Business loans
Agri working capital for farm and agri-food companies
Short-term finance for agri-food limited companies to pay for inputs, stock and seasonal costs before milk, crop, livestock or grant income arrives.
- How long
- Months, matched to the season
- Depends on the lender and the deal
- How fast
- Around 1 to 2 weeks
- Typical; never guaranteed
- Our fee
- €0 to you
- The lender pays us commission
Quick eligibility check
Seasonal costs or a TAMS 3 gap? Tell us what your company needs
Step 1 of 3 · about 60 seconds
About 60 seconds · no credit search · not recorded on the Central Credit Register
Prefer to talk? +353 1 536 9910- How long
- Months, matched to the season
- Depends on the lender and the deal
- How fast
- Around 1 to 2 weeks
- Typical; never guaranteed
- Our fee
- €0 to you
- The lender pays us commission
- Irish limited companies
- Several lenders, one request
- No fees for your company
- No obligation
At a glance
Agri working capital and seasonal finance at a glance
around 1 to 2 weeks
- Irish limited companies
- Often 12+ months trading
- Depends on the lender
- 1
Tell us what you need
Three taps: purpose, amount, business type. About 60 seconds, no credit search and not recorded on the Central Credit Register.
- 2
We match you to lenders
We check your profile against lender criteria and approach only those likely to consider it. One request, only to lenders likely to consider it.
- 3
Compare any offers
See the rate, fees, security and any personal guarantee side by side before you decide anything.
Lenders we work with
We are a broker, not a lender. Lender names and logos are trademarks of their owners and are shown with permission. Their inclusion does not mean the lender endorses Welcome Finance. Finance is subject to each lender’s own approval, which is not guaranteed.
About agri working capital and seasonal finance
Farming and food businesses pay out long before they get paid. Feed, fertiliser and seed are bought months ahead of milk, crop or livestock income, cattle are bought in before they are finished, and processors and merchants carry stock while customers pay on credit. Agri working capital finance bridges that seasonal gap. For limited companies, including farm companies, agri contractors, food processors, agri merchants and horticulture companies, our panel may be able to help with working capital loans, short-term business loans, stock finance and supplier-payment finance. The lender makes every decision, each lender sets its own rules on sector and use of funds, and nothing is guaranteed. Buying farmland or farm buildings in the company's name, or borrowing against them, is property finance, which Welcome Finance does not arrange. We never help with anything secured on a farmhouse or any home someone lives in. For more detail, see our guide to finance for farm companies.
A common need is covering the cost of TAMS 3 work until the grant arrives. The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine's 2026 scheme terms say an application may be made in the name of a company, by its directors, but the Department pays only after the work is finished: one payment claim per approval, with no part payments. Building or installation work cannot start until written approval is issued, and works must be completed and claimed within 12 months of approval, with an extension of up to six months possible in some cases. The applicant must have fully paid for the work from its own bank account before claiming, and the scheme terms say third-party financing of the work by lease or hire purchase is not allowed. So if your company borrows to cover TAMS 3 costs, the safest structure is a loan paid into the company's account, with the company paying the supplier itself. Check with the Department or your farm adviser before you commit. See our agri-food sector page for machinery and longer-term options.
What it’s used for
- Feed, fertiliser and seed bought ahead of income
- Wages, fuel and contractor bills in the busy season
- Covering TAMS 3 works until the grant is paid
- Packaging, ingredients and seasonal stock
Who it’s for
- Farm companies in dairy, beef, tillage, pigs and poultry
- Agri contractors
- Food processors and agri merchants
- Horticulture companies
No credit search · not recorded on the Central Credit Register · about 60 seconds
Agri working capital and seasonal finance calculator
Cash tied up in your trading cycle
€328,767
- Owed by customers
- €328,767
- Held in stock
- €98,630
- Less: owed to suppliers
- −€98,630
- Cash conversion cycle
- 60 days
This is roughly the cash your company needs to keep trading at this size. Invoice finance, stock finance or a working capital facility can fund some or all of it.
Check eligibility for working capitalIllustrative only. Actual rates, fees and terms depend on your circumstances and the lender. This is not an offer of finance.
How agri working capital and seasonal finance works
- 1
Tell us the need
The amount, what it is for and when income or the grant is due.
- 2
Honest panel check
We tell you whether a panel lender may help, or where to go instead.
- 3
Lender assesses
Accounts, bank statements and, for TAMS 3 bridging, the approval letter.
- 4
Repay from income
Repay from milk, crop or livestock sales, or from the grant once paid.
Types of agri working capital and seasonal finance
Working capital loan
A fixed sum repaid over months, for inputs and running costs.
Short-term loan
Bridges a known gap, such as the wait for a TAMS 3 payment.
Supplier-payment finance
A funder pays your supplier and your company repays later. It suits merchants, processors and distributors buying goods they sell on, not inputs used on the farm or TAMS 3 items.
Stock finance
For merchants and processors buying goods to resell.
Typical eligibility
Every lender sets its own criteria. These are common starting points. We’ll tell you which lenders are likely to consider your business.
- Irish limited company (LTD, DAC, PLC or ULC) with a trading history
- Filed accounts and business bank statements in the company's name
- For TAMS 3 bridging: the company is the approved applicant
- Sole traders, partnerships and co-operative societies cannot apply through us
What you’ll usually need
- Latest filed accounts and management accounts
- 6 months of business bank statements
- TAMS 3 approval letter and supplier quotes, where relevant
- Input or supplier invoices
- Director ID and proof of address
Advantages
- Pays for inputs before income arrives
- Can cover TAMS 3 works until the grant is paid
- Unsecured options, with no land or farmhouse security
Things to consider
- Non-bank short-term finance usually costs more than bank farm loans
- Fixed repayments may not match your seasons
- A director's personal guarantee is common
Rates, fees and costs
Costs depend on the lender, the amount, the term and your company's accounts. Non-bank working capital and short-term loans usually cost more than secured bank lending, so compare the total repayable in euro, not just the monthly figure. If you are covering TAMS 3 works, remember the grant pays only a share of eligible costs, for example 40% under the Tillage Capital Investment Scheme terms, so plan to repay the rest from trading.
We are paid commission by the lender when finance completes. We do not charge your company a fee and never ask for payment upfront.
Example (for illustration only): a company borrows €60,000 over 9 months in spring for feed, fertiliser and seed. If a lender’s offer showed a total repayable of €64,500, the repayments would be 9 monthly payments of about €7,167. The real cost depends on the lender’s offer, and finance is subject to status and lender approval.
If a TAMS 3 grant is reduced, delayed or refused, for example because work started before approval or the claim was late, your company still has to repay the loan in full. Test repayments against a poor season, not your best one.
Finance is subject to status and the lender’s approval. Welcome Finance is a commercial finance broker, not a lender. We arrange finance for limited companies for business purposes only; this is not regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland.
Compare agri working capital and seasonal finance with alternatives
Not sure this is the right fit? Here’s how it compares with the options businesses most often weigh it against.
Agri working capital and seasonal finance
This page- Amount
- Varies
- Term
- Months, matched to the season
- Typical speed
- Some lenders decide within days; not guaranteed
- Security
- Depends on the lender
- Typical min. trading
- 12 months
- Amount
- €5k to €1m
- Term
- 3 to 36 months
- Typical speed
- Usually within days; not guaranteed
- Security
- Depends on the lender
- Typical min. trading
- 12 months
- Amount
- Varies
- Term
- Up to about 7 years or the asset’s life
- Typical speed
- Usually within days; not guaranteed
- Security
- The asset
- Typical min. trading
- 12 months
- Amount
- Varies
- Term
- Usually 1 to 5 months per purchase
- Typical speed
- Usually 1 to 3 weeks to set up
- Security
- Stock / orders
- Typical min. trading
- 12 months
| Detail | This page Agri working capital and seasonal finance | Working capital finance | Plant and machinery finance | Stock finance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amount | Varies | €5k to €1m | Varies | Varies |
| Term | Months, matched to the season | 3 to 36 months | Up to about 7 years or the asset’s life | Usually 1 to 5 months per purchase |
| Typical speed | Some lenders decide within days; not guaranteed | Usually within days; not guaranteed | Usually within days; not guaranteed | Usually 1 to 3 weeks to set up |
| Security | Depends on the lender | Depends on the lender | The asset | Stock / orders |
| Typical min. trading | 12 months | 12 months | 12 months | 12 months |
How we work
Agri working capital and seasonal finance: frequently asked questions
Can my farm company get working capital finance?
Yes, if it is a limited company with a bank account in its own name; most lenders also look for some trading history and accounts. Our panel may be able to help farm companies, agri contractors, processors, merchants and horticulture companies with working capital, short-term, stock and supplier-payment finance. Each lender makes its own decision and nothing is guaranteed. We never help with anything secured on a farmhouse.
Can my company borrow to cover TAMS 3 costs before the grant is paid?
Possibly. TAMS 3 pays only after the work is finished and fully paid for, so many applicants need cash for the full cost first. A working capital or short-term loan paid into your company's account can bridge that gap, with the company paying the supplier itself. Your company must repay the loan even if the grant is reduced or refused, so check the scheme rules first.
When is a TAMS 3 grant paid?
After the work is complete and your company lodges its payment claim. Only one claim is allowed per approval and part payments are not made. Works must be finished and claimed within 12 months of approval, or an earlier date in the approval letter, with an extension of up to six months possible. Late claims lose 1% of aid per week, and claims over 14 weeks late are rejected.
Can supplier finance or hire purchase be used for TAMS 3 items?
Not safely. The TAMS 3 terms say the applicant must have fully paid for the items from its own bank account, and that third-party financing of the items by lease or hire purchase is not allowed. Finance that pays the supplier directly could put the grant at risk. If you borrow, use a loan paid to your company, and confirm with the Department or your adviser first.
Can my company finance livestock purchases?
Lenders decide what they will fund. Livestock is usually bought with a bank farm loan, an overdraft or a specialist agri loan: Finance Ireland's MilkFlex loan for dairy suppliers, for example, lists dairy livestock purchases among its uses. Tell us what your company needs and we'll tell you honestly whether our panel can help, or where to look instead.
I farm as a sole trader or partnership. Where can I go?
We're sorry we can't help directly, as we only work with limited companies. Your own bank is the first stop: Bank of Ireland, for example, offers farm loans from €1,000 to €500,000. Microfinance Ireland offers an Agri Loan of €2,000 to €50,000 for businesses that struggle to get bank finance, and the SBCI Growth and Sustainability Loan Scheme is open to farmers through participating lenders.
Can a co-op apply through Welcome Finance?
No. Co-operative societies cannot apply through us, as we only arrange finance for limited companies (LTD, DAC, PLC or ULC). A co-op's own bank is usually the right place to start. Many farmers also deal with their co-op for input credit or co-op linked lending; ask the co-op what it offers and compare the total cost with a bank loan.
Can you help my company buy land or borrow against the farm?
No. Buying farmland or farm buildings in the company's name, or borrowing against land the company owns, is property finance, which Welcome Finance does not arrange. Banks lend for this: PTSB, for example, may consider up to 20 years for agricultural land. We never help with anything secured on a farmhouse or a home, or with a loan to a farmer personally.
Is SBCI funding available for agri working capital?
Not under the Growth and Sustainability Loan Scheme, which can only be used for longer-term projects and cannot refinance existing debt. It is open to farmers, fishers and foresters for long-term projects, with loans of €25,000 to €3 million through participating lenders. Welcome Finance does not arrange SBCI loans. For seasonal working capital, a bank overdraft, a farm loan or a non-bank working capital loan are the usual routes.
Check in 60 seconds
Seasonal costs or a TAMS 3 gap? Tell us what your company needs
For agri-food limited companies only. Our panel may help with working capital, short-term, stock and supplier-payment finance. We never help with anything secured on a farmhouse.
- No credit search, not recorded on the Central Credit Register
- One request, several lenders: we’re a broker, not a lender
- For limited companies registered in Ireland
- No fees for your company: we’re paid commission by the lender
Step 1 of 3 · about 60 seconds
Sources: TAMS 3 Tillage Capital Investment Scheme, Terms and Conditions (7 March 2026), Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (checked 23 Oct 2026); Minister Heydon confirms all eligible farm safety applications will be approved under latest Targeted Agriculture Modernisation Schemes (25 May 2026), Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (checked 23 Oct 2026); Agri Loan, Microfinance Ireland (checked 23 Oct 2026); Growth and Sustainability Loan Scheme, SBCI (checked 23 Oct 2026); Business Loans and Finance, Bank of Ireland (checked 23 Oct 2026); Supplier invoice financing for Irish companies, Treyd (checked 23 Oct 2026); MilkFlex Loan Information Booklet (September 2025), Finance Ireland (checked 23 Oct 2026); Business Mortgage Loan, PTSB (checked 23 Oct 2026).