Cost Cutting Alternatives

At times, the thought of a new tractor may be great, but the wallet may place a damper on the idea. There are alternatives to purchasing a new tractor if money is an issue.

For occasional projects, tractors and implements can be leased from many rental supply companies, or you may consider paying a neighboring farmer to do some work for you. These options also work well if your tractor and implements are too small to undertake a one-time big job. On small hobby farms, an ATV, or utility vehicle, like John Deere’s “Gator” may be a better choice than a tractor. There are a variety of implements available—from manure spreaders to snow plows and hydraulic front-end loader attachments—that work with these versatile machines.

Another option is to shop around for used tractors. However, when purchasing used (even newer used models) expect to incur more repair and maintenance expenses. If you aren’t mechanically inclined or don’t have the time to do a lot of maintenance and repairs, used equipment can make your life miserable.

When shopping for older units, stick to brands that are common in your area of the country, and find out if parts and service are still available from a reputable local dealer. Tractor tires are expensive, so look at their condition. Check fluids for condition and quantity.

Gray-market tractors are a special class of used tractors, which are imported brands that were originally designed and manufactured for use in foreign countries. These gray-market units are imported for resale into the United States without the consent of their trademark owner.

For example, Kubota produces a line of tractors for the U.S. market, which are designed to work correctly with implements used here and to meet environmental and safety standards in this country.

They produce a separate line intended for use in Japan that runs implements found over there (which often run at higher PTO speeds than U.S. implements) and that meets different standards required in Japan.

Kubota doesn’t import the Japanese models into the United States, but gray-market dealers purchase them used in Japan and bring them here to sell. They sell cheaper initially than comparable used U.S. market tractors, but the original manufacturers don’t provide parts, service or support of any kind. Purchasing a gray-market tractor may seem like a money-saving option, but in the long run could cost you far more over time.

Source : HobbyFarm Magazine 2004

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