The world is full of choice. Just look at wine. You can pick a bottle based on colour, flavour, aroma or alcoholic content. You can choose between natural, fortified or sparkling wines. The possibilities are endless.

The same is true in the world of agriculture.

Each producer is a unique entity, with a different background and set of challenges and opportunities from other producers.

"Business solutions don't come in neat little packages that suit everyone," explains Farm Credit Canada (FCC) Senior Account Manager, Raymond Wagner. "So FCC has developed many financial solutions to meet the specific needs of our customers."

When an opportunity arises, FCC can step in with flexible financing options, specific to the agricultural industry. Just ask Jim Wyse, proprietor of Burrowing Owl Estate Winery in Oliver, British Columbia. He says FCC helped his operation expand when opportunity knocked on his door.

During an expansion of his winery, a piece of land became available next to his vineyard. "It was an opportunity too good to miss," said Wyse. "With our expansion going on, it was a little tough to finance (the sale) with cash, so Farm Credit Canada stepped in and helped us finance the purchase of that property."

Producers who plant perennial crops know it takes time to get established. To meet the needs of an industry where producers may not see a return on their investment for up to three or four years, FCC offers the Plant Now-Pay Later loan. This loan allows producers to defer payments until they start seeing a return on their harvests.

Producers can now plant crops with confidence, knowing that their payments are deferred for up to three years, followed by two years of interest-only payments.

Since these crops are a long-term commitment, another benefit of this loan is better cash flow management.

"With flexible terms and repayment options, the Plant Now-Pay Later loan is perfect for many perennial crops, including grapes, apples, tender fruits and berries," said Wagner. "This loan product can also be used by start-up and expanding wineries to defer principal payments while they are building up or accumulating additional wine inventories."

"Farm Credit Canada is just more flexible and more tuned into the agricultural world," said Wyse. "You can make a single payment once a year and that's fine."

Producers who choose the Plant Now-Pay Later loan may also want to consider one of FCC's life insurance plans to ensure peace-of-mind. The insurance plans available for this loan include Loan Life and Accident, Key Person and Payment Protection.