Agriculture Finance

Our agriculture division provides agriculture finance and business loans to a range of businesses across the UK.

Agriculture finance for agriculture businesses

Farming and agri-businesses operate in one of the UK's most capital-intensive sectors, with significant investment required in machinery, equipment, land, and infrastructure.

MAF Finance Group works with agricultural businesses of all sizes to arrange funding solutions tailored to the demands of rural and farming operations  from hire purchase and finance leases for new or used machinery, to agricultural loans, asset refinance, and development finance for longer-term projects.

With access to a whole-of-market lender panel and dedicated agricultural finance expertise, we source competitive terms for straightforward and complex cases alike, managing the process from initial enquiry through to drawdown.

Dedicated team of Agriculture Finance Experts

Our specialist agriculture finance team is led by Stuart Buchan who has over 28 years of experience in the finance industry and over 16 years within agriculture finance.  Stuart has headed up our agriculture team for the past 6 years since joining BTG , he previously worked for Lombard.

The agriculture team can help with any financial needs that a range of businesses might have. This includes a wide variety of agriculture assets, from cultivators, tractors, and combine harvesters to livestock, robotic milking machines and crop sprayers. 

Finance tailored to you

Get the most competitive quotes from our extensive panel of lenders

What is Agricultural Finance?

Agriculture finance comes in multiple different formats. Whether it’s an unsecured loan for a farm or getting finance to purchase dairy herds or combine harvesters.

Our specialist agriculture team will be able to help with any financial requirements you may have.

We can arrange finance for a wide range of agricultural assets, from cultivators, tractors and combine harvesters to livestock, robotic milking machines and crop sprayers, and we’ll guide you through every part of the agriculture finance process.

As well as arranging funding for the purchase of new and used agricultural equipment, we can also look at alternative options like restructuring existing finance agreements or providing flexible seasonal payment options.

With the government’s target of being carbon net zero by 2050, we are also keen on working with businesses who are looking to utilise renewable energy.

Some of the agriculture equipment we can finance

We offer a range of agriculture finance solutions, including:

Combine Harvester Finance – Combine harvesters are vital for efficiently harvesting a variety of grain crops and there are many types of available.

Dairy Herd Finance – You may want to replace some of your existing cows or expand your herd.

Tractor Finance – Tractors are the lifeblood of any farm and are vital to the success of a lot of agricultural businesses. With no age limitation, any tractors or other machinery that you’re looking at purchasing can be new or used and supplied by either a specialist dealer or bought privately.

Harvester Finance – A wheeled harvester can provide an efficient and safe way to improve productivity when tree harvesting in any forest condition.

Woodchipper Finance – A shredder or woodchipper is an ideal way to dispose of branches and forestry and gives you the opportunity to turn wood into chippings that can be easily transported, composted or burned as fuel.

Agriculture Equipment Finance – Whether it’s a crop sprayer, hedge cutter or milking robot, agriculture equipment finance covers all the equipment you might need to expand your business.

Farmland Finance - With acreage and property opportunities often coming up in the world of agriculture, ensuring that finance is secured quickly is key in purchasing the farmland you need.

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10,000+ Companies Helped
Supporting businesses of all sizes with whole of market financial access.

How does agriculture finance work?

We work with you and the lender of choice to determine the required loan amount, with the lender specifying the terms and conditions. Following your acceptance of the terms and conditions, you will get the full amount and typically make monthly repayments with interest for the specified period of time.

Why may you require agricultural finance?

  • Adaptation to regulations
  • Climate change
  • Consumer preferences
  • Expansion of production (including land purchase)
  • Higher market share
  • Improve economies of scale
  • Increase competitiveness
  • Modernising farm and machinery to increase efficiency
  • Reduce costs

How long does it take to secure agriculture finance?

Agricultural finance often varies and depends on the business and type of finance required. It might take a few weeks or may require several months of planning. Applicants for agriculture finance should have all their accounts in order and available for inspection, just like with any other type of business funding. Bank statements, the last three to five years’ worth of certified accounts, business plans, and specifics on assets and liabilities can all be required.

Secured borrowing, which necessitates the value of the collateral prior to terms being agreed upon, will take longer to obtain than unsecured finance.

It can take a long time to approve loans to establish a farm. A new farmer needs a strong business plan, cost and revenue estimates, and an excellent credit history both personally and in any prior businesses if they have no prior experience. Established farmers looking to mortgage existing property or buy new land might receive a response more quickly, but they should still anticipate a few weeks.

Through out this process the our agriculture team will help and guide you through the process, co-ordinate between you and the lender and make the application as streamlined and efficient as possible.

Applying for agriculture finance

We works with a wide panel of banks and alternative finance providers to deliver the most competitive and flexible solution for you.

If you would like to get a quote or need further information, simply fill in the form and we will contact you. If you want to speak to someone directly, you can call us on 0115 958 6872 and a member of our team will be happy to speak to you. Alternatively, email us at [email protected]

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Agriculture Finance FAQs

How does agriculture finance work?

We work with you and a lender to determine the required loan amount, with the lender specifying the terms and conditions. Following acceptance of the terms, you receive the full amount and typically make monthly repayments with interest over the agreed period. We also offer alternative structures such as seasonal payment options and asset refinancing for existing finance agreements.

What is agriculture finance?

Agriculture finance comes in multiple different formats, from unsecured loans for farms to hire purchase agreements for machinery, livestock finance, and land purchase funding. Our specialist agriculture team can help arrange finance for a wide range of agricultural assets, including cultivators, tractors, combine harvesters, livestock, robotic milking machines and crop sprayers.

What documents do I need to apply for agriculture finance?

Applicants for agriculture finance should have all their accounts in order and available for inspection. Common documents required include bank statements, the last three to five years of certified accounts, a business plan, and specifics on assets and liabilities.

What can agriculture finance be used for?

Agriculture finance can be used for a wide range of purposes, including purchasing new or used machinery and equipment, buying livestock such as dairy herds, acquiring farmland, adapting to regulations, expanding production, modernising farm operations to increase efficiency, reducing costs, improving economies of scale, and investing in renewable energy solutions.

Can existing agricultural finance agreements be restructured?

Yes, restructuring existing arrangements is something we regularly help with, whether that's to improve cash flow, release capital tied up in owned equipment, or bring multiple agreements together. We'll review your current position and identify whether a restructure could work in your favour.

Can seasonal income be factored into my repayment structure for agriculture finance?

Agricultural income rarely arrives evenly across the year, and many lenders on our panel understand this. Where appropriate, repayment schedules can be arranged to reflect the seasonal nature of farming income, helping to ease pressure during quieter periods without compromising the overall agreement.

How long does it take to arrange agricultural finance?

Timescales vary depending on the type of finance and the complexity of the case. Straightforward equipment finance can often be arranged relatively quickly, while secured lending or farmland purchases may take longer due to the additional checks involved. Having your paperwork ready from the outset will help keep things moving as efficiently as possible.

Is agricultural finance only available to established farming businesses?

Not necessarily. While an established trading history and strong accounts can make the process more straightforward, new entrants to farming can still access finance, particularly where a solid business plan and good personal credit history are in place. Our team will talk you through what a lender is likely to expect based on your situation.

What information will I need to provide for an agriculture finance application?

Lenders will typically want to see recent accounts, bank statements, and details of the assets or land involved. For new farming ventures, a clear business plan with realistic cost and revenue projections is also important. Our team will guide you through exactly what's needed for your specific application before it goes to a lender.

What types of agricultural equipment can BTG help finance?

Our agriculture finance team can arrange funding across the full range of farm machinery and equipment, from tractors and combine harvesters to livestock, robotic milking systems, and crop sprayers. Whatever your operation relies on day to day, we'll work with you to structure a solution that fits both the asset and your business.

Can I get finance to purchase farmland?

Yes, land acquisition is one of the areas our agriculture team regularly supports. Farmland purchases often move quickly once they come to market, so having finance arranged in good time can make a real difference to whether a deal goes ahead. We'll help you understand what's achievable based on your circumstances and the land in question.

Do you offer finance for renewable energy projects on farms?

We do. With many agricultural businesses looking at ways to reduce costs and work towards net zero targets, we can help arrange funding for renewable energy investments such as solar installations. Get in touch to discuss what you have in mind and we'll explore the options available.

What types of agricultural equipment can you arrange finance for?

We can arrange finance for a wide variety of agricultural assets, including tractors, combine harvesters, crop sprayers, hedge cutters, dairy herds, robotic milking machines, harvesters, woodchippers, stump grinders, and loaders. Finance is available for both new and used equipment, whether supplied by a specialist dealer or purchased privately.

Why choose us for agriculture finance?

We have a dedicated specialist agriculture finance team led by Stuart Buchan, who has over 28 years of experience in the finance industry and more than 16 years specifically within agriculture finance. With access to a whole-of-market lender panel including banks and alternative finance providers, we source competitive terms for both straightforward and complex cases, managing the entire process from initial enquiry through to drawdown.

Agriculture Case Studies

Case Study 21 Main
Funding a £120K solar panel project
We arrange funding for the purchase of a ground mounted solar panels. A third generation dairy farm with 500 cows needs to reduce...
Read more
Ground Source Heat pump
Funding a £150K ground source heat project
A farming business with 2,500 acres contacted us to help with their plans to invest in a ground source heat project..
Read more
Carrot Picker
Funding a new crop sprayer and carrot picker
A Yorkshire-based vegetable farmer contacted us to arrange finance for a new carrot picker and crop sprayer for their business.
Read more
Other Products We Offer

Agriculture products in our extensive range
of Financial Solutions

Combine Harvester Finance

We can arrange farming finance and funding for your combine harvester. Whether it’s a controlled or self-propelled harvester, our team will be able to help.

Dairy Herd Finance

We can arrange farming finance and funding for your dairy cows. Whether it’s to replace your existing herd or expand, our team are here to help.

Harvester Finance

We can arrange farming finance and funding for your harvester. Whether it’s a wheeled harvester, logging machine or other forestry equipment, our team are here to help.

Woodchipper Finance

We can arrange farming finance and funding for woodchippers. Whether it’s a woodchipper, stump grinder or a loader, our team are here to help.

Tractor Finance

We can arrange farming finance and funding for tractors. Whether you want to buy a used or new one, our team are here to help.

Farmland Finance

We can arrange finance and funding for the purchase of farmland. Whether it’s the buying of land or construction, our team are here to help.

MAF x BTG logos
MAF are now BTG

Our name may have changed, but we are still the same people you know and trust. With the same expertise at our core, we can now offer a broader range of services to complement our funding expertise.

Click on the link below or contact your existing MAF contact.

Learn More on BTG