Planters What's the best single or two row planter for value?

[wolc123]

I think you would be far better off in a 2 row 3 pt planter with an older model like a JD 246. Model 71's with fertilizer hoppers are almost impossible to find. Don't be fooled by the insecticide applicators that are often passed off to unsuspecting consumers as fertilizer applicaters. A fertilizer hopper is always considerably larger than the seed hoppers. If it is smaller, then it is meant for insecticide and wont get you any where near the required quantity of fertilizer needed for decent yields. 71's are better suited for larger scale operations where liquid fertilizer becomes an economical option. Applying fertilizer just on the rows will save you megabucks at todays fertilizer prices compared to the alternative of broadcasting as most folks with 2-row model 71's end up doing. Personally, I would even go for a pull-type, 2-row model 290 before I bought a 2-row model 71 without fertilizer capability. Especially when you could buy 4 or 5 for the same price and have spare parts for a lifetime. All models mentioned here, 71, 290, 246 use the same seed plates. MF, IH, and Ford also made some older, 2-row, 3 pt models with fertilizer hoppers, but no where near as many as Deere, so they are harder to find and harder to find parts for. I have used a 246 for many years. It is simple, easy to maintain, and always does a fine job.

 

[Baranx4]

I think you would be far better off in a 2 row 3 pt planter with an older model like a JD 246. Model 71's with fertilizer hoppers are almost impossible to find. Don't be fooled by the insecticide applicators that are often passed off to unsuspecting consumers as fertilizer applicaters. A fertilizer hopper is always considerably larger than the seed hoppers. If it is smaller, then it is meant for insecticide and wont get you any where near the required quantity of fertilizer needed for decent yields. 71's are better suited for larger scale operations where liquid fertilizer becomes an economical option. Applying fertilizer just on the rows will save you megabucks at todays fertilizer prices compared to the alternative of broadcasting as most folks with 2-row model 71's end up doing. Personally, I would even go for a pull-type, 2-row model 290 before I bought a 2-row model 71 without fertilizer capability. Especially when you could buy 4 or 5 for the same price and have spare parts for a lifetime. All models mentioned here, 71, 290, 246 use the same seed plates. MF, IH, and Ford also made some older, 2-row, 3 pt models with fertilizer hoppers, but no where near as many as Deere, so they are harder to find and harder to find parts for. I have used a 246 for many years. It is simple, easy to maintain, and always does a fine job.

Thanks for all the info guys. Now I only have to find one that's not a boat load of $$$. Some of the used ones I see listed are almost as much as a new unit.

 

[kthompson]

Baran: Just wondering and if I missed it sorry...what price range are you trying to be in?

As to wasting fertilizer by broadcasting it, probably some, but most row crop crops are being planting so close now days that is little if any issue. Before I narrowed my rows up I would use a whirly bird and then run wide sweeps to push the fertilizer to the row, worked well to me. For crops give me broadcast, price does it for me. If I had a way to handle bulk fertilizer into hoppers that would be different I guess. Liquid fertilizer in not that big here but liquid nitrogen is.


Zionview; could you not get the proper plates to give you the spacing you needed?

 

[Baranx4]

Baran: Just wondering and if I missed it sorry...what price range are you trying to be in?

As to wasting fertilizer by broadcasting it, probably some, but most row crop crops are being planting so close now days that is little if any issue. Before I narrowed my rows up I would use a whirly bird and then run wide sweeps to push the fertilizer to the row, worked well to me. For crops give me broadcast, price does it for me. If I had a way to handle bulk fertilizer into hoppers that would be different I guess. Liquid fertilizer in not that big here but liquid nitrogen is.


Zionview; could you not get the proper plates to give you the spacing you needed?

For a used unit I was hoping to spend a few hundred but from what I've seen it's probably going to be around a grand. I've seen new planters for a single row going for about that.