£1.5bn
total income from farming in 2025, the highest on record on initial estimates
Agriculture and forestry
Agricultural and Forestry Equipment Finance in Scotland
Hire purchase and leasing for tractors, harvesters, forestry machinery, grading and handling equipment and biomass systems, arranged around the farming year.
- Broker since 1997
- 575+ lenders
- Led from Dundee
Scottish farming at a glance
£4.1bn
total farming costs in 2025, which is why machinery decisions need careful planning
48,000
agricultural holdings, run by around 17,000 farm businesses
Source: Scottish Parliament research briefing on agriculture, 2025 June Agricultural Census
£2.5bn
gross value added by agriculture in 2025
A strong year, but costs still matter
Scottish farm incomes reached a record in 2025 on initial estimates, helped by high prices. Costs remain high, results vary widely between sectors and years, and without support payments total income is lower, at around £0.9 billion. That makes it important to match machinery finance to the cash flow of your farm.
What we can help finance
Tractors and telehandlers
New and used tractors, loaders and telehandlers for arable, livestock and mixed farms.
Combines and harvesting equipment
Combine harvesters, balers, forage harvesters and associated equipment.
Grading, sorting and handling
Automated fruit and vegetable sorting, grading, storage and handling equipment.
Forestry machinery
Harvesters, forwarders, chippers and timber handling equipment for forestry contractors.
Biomass and processing
Biomass boilers, drying equipment and on-farm processing plant.
Livestock and dairy equipment
Milking systems, feeding equipment and handling systems.
Structuring finance around the farming year
Farm income is seasonal, so the shape of the repayments matters as much as their size.
- Seasonal or harvest-linked repayment profiles are offered by some lenders, subject to the business and the equipment
- Used machinery from dealers or auctions can often be financed, with additional checks on title and condition
- Tenant farmers and crofters: tenure and security can affect lender appetite, so tell us your position early
- Contractors: contracts that support the machine’s use can help an application
Tell us about the equipment
Tell us what you want to finance, roughly what it costs and a little about your farm or business. We’ll come back to you with options. There is no obligation, and we don’t carry out a credit search at this initial stage.
Agricultural and forestry finance FAQs
Some lenders will structure repayments around harvest or sales. Availability depends on the lender, the business and the equipment.
Often, depending on the business and the asset. Tenure is considered alongside trading history and the equipment.
Often. Speak to us before you bid so we can check lender appetite and timing.
Yes. Many farms trade as sole traders or partnerships. Some of this finance is regulated by the FCA, and Acorn.finance’s permissions cover asset finance.
Related
Sources
This page is general information only and is not legal, tax or financial advice. Figures come from the published sources listed on this page and were correct when last reviewed. Lender availability, terms and criteria vary and are subject to status and underwriting.
Paul Thompson, trading as Acorn.finance, is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN 660207). Not all of the finance we arrange is regulated by the FCA.
Last reviewed: 11 November 2026