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Buying the Right Used Planter

Sep. 22 2021 Buying Guide By PrairieLand Partners

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Agriculture is a vital industry, feeding the world and keeping other industries thriving in the process. One of the most important aspects of the job is planting crops properly, and a planter can make that easy, efficient, and precise—but they’re expensive machines, so consider saving a buck or two by buying pre-owned. We here at PrairieLand Partners know that can sound intimidating, so we’ve put together a few tips on buying the right used planter below. To learn more, or to see the used planters we have for sale, contact our stores throughout the great state of Kansas, today!

List Your Needs

For any larger operation, you simply can’t expect to plant everything by hand and keep up with production. Planters help you work smarter, not harder, but your specific needs won’t necessarily match up with the capabilities of every planter on the market. Ask yourself the following questions to narrow down your options:

  • What types of planters suit my farm’s size?
  • What size and type of planter will be compatible with my tractor?
  • What seeds will I be planting, and do they require specialized features?
  • How much money can I spend on this purchase without hurting myself or my operation?

Research Models

One of the best parts about used equipment is that it’s likely been on the market for a while, leaving plenty of time for other buyers to leave reviews and tips online. Look through a few different sites at the reviews people have poster, keeping a careful lookout for any specific trends or consistent issues. 

You might find that a particular model is inefficient or difficult to work with, or that another model gets consistently great reviews. Obviously you can’t necessarily take any one review at its word, but if there’s a pattern, pay attention to it.

Inspect Your Candidates

Once you’ve found a specific model and someone who’s selling it, make sure to give it a thorough once-over before you finalize any purchase. Used equipment may have a fresh coat of paint but have maintenance issues or impending malfunctions just beneath the surface. Even if you still want the machine, it’s best to know about any problems before you buy it so you can negotiate the price or prepare for maintenance.

Learn Its History

If the planter passes your inspection, take a few moments to ask any questions you can think of to the seller. Ask why it’s being sold if it’s by an independent seller, or why the previous owner let go of it if you’re at a dealership. Ask how it was used and if there’s a copy of maintenance records you could look through, whether there are any replacement parts, etc. The more you know about it, the better you can predict and prepare for its performance.

Ready to get started? Contact us at PrairieLand Partners for more information, or to see the used planters we have available. We proudly serve the great state of Kansas—let us serve you today!