Turn your farming dream into reality

This feature about our smart unique way to borrow originally appeared on the front page of Farmers Guide (July 2024)

“I wonder, I wonder, what you would do if you had the power to dream at night any dream you wanted to dream…” 

You may have heard the start of this poem in a recent TV advert for a cruise line. The BBC also used it for a montage of England’s footballers during Euro 24.  

The speech, by 1960s beat philosopher Alan Watts, is about achieving things you never dreamed possible. 

And it could also apply to Britain’s farmers, as long as they get the right finance. 

We know that when it comes to adapting, changing, finding a way round a problem or simply dreaming up a solution for extra revenue, Britain’s farmers are among the most resourceful, innovative, inventive people there are.  

Yet too often their ideas have been stopped in their tracks because, when they’ve come to apply for finance, a bank’s ‘computer says no’. 

However, as our customers already know, there is a smart way of borrowing that can expand your farm into the business you want, with the money you need, at a fixed monthly cost you can afford, and while keeping your capital safe to deal with all those day-to-day running costs.  

We offer this alternative way of funding everything from a new vehicle or piece of machinery to a larger investment that opens up a whole new revenue stream.

“We are a non-bank lender and can therefore be flexible organising, facilitating and structuring the most suitable business loans in tandem with equipment financing facilities for each individual customer.  

“We also offer loans secured on land and buildings, often in combination with equipment finance, also on fixed-term, fixed-rate hire purchase or lease. If you own assets already, we can use them as security for new facilities, to fund new projects. 

“Our fixed-rate, fixed-term finance gives you the reassurance and certainty you’ll be paying exactly the same amount every month – whatever might happen with interest rates,” a company spokesperson said. 

Helping build entire farm-to-fork process 

This simple but effective type of finance has already opened up huge possibilities for our customers.  

They have bought vehicles including tractors, combines, balers, chasers, lorries.  

Rural Asset Finance has also funded buildings such as cattle sheds, chicken sheds, grain stores to name just a few.  

The company’s experts said: “Our finance has paid for machinery: milking machines, fermenters, crushers among many more.  

“We’ve helped farmers move on from simply producing food to building an entire farm-to-fork process, providing funding for bottling plants, packaging plants and entire dairies. 

“But some of our biggest successes have been in helping farmers to achieve those bigger dreams that they might previously have written off as impossible.  

“They came to us with an idea, and we’ve funded farm shops, glamping, holiday accommodation, fishing lakes, vineyards, micro-breweries and equestrian centres.  

“Many farmers have wanted to generate income from renewable energy – and we’ve provided solar panels, biogas plants, ground source heating, hydro and wind power technology to help them cut their energy bills and make money by selling the surplus to the national grid.” 

Years of agricultural experience 

The most exciting aspect for RAF is accompanying its customers on their journey, and watching their businesses grow.  

We don’t just provide the money, we sit down with them to understand exactly what makes their business tick and how we can help them achieve the dream they want.  

And to help do this quickly and efficiently, we even provide a one-stop shop of services that delivers everything we promise inhouse.

From fund management through credit and legal, Rural Asset Finance is a one-stop shop of professionals who have years of agricultural experience and know first-hand exactly what it’s like to run a farm business. 

And then we keep in touch, building long-term, friendly, face-to-face trusting relationships. Many of our clients we have worked with for decades, and it’s great to see them return time and time again for financial assistance they know they can trust,” the company added. 

Legacy for future generations 

Dreams can come true. We have helped transform livelihoods, and lives and been thrilled to see our customers’ businesses thrive, creating not just an income for now, but a legacy for their future generations.

Alan Watts’ speech says that if you did dream, you would eventually ‘become more and more adventurous’.  

That’s what many of our customers have done, and ended up where he finishes his poem. ‘Finally, you would dream where you are now,’ he says. ‘You would dream the dream of living the life that you are actually living today.’

Do you have a vision for your farming business? Do you have an idea – whether that is getting a new piece of equipment or an idea that will open up a whole new revenue stream or transform your whole business?  

At Rural Asset Finance we can help you make it come true.  

Call our expert team on 0345 0303 475, email enquiries@ruralassetfinance.com or visit the Rural Asset Finance website. 

How to turn your farm business dream into a reality