Most farmers buy implements the same way: cash from the overdraft, or wait until cash flow allows. The problem is, cash flow rarely allows the implement you actually need. It allows the one you can afford right now. And the one you can afford right now is usually lighter, less durable, and costs more to maintain over its life than the one you should have bought in the first place.
VZS has partnered with Standard Bank to change that equation. Through structured agricultural asset finance, you can buy the right implement for your operation and pay it off over three years, aligned with your harvest income cycle. No overdraft strain. No compromising on build quality because the cheaper option fits this month’s budget.
This guide explains how implement financing works, why it often makes more financial sense than paying cash, and how to apply.
Why Farmers Buy the Wrong Implement
It’s not a knowledge problem. Most commercial farmers know exactly what they need. The 12-ton double-axle tipper. The 31m3 tapkar. The swaardiens vibroflex for their specific soil conditions.
But when the bank balance says one thing and the quote says another, farmers default to the cheaper option. A lighter chassis. A smaller capacity. An import with no local parts support but a lower sticker price.
That cheaper implement costs less on day one. Over five years, it costs more: more downtime, more repairs, more replacement parts that take weeks to arrive, and eventually a full replacement when the frame gives in.
Financing lets you spread the cost of the right implement across its productive life, instead of forcing a cash decision that compromises your operation for years.
How VZS and Standard Bank Implement Financing Works
The process is straightforward. VZS is not a bank and doesn’t handle your finances. Standard Bank is the lender. VZS is the manufacturer.
The Steps
- Choose your implement. Talk to the VZS sales team about what your operation needs. Get a quote.
- Apply at Standard Bank. Take the quote to Standard Bank and apply for agricultural asset finance. VZS is not involved in the application or approval process.
- Bank approves (or not). Approval depends on your risk profile, deposit, and farming financials. This is between you and Standard Bank.
- Take delivery. Once approved, you take delivery of your implement and start using it immediately.
- Pay over three years. Structured repayments aligned with harvest cycles, not arbitrary monthly dates.
Each implement requires its own financing contract. You can’t bundle four implements on one agreement.
Why Financing Often Beats Paying Cash
Paying cash feels responsible. But for a depreciating business asset, financing can be the smarter financial move. Here’s why:
Cash, Overdraft, or Asset Finance: A Quick Comparison
| Cash / Overdraft | Standard Bank Asset Finance | |
| Upfront Impact | 100% immediate capital drain | Working capital preserved (10-20% deposit) |
| Security Required | Personal or land bonds | The implement itself serves as collateral |
| Repayment Schedule | Immediate monthly interest | Aligned with harvest cycle (annual or bi-annual) |
| Tax Depreciation (Sec 12B) | Applicable | Fully deductible under 50/30/20 schedule |
| Overdraft Availability | Reduced by full purchase amount | Stays free for seed, diesel, fertiliser |
Tax Depreciation from Year One
Under Section 12B of the Income Tax Act, farming equipment qualifies for accelerated depreciation. That means you can write off a significant portion of the implement’s value against your taxable income in the first year of ownership. You don’t need to have paid for it in full to claim the deduction. You just need to own it and use it in your farming operation.
This means the tax benefit starts immediately, while the repayments are spread over three years. Your accountant can run the numbers for your specific situation, but for most commercial operations, the depreciation benefit alone significantly reduces the effective cost.
Cheaper Than an Overdraft
Most farmers fund equipment purchases from their production overdraft. The problem: overdraft rates are typically higher than structured asset finance rates. You’re paying more in interest to use a facility that was designed for operating expenses, not capital assets.
A dedicated asset finance agreement from Standard Bank is structured specifically for equipment purchases. The rate, the term, and the repayment schedule are all designed for this purpose. It keeps your overdraft free for what it’s meant for: seed, fertiliser, diesel, and wages.
Cash Flow Stays Intact
A R500,000 implement paid cash is R500,000 out of your operating capital in one hit. Financed over three years, that same implement costs a fraction of that per month, while generating productive value from day one. Your cash stays available for the inputs that drive your next harvest.
What Can Be Financed
VZS maintains a list of implements approved for Standard Bank financing. The range covers the core equipment commercial farmers need:
- Tippers and trailers (bell tippers, dropside trailers, gravel tippers)
- Side tippers (15t and 20t)
- Tapkars / chaser bins (20m3, 26,500L, 31m3)
- Sleepwaens and massa sleepwaens
- Tillage implements (vibroflex, rippers, rollers)
- Packhouse equipment (potato grading lines, sorting tables)
Not every implement in the VZS range is on the approved list. Check with the sales team when you get your quote.
What This Means for Your Next Equipment Decision
The next time you need an implement, the question isn’t just “what can I afford right now?” It’s “what does my operation actually need, and what’s the smartest way to pay for it?”
If the answer is a high-capacity chaser bin that keeps your combine running through harvest, or a 31m3 tapkar for your Afrikaans-speaking operation, or a 12-ton double-axle tipper that handles gravel season and grain season on the same chassis, financing means you don’t have to settle for less.
VZS builds the implements. Standard Bank provides the finance. You get the machine your farm needs, with repayments that fit your harvest cycle.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I apply at VZS or at Standard Bank?
At Standard Bank. VZS provides the quote and manufactures the implement, but the financing is entirely between you and the bank. VZS has no involvement in the approval process or your financial information.
What deposit do I need?
This depends on your risk profile and the bank’s assessment. Discuss this directly with Standard Bank’s agricultural finance team.
Can I finance more than one implement at a time?
Yes, but each implement requires its own separate financing agreement. You can’t bundle multiple implements on one contract.
How long are the repayment terms?
Typically three years, structured to align with agricultural income cycles (harvest season payments rather than flat monthly instalments). Specific terms depend on the agreement with Standard Bank.
What happens if the bank declines my application?
That’s between you and the bank. VZS is not involved in the lending decision. If the bank says no, you can discuss alternatives directly with Standard Bank or explore other financing options.
Can I claim tax depreciation on a financed implement?
Yes. Section 12B of the Income Tax Act allows accelerated depreciation on farming equipment regardless of how it was purchased. Consult your accountant for the specific write-off applicable to your situation and tax year.
Why Standard Bank specifically?
VZS has a long-standing partnership with Standard Bank, one of South Africa’s largest agricultural banking institutions. The partnership means streamlined applications for VZS equipment specifically. Standard Bank understands agricultural asset finance and has dedicated teams for farming clients.
Get a Quote and Talk to Your Bank
Start with the implement. Request a customised equipment quote from the VZS sales team. Then take that quote to Standard Bank to discuss financing options.
You don’t have to settle for the implement your cash flow allows today. Buy the one your farm needs for the next ten years.
