We’ve answered some common questions about IIF. If you don’t see what you’re looking for, feel free to get in touch through our contact form.
Co-operatives have long been a trusted part of the farming landscape, created to serve their members and strengthen communities. The Invest in Farming Co-operative Ltd (IIF Coop) continues that tradition, bringing farmers and consumers together as true partners in production, so everyone benefits.
A regulated, trusted structure
The IIF Coop operates under the oversight of government agencies and complies with all relevant laws and regulations. This ensures members are protected, informed, and confident in every transaction.
Owned by members, built for members
Like all co-operatives, the IIF Coop is owned by its members. Every decision is made with members’ best interests in mind.The Co-op sources and vets farming opportunities, and you have the freedom to choose which offers you want to support
Farmer Transparency and Connection
One of the things we value most is the connection between members and the farmers who grow their food. Our farmers share updates openly and provide transparency and insight into their practices and production. As a member, you’ll have access to historical data, making it easy to review past programmes, complete with farmer updates and outcomes.
IIF connects everyday Australians with real farmers through shared farming opportunities.
Here’s how it works:
It’s a genuine partnership. You help back Australian farmers, share in the risks and rewards of each season, and watch your farm in your pocket grow.
Yes, you need to be a member of the IIF Coop to access its services.
Active membership gives you entry to the IIF marketplace on the app, where you can explore a diverse range of share farming opportunities throughout your 12-month membership.
Membership also unlocks access to historical data from past programmes, making it easy to review past opportunities, complete with farmer updates and outcomes.
Becoming a member is easy! Simply complete the online application form and pay the membership fee. You’ll then receive a confirmation email with further instructions, and from there, you’ll have full access to the IIF app.
Once inside, you can browse share farming opportunities as they launch throughout the seasons. Pick what you’d like to invest in and watch your farm grow and change over time. Not everything is available on day one, but that’s the beauty of farming! Opportunities follow the natural rhythm of the seasons, so your farm in your pocket will develop over time, just like the real thing. Over your 12-month membership, you’ll have plenty of chances to expand, diversify, and watch your farm grow.
We’re often asked why there’s an annual membership fee. When you join, you’re becoming part of Australia’s largest farming community through the IIF Co-operative. The Coop holds assets on your behalf, works directly with farmers, and manages all compliance, tax, and administration, making sure everything runs smoothly behind the scenes. Your membership fee helps keep the Coop operating efficiently, transparently, and sustainably for every member.
You’ll find everything you need to access the IIF app in your membership confirmation email. It includes direct links, login details, and helpful information to get you started and exploring your farm in no time.
We completely understand you’re keen to see what the IIF app is all about! However, because the IIF Coop is a regulated, member-owned organisation, we’re bound by laws that mean only active members can access the app and participate in share farming programmes.
That said, in the spirit of “try before you buy,” we’d love to offer you a sneak peek of the IIF app. It’s a great way to see how thousands of Aussies have already discovered the joy of putting a farm in their pocket.
As the IIF Coop is a regulated, member-owned cooperative, we are bound by the strict rules and regulations that govern our operations. By law, only active IIF Coop members can access the app and view historical data or past programme results.
Once you become a member, you’ll have access to historical data from past programmes, making it easy to review past opportunities, complete with farmer updates and outcomes.
It’s important to note that historical performance is not a guarantee of future results; it simply provides valuable insight into how farming outcomes can vary season to season.
With IIF, you choose how much you’d like to invest with the minimum investment amount driven by the unit size of each offer.
Because agriculture is seasonal, offers come and go throughout the year, following the natural rhythm of farming. Prices can range from as little as $10 for a dozen oysters to over $1,000 for livestock, and everything in between. For example, you might invest in ginger for $44 a grow bag, canola for $430 an acre, or Angus cross cattle for $1,000.
Over time, you can build a diverse farm that reflects your interests and goals, investing as little or as much as you like. It’s your farm, in your pocket. You decide what, where, and how much.
Agriculture moves with the natural rhythm of the seasons, so the IIF marketplace changes along with it. Different sectors come to the forefront at different times of the year, just like in real farming.
Because you’re partnering in real, tangible assets, supply is always limited to what’s genuinely available. If there are only 50 head of cattle, there are only 50 head of cattle, we can’t create a supply that doesn’t exist.
That’s the beauty of farming: it’s real, seasonal, and authentic. Each opportunity reflects what’s happening on the land, giving you a genuine connection to the agricultural cycle.
Here’s a general guide to when different farming sectors are most active throughout the year.
Marketplace availability is driven by the natural cycles of farming. As the seasons shift, so too do the opportunities you’ll see on the IIF marketplace. Each sector has its own moment in the spotlight; winter might bring oysters, while spring could see cattle ready for investment.
Each agricultural sector (broadacre, livestock, horticulture, and aquaculture) follows its own unique rhythm, and no two times of year are ever the same. This natural ebb and flow is what makes farming (and your investment) so real, seasonal, and authentic.
While seasonality drives the overall rhythm, new opportunities can also appear unexpectedly as farmers respond to changing conditions, markets or timing on the ground.
Yes, farming is real, and outcomes can vary. Weather, pests, disease, and market conditions can all influence results, which means no return is ever guaranteed.
That said, the IIF Coop only partners with experienced, best practice farmers and provides opportunities that give members the best chance of success.
By spreading your farm across different products, regions, and farmers, you can help reduce the impact of any single setback while still enjoying the authentic rewards and excitement that come with real share farming.
No, you don’t lose your entire return if an animal dies.
Each share farming programme is part of a larger group of the same product, age and stage. For example, IIF members might collectively own 40 animals within a farmer’s mob. If one animal unfortunately dies, the remaining 39 are still sold, and the profits are shared across all 40 members.
This structure helps spread the mortality risk, protecting your investment while still letting you share in the authentic rewards of real farming.
Farming is variable, but also deeply rewarding. The IIF Coop partners with trusted, best-practice farmers to present members opportunities with a strong likelihood of success, while always being transparent that outcomes can vary and returns are never guaranteed.
Timeframes, yield and price targets are indicative only. They are determined by the current stage of production, historical market pricing data, market outlook and an assessment of the farmer’s past seasonal performance. However, agriculture is dynamic and unpredictable. The actual timeline, yield, and final price achieved depend on real-world variables, including growing conditions, weather, and market trends at the time of sale.
When profits are realised, they’re shared in a way that keeps everyone aligned toward the same goal:
This structure ensures shared rewards, transparency, and alignment between farmers, members, and the Coop, all working together for the best outcome.
See the table below for an example of how profit sharing works in practice.
There are two simple fees to be aware of when joining and participating in IIF.
We’re often asked why there’s an annual membership fee. When you join, you’re becoming part of Australia’s largest farming community through the IIF Co-operative. The Co-op holds assets on your behalf, works directly with farmers, and manages all compliance, tax, and administration, making sure everything runs smoothly behind the scenes. Your membership fee helps keep the Co-op operating efficiently, transparently, and sustainably for every member.
This listing fee helps cover the administrative costs of bringing each share farming programme to you. At times, the fee doesn’t even cover these costs, but we keep it low on purpose to ensure every member has access to opportunities. At IIF, we’re committed to keeping share farming accessible, fair, and profitable for everyone, no matter the size of your investment.
That’s it. No hidden costs or surprises. Just simple, transparent fees that keep IIF fair and accessible for everyone.
Diversification means spreading your investments across different products, regions, and producers instead of focusing on just one.
In farming terms, diversification simply means having variety on the farm, like growing a mixture of crops, like barley, wheat or oats, or managing livestock of different ages and breeds. If one has a tough season, another might perform well. This balance helps reduce risk, smooth returns, and build long-term stability for your IIF Farm.
Put simply, diversification helps make your farm and your investment more resilient to the ups and downs of agriculture.
Diversification is one of the smartest ways to build strength and resilience in your IIF Farm.
By spreading your farm across different products, producers and regions, you’re not putting all your eggs in one basket. When one product, region or sector faces a tough season, another might do well, helping to smooth out returns and keep your overall performance steady.
Diversification also means you can stay active year-round, taking part in different markets and seasonal opportunities as they arise.
We encourage members to explore a mix of opportunities, it’s a great way to build resilience, balance risk, and create long-term, sustainable growth.
Diversifying your IIF Farm is easy, it’s all about spreading your investments across different opportunities.
You can diversify by:
By building a mix of products, producers, regions, and timeframes, you reduce risk and create steady, sustainable growth for your IIF Farm.
Keep an eye on the marketplace; new opportunities appear regularly, giving you plenty of ways to grow and diversify over time.
We have robust systems and safeguards in place to ensure IIF farmer partners remain fully accountable to the share farming programmes offered to members.
Every farmer goes through a strict vetting process before becoming an IIF Farmer Partner. The IIF Coop holds legal title and ownership of all products offered, and each farmer operates under a formal contractual agreement that clearly defines their obligations and responsibilities.
Throughout the growing cycle, we work closely with our farmers, providing oversight, guidance, and regular check-ins. We apply agricultural benchmarks to ensure realistic and fair outcomes, and all results are independently validated and verified by the IIF team and specialist industry advisers.
In the unlikely event that a farmer fails to meet their obligations, legal avenues are available to enforce accountability and protect members’ interests.
After each share farming programme concludes, any available proceeds are credited to your IIF account for you to reinvest or withdraw.
Profits are treated as interest income, while in the event of a loss, payments will reflect the actual sale outcome. Depending on your personal situation, losses may be tax-deductible. It’s always best to seek advice from your accountant or tax professional for guidance specific to you.
Each year at tax time, IIF issue your annual tax statement, which details all fees, programmes and outcomes, and includes some guidance on tax treatment.
Yes, you can invest through your SMSF or another registered entity.
When you first join, you’ll complete the member application as an individual. After that, you can update your investor type to reflect your chosen entity. All invoices, statements, and tax reporting will then be issued in the name of that entity.
IIF provides upfront funding for a portion of your production, giving you access to capital at the start of the season, before you grow. We provide seasonal working capital by investing directly in what your farm produces, one season at a time.
We invest in your production, not your property
IIF isn’t a lender. We don’t take equity in your land or business, and we don’t offer loans or lines of credit.
Instead, we invest directly in what your farm produces, whether that’s livestock, crops, fruit, or vegetables, for one season at a time.
Upfront capital, without added debt
We cover a portion of your production inputs and carrying costs, giving you working capital when you need it most.
That means you can fund essentials like:
all without taking on additional debt.
Shared risk, shared reward
IIF’s return is tied to the outcome of your season.
If production performs well, profits are shared; if the season doesn’t go as planned, IIF helps absorb the loss, so you’re not left carrying the full financial burden alone.
Confidence to grow
This model smooths cash flow, eases financial pressure, and gives you the confidence to plan ahead, whether you’re expanding, upgrading, or managing leased country.
Learn more: Visit the Why partner with IIF section on our website to see how we’ve supported farmers like you.
Partnering with IIF gives farmers the resources and support to grow with confidence without carrying all the financial risk alone.
Learn more: Visit the Why Partner with IIF section on our website.
Partnering with IIF gives you the power to grow your farm with confidence without carrying the full financial weight on your own.
Stay in Control, Farm Your Way
You make the calls. You decide how and when you farm.
IIF simply helps you get there faster by covering upfront costs on a portion of your production and sharing the risk. That means you can expand your operation, upgrade infrastructure, or seize new opportunities, all without overextending your finances.
Shared Risk, Shared Reward
When you join IIF, you’re not just getting access to early capital; you’re gaining a trusted community that backs your success.
We share in both the risks and the rewards. If the season goes well, you share in the profits. If it doesn’t, IIF helps absorb the losses so you can focus on what you do best: farming.
Simple, Flexible, and Fair
Whether you’re managing livestock, broadacre crops, horticulture, or aquaculture, the model stays simple:
This partnership smooths your cash flow, reduces production risk, and helps you make strategic improvements, all while keeping control firmly in your hands.
Build with Confidence
With IIF behind you, you can take on the next season, or the next big opportunity, knowing you have financial strength and community support on your side.
Learn more: Visit the Why Partner with IIF section on our website to see how other producers have grown with us.
Yes, owning land isn’t a requirement.
If you have a formal lease agreement confirming your lease rights, IIF can partner with you to help expand your operation and make the most of your leased country.
Getting started with IIF is simple. Just get in touch, and one of our friendly team members will give you a call.
We’ll have a relaxed, no-pressure chat about:
That’s it. One friendly conversation is all it takes to explore whether we’re the right fit for each other.
At IIF, we’re here to listen, understand, and support. We can’t partner with every farmer or solve every challenge, but we’re always open to a genuine chat about how we might help your farm grow, with shared rewards and shared resilience.
IIF partners with best-practice, growth-minded producers who are serious about building stronger, more resilient farming operations.
Our partners are typically commercially focused and proactive farmers, the kind of producers who are always looking for ways to expand, improve efficiency, and strengthen their enterprise. By working with these forward-thinking operators, IIF ensures every investment contributes to profitable, sustainable, and resilient outcomes for Australian agriculture.
We work across all major agricultural sectors, including:
It doesn’t matter whether you own your land or operate under a formal lease, what matters is your mindset.
Our ideal partners:
Whether you’re increasing capacity, upgrading infrastructure, or capitalising on a newly leased block, IIF provides seasonal working capital so you can move forward with confidence, while keeping ownership and decision-making firmly in your hands.
At IIF, it’s not about size, it’s about mindset.
We partner with innovative, growth-oriented farmers who want to build stronger, more resilient businesses while maintaining full control over how and when they farm.
Our ideal partners are producers who are:
Whether you’re running livestock, broadacre crops, horticulture, or aquaculture, IIF works with farms of all sizes, from family operations to large-scale enterprises that have the systems, discipline, and ambition to drive sustainable growth.
At IIF, we partner with skilled, experienced forward forward-thinking producers who are ready to grow their operations, and share in both the risks and rewards of each season.
Most of our new partnerships come through our network of agronomists, consultants, coaches, trusted partners, and referrals from existing farmers. But if you meet the criteria below and believe IIF could be the right fit, we’d love to hear from you.
You could be eligible if you:
If that sounds like you, get in touch. One of our friendly team members will reach out to learn more about your operation, your goals, and how IIF can help you take the next step with confidence.
At IIF, we believe that strong partnerships are built on shared values, proven performance, and professional integrity. Most of our new partnerships come through introductions from within our trusted network, including agronomists, consultants, coaches, industry partners, and referrals from existing IIF farmers who understand and uphold our standards.
Due diligence
Every partnership begins with a thorough due diligence process to identify farmers who demonstrate:
Partnering with the best
Our partners are typically commercially focused, proactive producers who consistently seek ways to expand, improve efficiency, and strengthen their business. By partnering with best-practice farmers, IIF ensures that every investment contributes to profitable, sustainable, and resilient agricultural outcomes.
Independent verification
To validate these standards, IIF conducts independent background checks, including:
This combination of rigorous analysis and on-farm engagement ensures we partner only with farmers who embody professionalism, responsibility, and long-term vision, so the risks and rewards of each season are shared with operators who farm strategically and sustainably.
Yes. Every IIF partnership is governed by a formal, legal agreement and no partnership proceeds without a signed contract. These agreements ensure clarity, transparency, and confidence for both parties from day one.
The agreement sets out:
This structure ensures that every partnership operates on a foundation of strength, trust, transparency, and shared understanding, giving you the confidence to plan and manage your farm with the backing of IIF’s capital and shared risk.
Traditional finance still has its place, but it suits different needs. Banks generally won’t lend against farm production, and debt repayments are fixed, you owe the same amount whether it’s a bumper season or a dry one.
IIF works differently. By partnering in what your farm produces, we can provide working capital at the start of the season without the weight of traditional debt. Both Farmers and IIF share the risk and the reward.
That means farmers get flexible, season-responsive capital without the strain of fixed repayments or added debt. It’s a partnership designed to move with the realities of agriculture, not against them.
No, IIF does not invest directly in farm infrastructure or machinery.
Our unique funding model is designed to support seasonal production of your farm outputs, such as livestock, crops, fruit, or vegetables, not fixed assets. By covering a portion of your production and input costs upfront, we help free up your own capital so you can decide where to invest it best.
This means you stay in full control of your spending, whether you choose to upgrade infrastructure, purchase new machinery, or improve on-farm systems.
Farming is profitable, but it’s also inherently volatile. At IIF, we manage this volatility through a structured, disciplined risk framework built on diversification, oversight, and strong partnerships with trusted, best-practice farmers.
Our approach is designed to create resilient, data-driven outcomes, protecting investor capital while supporting sustainable growth on the land.
A model built on strength and transparency
This multi-layered approach means IIF doesn’t just manage risk, we control it with intent, discipline and precision. Built on rigour, transparency, and legal certainty, our model protects members’ capital, upholds accountability, and delivers resilient, genuine returns, season after season, through every agricultural cycle.
Sometimes, despite everyone’s best efforts, the season just doesn’t go the way you planned, and that’s okay.
Farming is real, seasonal, and unpredictable, and at IIF, we understand that better than most.
As long as the unexpected can be explained, validated, and verified, we accept it as part of the journey. That’s the reality, and the beauty of working with a partner who truly understands agriculture.
Our model is built to share that uncertainty. When conditions change or markets shift, IIF helps absorb part of the risk, so you’re not left carrying the full weight alone.
At the heart of every partnership is trust, transparency, and open communication. Whether it’s a dry spell, a bumper crop, or a curveball no one saw coming, we face it together.
That’s what real partnership means to us.
We do, together!
At IIF, timeframes, yield and price targets are a collaborative decision. They’re based on a mix of:
All of these factors are reviewed carefully so that targets are realistic, transparent, and agreed upon by both you and IIF.
It’s important to remember these targets aren’t guarantees. They’re informed expectations, grounded in data, experience, and sound judgment, helping both parties plan with confidence while recognising the realities of farming.
Ready to watch your investments grow?
First step: join our co-operative. Register your interest below.
