While retrofitting your own planter may be an enticing option it’s not the only option. There might be reasons a farmer decides to spend the money and buy new.
“Out of all of the equipment the planter has the most upgrade options out there in the marketplace,” said Kevin Juhl, production system marketing manager for planting and seeding at John Deere.
He says the biggest determining factor should be a farm’s long term goals.
“I think customers should ask themselves, is how I’m planting today, going to be how I want to be planting in 10 years,” said Juhl. “Buying new may be your best option because you don’t have to reconfigure a bar, you don’t have to source a bar, and going to the factory allows you to get those factory installed options rather than adding multiple performance upgrade kits to make it work.”
It also typically comes with a warranty which may be useful especially during that first planting season.
While using your own older planter or getting a deal on a new-to-you seed slinger might seem like the perfect solution, there may be issues hiding below the boxes.
“I would definitely recommend if a customer is looking at a used planter to make sure they double check all wear components and see exactly what all might need to be replaced,” said CJ Parker a crop production product specialist for Case IH. “The dealer can make a list of things that need to be done and at that point it may make more sense to buy a new one.”
