Early Purchase Programs Gain Traction

While harvest winds down, crop input suppliers are offering early purchasing deals for 2026. BASF Marketing Director Brady Spangenberg said it was obvious this past year that interest rates have a huge influence on a farm’s bottom line. “If you have an operating note at seven or eight percent (interest), that basically adds $1-$2 per acre just in input costs.” This past year, over 30 percent of BASF customers took advantage of early-season purchase programs. That’s the highest ever for the company. Spangenburg says simple is best for a grower financing program. “If you book now with your dealer, BASF will support the cost of that interest all the way through to November or December, depending on your plan,” said Spangenberg. “That’s a year’s worth of interest and that alone should help offset some of those balance sheet issues related to the operating note. To be as simple as possible, the threshold to get in is relatively small. a minimum $10,000 purchase, one brand gets you in.” Zero percent financing is in place until mid-March. In today’s economy, Spangenburg said farmers are doing more research to find the right financing partner. Listen to the full interview.