Get agribusiness finance advice and support to help you weather tough times.

Drought, frosts, financial instability, global conflict and cost-of-living pressures. It feels as if we’d only just recovered from the effects of the pandemic before Australian farmers and agribusiness were faced by a range of challenges – sometimes all at once. With experienced farmers and business owners calling it their most challenging season, it’s easy to see why so many people are struggling to stay positive.

Even if you have great friends and family and a supportive community to lean on, it’s hard when everyone is facing the same pressures.

You don’t need to get through this alone. There are many options for agribusiness finance support. As the broker in your corner, I’m here to help you and your farm or agribusiness survive, and even thrive, during the tough times.

Tailored finance solutions

When times are tough, you can’t just stick your head in the sand. Whether it’s through reduced production or declining prices, if your income has dropped, you may need to consider how this affects your repayments. Your financial institution doesn’t want to see you fail. There are alternative solutions, but it can be overwhelming to work out the right option.

That’s where I can help – renegotiating your existing financial arrangements, refinancing, or setting up a new arrangement to provide additional working capital to get you through a difficult period. Having a broker (like me) in your corner will remove some of the pressure and stress, helping you make the right decision to help your business or farm in the long- run.

Problem: Your income has declined significantly because of unfavourable weather. This makes it hard to make loan repayments, increasing stress and possibly straining your relationship with your lender.

Solution: Instead of letting financial stress build up, work with an agribusiness finance broker to explore tailored finance options. They can assess your current financial structure and explore alternatives, including:

• renegotiating loan terms to make repayments more manageable
• refinancing existing loans to reduce interest costs
• securing additional working capital to bridge the gap during tough periods.

Access to a wide range of lenders

Over the last few years, commentators and analysts have used the word unprecedented a lot. But we can’t ignore the fact we’re experiencing an unusually challenging time. It’s anything but business as usual, which means you need to consider new solutions.

If you have always banked with the same institution, exploring new options with new lenders might sound daunting. That’s where I can help. Having clients across Australia and across many industries means I have a broad range of connections and an understanding of the options they offer.

Problem: Perhaps your agribusiness has always relied on a single financial institution for all your lending needs. However, during an exceptionally challenging period, such as prolonged drought or market instability, you find they can’t provide the flexibility or support you need to ensure the stability of your operations. A lack of options can test your financial resilience and leave you feeling stuck.

Solution: Consider working with a broker with access to a broad network of lenders beyond your existing bank. By leveraging the broker’s industry connections and insights, you can explore alternative lenders who offer more flexible terms, specialised agribusiness loans or innovative financing solutions tailored to your current challenge. Finding a loan structure better suited to your needs is essential to navigate uncertain times.

Negotiating better terms

As I mentioned above, your financial institution doesn’t want to see you fail, but you do need to talk to them and see if you can negotiate better terms for your existing loans. If you don’t feel comfortable having these conversations, I can help. I’m happy to negotiate on your behalf to get a lower rate, extended repayment period or explore other options to help with your cash flow. While I’m doing that, you can get on with running your business.

Problem: Your cash flow is tight because of seasonal challenges or unexpected expenses, and you’re struggling with your current loan repayment schedule. But the thought of negotiating with your bank to secure more manageable repayments or a reduction in interest rates isn’t something you feel comfortable doing.

Solution: A broker can advocate on behalf of your business, using their expertise to negotiate lower interest rates, extended repayment periods or a temporary payment deferral. By having a broker handle these discussions, you can avoid the stress of negotiating and focus on running your business.

Helping manage cash flow

For many businesses, the last few years have featured an awful combination of rising costs, lower than usual production and declining sales. This means that even the best run businesses might have struggled with cash flow.

Having a broker to sit with you and review your budget versus actuals is a great place to start. We can work together to identify expenses that have gone over budget, the reasons and what strategies can be implemented to keep those expenses within your budget. We can identify areas where costs are increasing and discuss options (eg seek better terms and prices from suppliers including your lender).  

Problem: Your agribusiness might experience cash flow issues because of a combination of rising input costs and lower-than-expected production. Even with careful management, you’re struggling to align your income with outgoing expenses, leading to a strain on your financial stability.

Solution: Working with a broker, you can thoroughly review your budget against your actual expenses and income. By taking a strategic approach to cash flow management, you can better manage stability through difficult times, keeping operations on track while building resilience for future challenges.

Long-term planning and strategy

While the current economic challenges are hopefully short term, it’s important to consider the long-term implications of any financial support or loans. It might feel good to have solved your short-term cash flow crisis, but what impact will it have on the future health of your business?

That’s why it pays to work with a broker to source and negotiate finance. We can help you get the best rate and ensure that getting short-term support doesn’t become a long-term handbrake on your business success.

Problem: You’ve secured short-term financing to ease cash flow pressures. But you’re worried about long-term repercussions like higher cumulative interest costs or restrictive loan terms, which could limit future growth and financial stability.

Solution: By collaborating with a broker, you’ll ensure any short-term financial relief aligns with your long-term strategy. A broker will help secure finance with competitive rates and favourable terms, avoiding products that hinder cash flow or business flexibility. Your broker will also help you structure loans to avoid excessive debt. This ensures your current financial support is a stepping stone to future success rather than a long-term constraint. This strategic approach helps safeguard your agribusinesses financial health for the short and long term.

A friendly listening ear

Even if you have your finances in order and have accessed support, there will probably come a time when you need to vent. Unfortunately, sheep, wheat and vines aren’t great conversationalists, and when your family and friends are also under pressure, you probably want to avoid dumping your woes on them.

That’s where I come in. I’m always happy to chat and help you weigh up your options. Even if you’ve identified the best solution for your business, sometimes you just need a second opinion or some additional reassurance.

Why Work With Me at Purvis AgriFinance?

As part of Purvis AgriFinance, I specialise in agribusiness finance and understand the pressures that droughts and dry seasons can place on your operation. I’m committed to helping farmers like you find the right financial solutions, no matter how tough the season gets.

You’re not just another client to me – I’m here to offer personalised support, expert advice and access to a range of lenders to help you weather the storm. If you’re facing a dry season and need someone in your corner, I’m ready to help.

Over to you

Need some support during this challenging season? Get in touch to see how I can support your agribusiness through drought and dry seasons. Let’s work together to keep your farm moving forward, even when the weather isn’t on your side.

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