Air Seeder Finance: Rates & How It Works

Key highlights

• Chattel mortgage gives ownership with the air seeder as security
• Indicative rates from around 6.55% p.a., subject to your profile
• Seasonal repayments can align with harvest income
• Bar and cart can often be financed as one package
• One application compared across 80+ lenders finds the best fit

How does air seeder finance work?

Air seeder finance is a commercial loan secured against the machine. The lender pays the supplier, you take delivery and repay in regular instalments over an agreed term, funding those repayments from your farm income. Because the air seeder provides security, rates are generally sharper than unsecured borrowing. Most growers use a chattel mortgage, owning the machine from day one while the lender holds an interest until the loan clears. Given air seeders are substantial assets, lenders assess both your farm and the unit, but for eligible applicants the process is well established and many lenders understand the seasonal nature of a cropping business.

What drives your air seeder rate?

Your indicative rate reflects several inputs. Farm strength leads: ABN age, turnover, credit history and existing commitments all count, as does your deposit. The machine matters too, since a newer air seeder from a recognised brand with a healthy resale market is lower risk than an older or unusual configuration. Loan size and term also feed in, and because an air seeder is a sizeable borrow, small rate differences add up over the term. Overdrive compares 80+ banks and non-bank lenders to surface the sharpest fit for your profile. Rates are indicative from around 6.55% p.a. and always subject to assessment.

Can you finance the bar and cart together?

Usually, yes. An air seeder system typically pairs a seeding bar with an air cart, and lenders will generally finance both as one working asset when they're bought together. This keeps your paperwork simple and spreads the cost across a single term. If you're upgrading only the bar or only the cart, standalone finance may still be possible, though a matched package is often cleaner. Bundling can also help your position, since the combined system carries more security value than either component alone. A broker can confirm how each lender treats the bar-and-cart combination and structure the facility to suit your setup.

Can repayments align with your season?

Often, yes. Cropping income arrives around harvest, so many lenders offer structured or seasonal repayments that let you pay more when the money comes in and less through the leaner months. Annual or semi-annual repayments timed to your income can ease pressure considerably compared with rigid monthly instalments, which matters when a big seeding investment lands before you've sold a crop. Not every lender offers this, which is another reason comparing a broad panel helps. A broker can find lenders willing to structure repayments around your cropping calendar, so the finance works with your cash flow. Raise your seasonal pattern early so the structure suits.

Which structure suits your farm?

The main options are a chattel mortgage and a finance lease or rental. A chattel mortgage suits growers who want the air seeder on their balance sheet and value outright ownership at the end, with the option of a balloon to lower monthly repayments. A lease keeps the machine off the balance sheet and can suit those who upgrade regularly, though ownership isn't automatic. Because tax and GST treatment differs by structure and air seeders are significant purchases, it's genuinely worth checking with your accountant. Your cash flow and how long you'll keep the machine should also guide the choice before you commit.

New versus used air seeders

Both new and used air seeders are financeable, but age influences terms. New machines attract the longest terms and sharpest rates because their value and reliability are predictable, and seeding and metering technology is current. Quality used units remain very financeable, especially from major brands, though lenders may shorten the term to keep the machine's end-of-loan age within policy and will look at condition, tyne wear and metering systems. A well-maintained second-hand air seeder can be a sensible way to access capacity at a lower entry price. A clear invoice, service history and, where needed, a valuation help a lender assess a used unit.

Ready to see indicative numbers on an air seeder? Overdrive Machinery Finance compares one application across 80+ banks and non-bank lenders using a soft credit check that won't mark your file. For eligible applicants, decisions often land within 24 to 48 hours, so you can be set up before seeding. Contact Simon Kendrick for an obligation-free quote and clear, plain-English guidance on the rate, term and seasonal structure that suit your cropping operation.