Farmwithjunk
Super Member
That's entirely possible, as MOST of the planters Deere sold in years prior to the 7100's were NOT #71.... There were (literally) thousands of 246/247's (and 446/447) 494/495's ect, and there were 25 series unit planters, 44's ect. 71's represented about 10% of the planters they sold (just a WAG...but not far off) Runner shoes were CHEAPER than disc openers, making them more attractive in certain areas. The vast majority of unit planters OTHER THAN 70/71's had runner openers.
From what I've seen, #71's were EXTREMELY popular in the north. I've lugged home quite a few 70/71 units from the Michigan/Northern Indiana area. They wre THE PLANTER OF CHOICE for most sugar beet growers for ages.
"Back in the day", profit margins were tight AND low, and even the most profitable farm operations of the day held to the belief cheaper is better. Now days, with the "economy of scale" common to large farms, an option that adds several thousands to the cost of a single row unit will sell if it makes 1/4-bushel an acre difference. Southern farms stayed with the "back in the day" mindset a lot longer than "corn belt" operations for the most part. I'm more of a "Southern Farmer" than not, but most of the used equipment I bought over the ages came from up north.
