Which Self-Propelled Foragers Can Be Financed?
All major self-propelled forage harvester brands are financeable through our lender panel:
CLAAS JAGUAR Series
The JAGUAR 800 and 900 series are the UK's best-selling self-propelled foragers. Values range from £250,000 (JAGUAR 840) to £700,000+ (JAGUAR 960 with headers). Finance Lease and Operating Lease are particularly popular for JAGUAR machines given their strong residual values.
John Deere 8000 Series
John Deere 8300, 8400 and 8500 models are favoured by large contractors. Values from £300,000 to £650,000+. John Deere Financial (captive) is available but independent brokers consistently source more competitive structured terms for large transactions.
New Holland FR Series
New Holland FR 500, 600 and 700 series self-propelled foragers are well-regarded for reliability. Independent lenders finance all FR models with equal appetite to CLAAS and John Deere machines.
Krone BiG X Series
The Krone BiG X 580, 780 and 1180 are popular in the UK, particularly for grass silage. Krone Finance is available through dealers, but independent lenders often offer better structured terms - particularly on Finance Lease and for used BiG X machines.
Finance Options for Self-Propelled Foragers
| Finance Type | Indicative Rate | Term | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hire Purchase (HP) | From 5.8% APR | 3–7 years | Outright ownership; capital allowances |
| Finance Lease | From 5.7% APR | 3–7 years | Lower payments; upgrade flexibility |
| Operating Lease | From 5.8% APR | 3–5 years | Off-balance-sheet; residual risk to lender |
| Sale & Leaseback | Enquire | 2–5 years | Release capital from an existing forager |
Forager Finance for Agricultural Contractors
Seasonal Payment Structures
Agricultural contractors running self-propelled foragers on grass, whole-crop and maize contracts earn the majority of their income between April and October. We regularly arrange finance with seasonal payment profiles - higher payments during harvest months, reduced or nil payments in winter - to match actual cashflow rather than averaging over 12 months.
Finance Lease Tax Efficiency
For contractors operating through limited companies, Finance Lease payments are typically fully deductible against trading profits. An independent broker can model HP vs Finance Lease on an after-tax basis - the right structure can save tens of thousands of pounds over a 5-year term on a high-value forager.
Lombard for Large Foragers
For foragers above £300,000, Lombard (NatWest Group) is our most frequently recommended lender. Their large-ticket agricultural team has deep experience with structured forager finance, including operating leases and package facilities covering headers and precision technology. View Lombard rates →
Financing Used Self-Propelled Foragers
Used self-propelled foragers - typically 3–8 years old - are increasingly common as farmers manage costs. Most panel lenders will finance used foragers subject to age, condition and verifiable service history. Rates on used machines are typically 0.4%–0.8% above new-machine rates.
Key Lenders for Self-Propelled Forager Finance
Lombard (NatWest Group)
Specialist in large-ticket harvest equipment. First choice for high-specification foragers above £300,000, operating leases and contractor package facilities. Lombard rates →
Close Brothers
Strong agricultural lender with excellent seasonal payment flexibility. Well-suited to mixed farms and contractors with variable monthly income. Close Brothers rates →
Black Horse
Competitive fixed rates from Lloyds Banking Group. Good fit for straightforward forager HP on new CLAAS JAGUAR, John Deere and New Holland machines. Black Horse rates →