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Agribusiness explores private credit as an alternative to Farm Credit System
Harvest Returns, launched in 2017, offers private credit investments that can be used for land purchases, herd expansion, or acquiring agriculture-related businesses, with investors able to start with $5,000.
LandThink highlights that while the Farm Credit System remains a major lender for agriculture producers, it is not the only source of capital for buying land or financing operations.
The outlet describes private credit for agribusinesses as customized, non-bank loans and other debt financing provided directly to private farming, food production, and ag tech companies. Because these borrowers are not publicly traded, they typically rely on private lenders rather than public bond markets to fund day-to-day operations, expansion, or buyouts.
LandThink points to Harvest Returns as an example, noting it has offered private credit investments to producers and other agriculture-related businesses since 2017. The platform says it is used for flexible financing needs such as land purchases, expanding a cattle herd, or acquiring a new business, with Harvest Returns characterizing its terms and capital-raise process as streamlined compared with traditional ag lenders.
The article also details that Harvest Returns operates as an online crowdfunding marketplace for agricultural investments, enabling investors to buy interests starting at $5,000 in assets such as farmland, timberland, or orchards, with investments tied to different risk and return profiles.