Dollars In The Dirt

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Most farmers compare loans by chasing the lowest interest rate, but that’s rarely the cheapest option. In this episode, Brecken breaks down the seven‑step framework he uses to compare farm loans properly and calculate the real cost of credit.

This episode covers:

◼️ How upfront costs, valuations and hidden fees change the true price of a loan

◼️ Why line fees, unused limit fees and rigid structures quietly drain thousands

◼️ How to calculate your total cost of credit over 5–10 years so you can compare loans properly

Timestamps:

00:00:00 Introduction

00:00:30 - Understanding Upfront Costs

00:01:23 - The Importance of Valuation

00:02:16 - Analyzing Interest Rates

00:03:09 - The Silent Killer - Line Fees

00:03:51 - Unused Limit Fees

00:04:43 - Flexibility of the Loan

00:05:48 - Calculating Total Cost of Credit

00:06:32 - Conclusion: Putting It All Together

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Seasoned Finance: https://seasonedfinance.com.au

Grow your agribusiness with expert finance strategies, book a free consultation 👉 https://use.seasonedfinance.com.au/pod-ep15

Australian agriculture has just hit a record $100 billion valuation, and it’s creating one of the biggest wealth‑building opportunities the sector has ever seen. But most farmers won’t benefit from it. In this episode, Brecken breaks down why only a small group of operators are positioned to capture the upside and how they’re preparing themselves to buy more land, secure bigger loans and scale faster than everyone else.

◼️ Why farmland values have risen for nine straight years

◼️ How global demand for protein is driving long‑term income certainty

◼️ Why banks see Australian land as a blue‑chip asset

◼️ How efficient operators use their numbers to increase borrowing power

◼️ The three‑step process Brecken uses to get clients acquisition‑ready

◼️ Why pre‑approval and clean financials change everything when a property hits the market

Timestamps:

00:00:00 Introduction

00:00:10 - The $100 Billion Opportunity

00:00:21 - The Three-Step Strategy

00:00:42 - Rising Farmland Values

00:01:04 - Global Protein Demand

00:02:09 - Proving Financial Stability

00:03:01 - Leveraging Debt for Wealth

00:04:07 - Getting Acquisition Ready

00:04:38 - Packaging Your Loan

00:05:44 - Building Your Financial Story

00:06:36 - Building Your War Chest

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Seasoned Finance: https://seasonedfinance.com.au

Grow your agribusiness with expert finance strategies, book a free consultation 👉 https://use.seasonedfinance.com.au/pod-ep14

Global conflict, rising input costs and supply disruptions are hitting Australian agriculture harder than most people realise. In this episode, Brecken reacts to viral clips about fertiliser shortages, diesel scarcity, rising interest rates and the pressure these shocks put on farm businesses. He also breaks down why being finance‑ready matters when the next disruption hits.

Timestamps:

00:00:00 Introduction

00:00:45 - Electric Vehicles Debate

00:01:32 - Criticism of Government Policies

00:02:07 - Importance of Financial Planning

00:03:21 - Fertilizer Supply Issues

00:03:55 - Business Cost Management

00:04:16 - Advertisement for Season Finance

00:05:14 - Recap on Middle East Conflict and Fertilizer

00:05:51 - Agricultural Business Resilience

00:06:22 - Opportunities Amidst Crisis

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Seasoned Finance: https://seasonedfinance.com.au

Grow your agribusiness with expert finance strategies, book a free consultation 👉 https://use.seasonedfinance.com.au/pod-ep13

A lot of producers are sitting on an asset that could fund their next expansion, but they don’t realise how to unlock it. In this episode, Brecken sits down with Richard Brimblecombe from Legacy Livestock to unpack how livestock finance really works and how it can accelerate your farm’s growth.

◼️ How livestock lending differs from traditional bank lending

◼️ When livestock finance can unlock growth for good operators

◼️ How funding limits, security and repayments actually work

◼️ Using livestock finance to scale, expand or buy property

◼️ The risks, traps and market conditions producers need to understand

◼️ How young producers can use cashflow and livestock to get started

◼️ When livestock funding complements the bank instead of competing with it

Timestamps:

00:00:00 Introduction

00:00:57 - Differences Between Livestock Lending and Traditional Bank Lending

00:02:31 - How Livestock Funding Works

00:04:00 - Types of Livestock Funded by Legacy

00:05:09 - Capital for Business Growth

00:05:46 - Success Stories of Livestock Funding

00:07:26 - Relationship Between Livestock Funders and Banks

00:08:07 - Opportunities for Young Producers

00:09:51 - Leveraging Existing Herds for Property Purchases

00:11:59 - Risks in Livestock Trading

00:17:59 - Advice for Young Producers Starting Out

00:19:45 - Importance of Cash Flow and Assets

00:21:29 - Guarantors and Equity Requirements

00:22:09 - Cost of Livestock Funding

00:25:20 - Comparison of Livestock Funding vs. Adjustment

00:27:30 - Funding for Sheep and Other Livestock

00:28:53 - Future of Agricultural Lending

00:30:24 - The Role of Livestock Funding in Business Growth

00:31:00 - Turnaround Times for Funding Applications

00:34:03 - Common Financial Mistakes in Agriculture

00:36:32 - Preparing for More Finance

00:40:08 - Criteria for Approval from Legacy Livestock

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Follow Richard Brimblecombe:

https://www.linkedin.com/company/legacy-livestock-finance/posts/?feedView=all

https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-brimblecombe-a4515010/

https://www.instagram.com/legacylivestock_finance/

Learn more at https://www.legacylivestock.com.au

Grow your agribusiness with expert finance strategies, book a free consultation 👉 https://use.seasonedfinance.com.au/pod-ep12

Most farmers get knocked back not because their operation is weak, but because their paperwork isn’t telling the bank what it needs to see. In this episode, Brecken breaks down the exact documents lenders expect and why presentation matters more than most people realise.

This episode covers:

◼️ Why strong farms still get declined

◼️ The eight documents every serious applicant needs

◼️ How banks read your financials, ATO portals and interim numbers

◼️ Why your livestock schedule and liabilities must reconcile

◼️ How your business plan shapes the bank’s confidence in you

Timestamps:

Timestamps:

00:00:00 Introduction

00:01:02 - Mindset Shift: Viewing Your Application as a Business Proposal

00:01:23 - Document 1

00:02:36 - Document 2

00:03:17 - Document 3

00:03:48 - Document 4

00:05:01 - Document 5

00:06:04 - Document 6

00:06:47 - Document 7

00:07:39 - Document 8

00:08:20 - Conclusion: The Value of Professional Documentation

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LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brecken-curtis-8716323aa/

Seasoned Finance: https://seasonedfinance.com.au

Grow your agribusiness with expert finance strategies, book a free consultation 👉 https://use.seasonedfinance.com.au/pod-ep11

In this episode, Brecken reacts to viral farming and banking clips and breaks down why so many operators feel stuck with high costs, confusing bank decisions and machinery repayments that quietly choke their borrowing power. He also unpacks why some banks can’t explain livestock lending, how branch closures are affecting rural Australia, and why the ATO’s benchmark interest rate is catching people out.

Timestamps:

00:00:00 Introduction

00:00:35 - Understanding Bank Loans for Farmers

00:01:55 - The Importance of Specialized Banking Knowledge

00:02:54 - Managing Machinery Loans

00:03:31 - How Banks Operate

00:05:29 - Navigating Bank Deals for Agricultural Businesses

00:06:09 - ATO Benchmark Interest Rates Explained

00:07:17 - Farmland Investment Insights

00:08:15 - Preparing for Farm Expansion Opportunities

Follow Brecken Curtis:

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LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brecken-curtis-8716323aa/

Seasoned Finance: https://seasonedfinance.com.au

Grow your agribusiness with expert finance strategies, book a free consultation 👉 https://use.seasonedfinance.com.au/pod-ep10

In this episode, Brecken breaks down farm finance using the simplest framework possible. No jargon, no formulas, just the three buckets every bank uses to decide whether they’ll lend to you.

◼️ How banks assess the value of your land and set LVR

◼️ What serviceability really means in plain English

◼️ Why your reputation and track record matter more than you think

Timestamps:

00:00:00 Introduction

00:01:03 - Bucket 1

00:02:49 - Importance of Loan to Valuation Ratio (LVR)

00:03:20 - Bucket 2

00:04:45 - Understanding Serviceability

00:06:50 - Bucket 3

00:08:34 - Recap of the Three Buckets

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LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brecken-curtis-8716323aa/

Seasoned Finance: https://seasonedfinance.com.au

Grow your agribusiness with expert finance strategies 👉 https://use.seasonedfinance.com.au/pod-ep9

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In this episode, Brecken shares what he uncovered after auditing more than 100 farm loan structures across Queensland. These were strong, profitable operations, yet most were unknowingly set up in a way that quietly drained thousands each year and handed control to the bank.

◼️ The loan structure pattern Brecken kept seeing in 92 out of 100 farms

◼️ How mixed‑purpose debt hides the real cost of running a business

◼️ Why banks prefer the setup most farmers are unknowingly using

Timestamps:

00:00:00 Introduction

00:01:03 - The Universal Mistake in Debt Structuring

00:02:49 - The Overdraft Trap

00:03:43 - Real-Life Example: Dan's Restructuring

00:04:04 - Identifying the Mistake in Your Finances

00:04:49 - The Solution: Structuring Your Debt

00:06:00 - Steps to Fix Your Debt Structure

00:07:26 - Taking Control of Your Financial Future

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Grow your agribusiness with expert finance strategies 👉 https://use.seasonedfinance.com.au/pod-ep8

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Buying more land isn’t about ego or collecting assets, it’s about scale, stocking pressure, climate risk, and long‑term wealth. In this episode, Brecken breaks down viral farming videos and explains the real triggers that tell you it’s time to expand. From overstocked paddocks to financing improvements the smart way, this episode shows why the best operators keep positioning themselves for the next property.

◼️ Why stocking pressure often forces the next land purchase

◼️ How financing improvements (instead of paying cash) frees capital for growth

◼️ Why top operators diversify land across regions to manage climate risk

Timestamps:

00:00:00 Introduction

00:00:53 - Evaluating Farm Animal Growth

00:01:13 - Buying the Next Farm

00:01:24 - Financing Farm Improvements

00:01:55 - Season Finance Advertisement

00:02:28 - Investing in Land

00:02:52 - Diversifying Geographical Locations

00:03:18 - What Makes You Rich?

00:03:41 - Proven Strategies for Business Growth

Follow Brecken Curtis:

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Seasoned Finance: https://seasonedfinance.com.au

Grow your agribusiness with expert finance strategies 👉 https://use.seasonedfinance.com.au/pod-ep7

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A sale of this size doesn’t just move one asset, it moves the entire market. When major operators reshuffle their portfolios, smaller high‑quality blocks start shifting, neighbours reposition, and land that hasn’t changed hands in decades suddenly becomes possible. In this episode, Brecken explains how these ripple effects work and why being acquisition ready is the difference between acting and missing out.

Key points:

◼️ Corporate sales trigger off‑market blocks sized for family farms

◼️ Portfolio reshuffles lift valuations and borrowing capacity

◼️ Neighbour sales unlock land that hasn’t moved in decades

Timestamps:

00:00:00 Introduction

00:00:31 - Understanding Market Dynamics

00:01:02 - The Ripple Effect of Major Sales

00:01:23 - Market Settlement: Portfolio Rebalancing

00:02:05 - Fragmentation Effect: Smaller Blocks for Family Farms

00:03:19 - The Neighbor Effect: Chain Reaction of Local Sales

00:03:50 - Being Acquisition Ready: Key Preparations

00:04:01 - Clarity on Financial Position

00:04:22 - Importance of Pre-Assessed Borrowing Capacity

00:05:15 - Strategic Planning for Expansion

Follow Brecken Curtis:

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Seasoned Finance: https://seasonedfinance.com.au