Planter One Row or Two

[floridafly]

I am in the market for an used planter, either a JD 71 or a Covington. I am leaning toward the 71 and have located a dealer who sells reconditioned planters of all types. He has several 71s that can be put on a cultivator, he is asking $425 - $450 per row.

My question is this, should I go with a one row or two? Please explain the logic behind your answer. - Thanks for your help.

 

[smstonypoint]

I am in the market for an used planter, either a JD 71 or a Covington. I am leaning toward the 71 and have located a dealer who sells reconditioned planters of all types. He has several 71s that can be put on a cultivator, he is asking $425 - $450 per row.

My question is this, should I go with a one row or two? Please explain the logic behind your answer. - Thanks for your help.

It depends. How many acres will you be planting each year and what are differences in the variable costs/acre of using a two-row versus a one-row planter? The variable cost/acre of the two-row planter should be lower, but the question is whether the lower variable cost is sufficient to offset its higher ownership cost. For a sufficiently high acreage, it would pay to go with the two-row planter.

Steve

Edit -- Given the relatively high cost of fuel and the relatively small difference in the prices of the two planters, I suspect it would pay to go with the two-row planter for any appreciable acreage.

 

[Tritonman]

I usually tel guys an acres or two for the rone row at a time. A two row is good for up to five acres to ten. And a four row if over 10 acres

 

[Luremaker]

I usually tel guys an acres or two for the rone row at a time. A two row is good for up to five acres to ten. And a four row if over 10 acres

I'd go with Tritonman's advice. I plant around 3 acres of sweet corn and have both a 1 row and 2 row 71. I use my 1 row planter for most things. The only problem I have is row spacing. Using my single row 71 planter on my TC18 I get 32" row spacing and 52" row spacing with my L3130. I prefer to use my L3130 out in the field because it is larger, more stable and better for cultivating.

If planting sweet corn you are unlikely going to plant all your acreage in a single day...... I plant over 5-6 weeks to extend the selling season.

 

[sweettractors]

I like the New Covington 1 row because it comes with cultivator, fertilizer box and 4 seed plates. 26 additional plates are available for about anything you can think of. The planing unit is removable, so when you finish planting, you can use the cultivator to keep out the weds/grass. $1395. I also have a nice Used 1 row no till Thrifty currently running on Ebay. The nice thing about this item, is I am throwing in a extra complete unit. So you could have 1 or 2 row capabilities for around $800. Link below. Ken Sweet

Used Thrifty 1 Row Corn Planter & Spare Unit SHIP CHEAP | eBay

 

[Luremaker]

Too bad you are not in Ontario. I have 2 71 units for sale with front compaction wheel, fiberglass hopper, lid, all the gears, new seed tubes, and extra seed plates for $250 per unit. These are off of a 7 row planter I bought last summer.