Typically, year-old applicators would be in short supply compared to those two to five years old.
But the marketplace is inverted these days for two reasons, according to Machinery Insider.
Manufacturing of sprayers in 2020 and 2021 was limited by a severe shortage of components. Sprayer purchases were light before 2020 due to depressed commodity prices.
Last year, manufacturers figured out workarounds for the component shortages and began turning out more applicators. This has strengthened the number of 2022 model year applicators on the market, Machinery Insider officials said.
One consistency in self-propelled applicators is their tendency to be feature-rich.
Today’s applicators are purchased with a wide array of options. That includes upgraded lighting, three boom widths, traction control, tread adjustment, chemical injection, deluxe cabs, electronics packages, and more.
All these additions influence dealer asking prices, accounting for the differences shown in the Price Guide where applicators are listed.
The prices vary, but the hours of use are consistent. Most of the listings in the Price Guide fall into the range of 250 to 500 hours.
For farmers wanting a five- to eight-year-old applicator, those sprayers are in supply at dealers and auction lots, Machinery Insider said.
Farmers who are exchanging equipment should check with an accountant to see if that transaction creates a tax liability.
Tax law changed in 2019, making it necessary to “sell” an old asset for the trade-in value. Then put the new asset on the depreciation schedule at its full market value, said Tina Barrett of Nebraska Farm Business.
For many operations, this could be hundreds of thousands of dollars in new gain. Tax regulations preserve like-kind exchange treatment for real property but eliminate it for personal property.
According to the IRS, anyone buying, financing, or leasing new or used equipment will qualify for a Section 179 deduction. That typically means equipment, machinery, tools, and software purchased between January 1 and December 31.