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Tractor Blue Book
The farming and agriculture industries have changed in terms of size throughout the 1900s. In the early 20th century, approximately 70 percent of Americans worked on farmlands. As of 2008, about three percent of United States citizens work on farms, according to The Bureau of Labor and Statistics, or BLS. Currently, thousands of American farmers need agricultural equipment like tractors. In order to save money, many people search for pre-owned tractors because brand new tractors can cost $100,000 or more. Tractor-Specific Publications There are several resources people can use to find on-target estimates of pre-owned tractor prices, such as the Official Tractor Blue Book. This publication is released each year by Price Digest. It can be compared to the NADA Guides or the Kelly Blue Book for truck and car prices and information. The Blue Book for Tractors is a wealth of data about the approximate values of used tractors. Readers can even find out how much these tractors cost when they were brand new. Some of the information available in this book includes features, loan values, options, serial numbers and statistics. Almost every make and model of tractor is listed in the book, starting from 1930-year models. A hard-copy version of the Official Tractor Blue Book can be purchased for less than $20. Anyone who wants to buy, sell or trade a tractor needs their own copy. Remarkably, hobby publications can be a great resource for pricing "collector" tractors. It is not uncommon for these publications to release a guide and appraisal list. Hobby magazines are excellent additions to other price-setting materials. Other Tractor-Pricing Resources Every area, from regional to local, has their own used tractor guide for determining the resale value of used tractors. Most of these guides publish private-owner listings. Each owner places the value on their tractor. Unlike the Official Tractor Blue Book, which gives nationwide values, an area tractor guide gives prospective buyers local market prices on used tractors. Personal research is also useful in finding great deals on used tractors. Online classified websites and newspapers for big agricultural states are invaluable resources. California, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Carolina, Texas and Iowa are the top ten U.S. States in terms of agricultural production. There are more classified ads for used tractors in the aforementioned states than any other states in the country. And since there is a bigger selection, it is easier to get a lower price. Consult the Official Tractor Blue Book before making a deal. Another place to gather information is a farm auction. These auctions accurately show current pricing trends for used tractors. However, bidding at an auction is tricky business, especially for first-time bidders. Although tractors can be bought at lower prices, private buyers have to compete against experienced and knowledgeable dealers. Those who do not make a living purchasing and reselling equipment bought at farm auctions need to extensively research tractor prices and the bidding process. For most people who are not authorities on the subject, the first source of information turned to is the Official Tractor Blue Book. |
