When it comes to financing a big purchase on the farm, knowing who to talk to matters as much as the numbers.

That is what National Cultivate Week is all about. Running from April 20-26, participating credit unions across the country are opening their doors to farmers.

Now in its fourth year, the week has become an annual fixture in the credit union calendar - as much a celebration of the farming community as it is about finance.

Whether a farmer is looking at new machinery, upgrading housing for stock, or putting working capital in place for the months ahead, National Cultivate Week is a chance to sit down with a local lender and find out what is available.

What is on during the week?

Each credit union is doing things its own way. Some are running open mornings. Others are hosting drop-in sessions where farmers can sit down with the lending team and talk through their plans for the year ahead. Some are heading out to local marts to meet farmers where they already are.

There is also a free national webinar on Thursday April 23 from 12:30p.m to 1:30p.m, titled 'Cultivate: Backing Irish Farming's Future', open to farmer across the country.

How Cultivate works

Cultivate is a farm lending initiative offered by a group of credit unions across the Republic of Ireland.

Since it launched in 2017, the network has grown steadily to include participating credit unions in every part of the country.

It was designed around the way farming actually works.

All lending decisions are made locally by people who know the area and understand farming.

Repayment terms are flexible. Weekly, fortnightly, or monthly.

They can be structured around the way farm income flows, whether that is a monthly milk cheque, seasonal cattle sales, or a combination of farm and off-farm earnings.

Farmers can borrow up to €100,000 unsecured for up to 10 years.

Cultivate loans cover stock purchases, machinery, sheds, land improvement, and working capital.

A number of the participating credit unions offer secured loans of up to €300,000 over 30 years for large-scale capital expenditure like new sheds, land purchases, and funding of inheritance tax.

For anyone looking at a bigger project this year, that longer-term option can help turn a plan into something practical.

Your local credit union

Credit unions have always been rooted in their communities, and that counts when it comes to farm lending.

The person on the other side of the desk understands the realities of farming in the area.

They know what a difficult spring does to cashflow, or why a machinery purchase cannot always wait.

That local knowledge feeds into every part of how Cultivate operates, from the first conversation to how repayments are set up.

Not every farmer who gets in touch during the week will need finance straight away.

But knowing the option is there, and knowing the people behind it, makes a difference when the time comes.

Therese Conway, CEO of Collaborative Finance, the organisation behind the Cultivate initiative, said: "This week is about the farmers.

"They're the backbone of their local communities, and our credit unions work alongside them every day."

National Cultivate Week runs from April 20-26, 2026. To find your nearest participating credit union, call 1800 839 999.

Loans are subject to approval. Terms and conditions apply. If you do not meet the repayments on your loan, your account will go into arrears. This may affect your credit rating, which may limit your ability to access credit in the future. The cost of your repayments may increase. Credit unions in Ireland are regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland.