Harvest season does not give you a window to wait on equipment. A grain elevator short on forklift capacity in October is not a scheduling problem, it is a throughput problem that costs the co-op and the farmers who are trying to move grain before prices move against them. The equipment on the elevator floor has to be ready before the combines roll, and if it is not, the conversation about why happens after the season and it is a bad conversation to have.
We financeforkliftsand material handling equipment for grain elevators, agricultural co-operatives, farm supply dealers, seed companies, and commercial farming operations. The minimum transaction is $50,000. Fleet deals for grain and ag operations range from individual units at $75,000 to elevator fleet packages at $300,000 and beyond. New or used, explosion-proof configurations included, B/C credit considered, and completed forklift packages usually fund inside seven to fourteen days. Seasonal payment structures are available through select lenders for operations with defined slow seasons.
Ag Operations and Equipment That Finance Here
Grain elevators and co-ops handle two peak periods per year, fall harvest and spring planting season supply, with varying activity in between. The forklift equipment at an elevator handles bagged fertilizer, seed pallets, chemical containers, and specialty grain bags in the supply side, and manages sample collection, product handling, and loading operations on the grain-out side. These are real-duty operations, not light-demand facilities, and the equipment spec matters.
Grain dust creates a classified hazardous environment in enclosed elevator structures under certain conditions. Forklifts operating inside grain handling buildings where dust can accumulate to explosive concentrations need to meet National Fire Protection Association standards for classified location equipment.Explosion-proof forkliftscarry significantly higher per-unit costs than standard units, but they are the right spec for the environment and they finance under the same terms. We do not charge a premium or apply a different process for classified-environment equipment.
Farm supply dealers carry fertilizer, pesticides, seeds, and hardware products that require significant material handling. A rural farm supply with a 20,000-square-foot warehouse and a busy spring season may run two to three counterbalanced forklifts continuously during planting-season rushes. Financing a fleet refresh before the peak, rather than running aging equipment through the highest-demand period, is the operationally rational choice.
LPG propane forkliftsare common in outdoor or semi-enclosed agricultural settings where electric charging infrastructure is not practical. A co-op running a remote elevator location with limited electrical service may spec LPG units for the outdoor product moves and limit electrics to the main facility. We fund both configurations and do not restrict by fuel type.
Seasonal Payment Structures for Ag Operations
Agricultural businesses have revenue patterns that do not match a standard monthly payment schedule well. A grain elevator may collect the bulk of its handling revenue in September through November, with spring activity and relatively low winter revenue in between. Requiring an equal monthly payment in January that matches the October payment is a cash-flow mismatch that an ag-focused lender does not need to create.
Select lenders in our network offer seasonal or deferred payment structures for agricultural equipment deals. A structure with lower or deferred payments in the off-season months and higher payments aligned with the fall or spring revenue peaks fits the cash flow pattern of the business. Not every deal qualifies for this, and not every lender in our network offers seasonal structures, but we know which ones do and we match accordingly.
Adeferred-start payment structureis also available in some cases, which allows an operation purchasing equipment before the season to have a payment that starts after the first harvest revenue is in. This is most useful for an elevator upgrading equipment in August that will generate its first significant revenue in late September. The first payment deferred two to three months aligns the cost with the income that covers it.
Capital from Equipment You Already Own
Co-ops and grain elevators that have been in operation for decades often own significant equipment outright, accumulated over years of purchasing decisions made with operating cash. That owned equipment is dormant equity. Asale-leasebackconverts that equity to working capital without moving or interrupting the equipment. We buy the equipment from you at current market value, lease it back on agreed terms, and you receive cash. The deal closes in about two weeks for transactions that clear our documentation process cleanly.
Farm operations usingtelehandlersfor hay handling, commodity loading, and material moves around a farm operation can also use this structure if the units have sufficient market value. A well-maintained farm telehandler with clear title can be a sale-leaseback candidate, and the capital released can fund a piece of planting or harvest equipment in the same season.
Agriculture and Grain Financing Questions
Fund Your Ag Operation Before the Season
Tell us the equipment type, the operating environment, and any seasonal cash flow considerations. We will have a quote back to you the same day in most cases. Ag and grain operations with chemical or fertilizer handling requirements also overlap withfood and beverage productionin terms of the spec and compliance requirements. The equipment has to be ready before the season, and the financing should close before that deadline.