The Mizuho Financial Group plans to enter agricultural lending. Cattlemen will be able to offer up their herds as collateral.

The Japan Cattle Industry Cooperative will assess and manage the cows for the bank.

Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp. already provides loans to cattle farmers.

Rates on 50 million yen loans will be 2-3%, much less than the 8% charged by agricultural co-ops and other traditional lenders.

Gee, I wonder how many heads of cattle will be needed to secure a 50 million yen loan.

A southern Kyushu bank accepts cattle and swine now and next year plans to accept sweet potatoes and daikon as collateral.

I wonder how much I can borrow for the little green onion patch I have next the bushes in my front yard.

What would you like to see banks accept for collateral so you can borrow money?