where you stand.
Get moving
Apply online in minutes, or estimate your repayment with the equipment finance calculator. Prefer to talk it through? Call our team and we’ll sort the right structure for your season.
Farm equipment finance FAQs
Can I get farm equipment finance with a newer ABN or without full financials?
Often yes. Low-doc options are available for the right applicant — we look at the asset, your industry experience and the overall picture, not just two years of tax returns. Approval is subject to lending criteria.
Can I finance used farm machinery or a private-sale purchase?
Yes. Our panel funds quality used equipment and private-sale deals as well as dealer purchases, with the term generally matched to the remaining working life of the asset.
Can repayments be structured around harvest or seasonal income?
They can. Seasonal or annual repayment structures let you repay in line with when your income lands rather than in fixed monthly instalments — handy for cropping and harvest-driven enterprises.
Is farm equipment finance tax-deductible?
Generally the interest and depreciation on income-producing farm equipment are deductible, and GST-registered producers can often claim the GST up front on a chattel mortgage. Your accountant should confirm how the current rules apply to your business.
What term can I get?
Terms typically run 2–7 years depending on the asset and its age. A balloon at the end can lower your regular repayments if you’d prefer to keep cash flow free during the term.
Is agricultural equipment finance the same as farm equipment finance?
In practice, yes. Both describe a commercial facility used to fund income-producing farm or agricultural machinery, most often written as a chattel mortgage and assessed on your ABN and the asset. “Agricultural” and “ag” are simply the terms dealers, agribusinesses and contractors tend to use, while “farm” is the everyday phrasing. The structure, the lenders and the paperwork are the same.
Written and reviewed by the Finance Director at Tradie Finance.
This article is general information only and does not constitute credit or financial advice. Tradie Finance operates under Australian Credit Licence 506065 (Five Tees Pty Ltd). Lending is subject to approval, lending criteria, terms, conditions and fees. Any repayment figures are indicative examples for business lending, are not a quote, and are subject to change.