Quick answer
Horticulture growers borrow for netting, irrigation, packing sheds, cool storage, new plantings and seasonal labour before picking. Lenders look at harvest timing, who buys the produce and on what terms, land security and weather exposure. Because costs land months before income, property-secured facilities are common, while unsecured lines can cover short labour and input gaps.
Key points
- Growers carry most of a year's costs before harvest income arrives.
- Written horticulture produce agreements help lenders see how you'll be paid.
- Labour costs peak at picking time — lenders want a plan for them.
- Land usually anchors larger facilities.
- Common uses
- Netting, irrigation, sheds, labour
- Lenders focus on
- Harvest timing, buyers, land
- Property-secured
- $20k – $5m
- Unsecured options
- Typically $5k – $500k
Growing fruit, vegetables and nuts means funding a whole season on faith. Trees are pruned, crops planted, water paid for, netting maintained and pickers hired — all before a single box leaves the shed. Then the income arrives in a rush, often through agents and wholesalers who deduct their share and pay on their own schedule. Lenders who understand horticulture structure finance around that timeline.
What do horticulture growers usually borrow for?
- Netting and protected cropping. Hail and bird netting, tunnels and shade structures.
- Irrigation. Drip systems, pumps, filtration, dams and water.
- Packing sheds and cool storage. Grading lines, cool rooms and forklifts that let growers pack and store their own produce.
- Seasonal labour. Wages for pickers and packers before harvest income arrives.
- New plantings. Replacing old varieties or expanding orchards, knowing returns may be years away.
How do lenders look at a horticulture business?
Harvest timing. A lender wants to know exactly when income arrives. A berry grower might have several months of steady picking; a stone-fruit grower a few intense weeks; a nut grower one main harvest. Repayments should match.
Buyers and terms. Growers sell through agents, merchants, wholesalers, packhouses or direct to retailers. The ACCC’s Horticulture Code of Conduct requires a written, code-compliant agreement before trading starts and regular statements from traders. Those agreements and statements are exactly what a lender wants to see.
Labour. Seasonal workers are covered by the Horticulture Award, which applies to crop cultivation, harvesting and packing. Lenders look at how labour is sourced — directly or through labour hire — and whether costs are realistic.
Land and water. Orchard and farm land usually anchors larger facilities, and water entitlements can add value.
Weather. Hail, frost, heat and flood can cut a crop in minutes. Netting, insurance and a record of recovering from bad seasons all help.
If harvest is coming and the costs are arriving first, check what your growing business could access — no credit check to enquire.
Documents to prepare
| Document | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Business bank statements (a full season) | Shows cost and income timing |
| Horticulture produce agreements | How and when you’re paid |
| Agent or buyer statements | Actual sales history |
| Land titles | Identifies the security |
| Labour and harvest plan | Shows costs are planned |
Red flags for grower loans
- Income concentrated in a few weeks with no plan for the rest of the year.
- Buyer payment delays or disputes.
- Crop loss from weather without insurance or netting.
- Unclear labour hire arrangements.
- Existing debt already heavy against the land.
What lenders ask growers
- What do you grow, on how many hectares, and when is it picked?
- Who buys it, and how quickly do they pay?
- What did the last three seasons return?
- How is labour sourced, and what will it cost this year?
- What’s protected by netting or insurance?
Making a grower’s application stronger
Growers who get the quickest answers usually bring four things. First, a copy of each horticulture produce agreement and the last season’s trader statements, which together show exactly how the crop turns into cash. Second, a harvest calendar for the coming season with expected volumes. Third, a labour plan: how many pickers and packers, for how long, and whether they’re employed directly or through a labour hire provider. Fourth, clear details of the land and any existing mortgage.
If you’ve invested in netting, frost fans or irrigation upgrades, mention them. Anything that lowers the chance of a lost crop lowers a lender’s risk too. And if a bad season is part of your history, explain what changed afterwards — a lender is more interested in the response than the event.
Illustrative scenarios
Illustrative: netting and pickers. A berry grower needs $150k for new netting and early-season picking wages. The farm has a small bank loan. A second mortgage over the land funds both, repaid from harvest income over the following months.
Illustrative: packing their own. A citrus grower wants $95k for a small grading line and cool room so they can pack and store fruit themselves, capturing more margin. Consistent income over several seasons and property security make the project workable.
When should growers start the conversation?
Two to three months before the money is needed is a comfortable lead time for property-secured facilities. For picking wages, that means talking to a lender while the fruit is still setting, not when the first pickers arrive. Netting and infrastructure projects are best funded in the off-season, when contractors are available and installation won’t disrupt the crop. Early conversations also let you line up repayments with your harvest calendar instead of squeezing them into it.
Secured or unsecured for a grower?
Capital works such as netting, sheds and irrigation usually suit property-secured lending from $20k to $5m. Short labour and input gaps can be covered by unsecured options of $5k to $500k, sized on turnover and bank statements. Broadacre and livestock farmers should read the farm guide, and grape growers the winery guide.
Could your growing business qualify?
The quickest way to find out is a short enquiry. It takes about a minute, there’s no credit check when you first enquire, and it isn’t sprayed out to a crowd of lenders. A real person who understands harvest timing will call you back. Please fill it in carefully — turnover, the amount, the land involved and when you’re paid all shape the options.
Frequently asked questions
Can a grower borrow to pay pickers before harvest?
Yes. Lenders look at last season's harvest income, this season's crop outlook and buyer arrangements. A line of credit or short-term facility repaid from harvest proceeds is a common structure.
Do lenders need to see my agreements with agents or wholesalers?
It helps. Under the Horticulture Code, a written, code-compliant agreement must be in place before trading between growers and traders. Those agreements show a lender how and when you'll be paid.
Can I finance netting or protective cropping?
Yes. Netting and protected cropping reduce weather and pest losses, which lenders see as lowering risk. Larger projects usually use property security.
What if hail or frost damaged my crop?
Tell us early. Lenders want to know the effect on this season's income, any insurance claim and the plan for next season.