Seed Tenders Make a Great Summertime Buy

The majority of seed is sold in bulk rather than bags, and a seed tender is an important tool to make planting more efficient. With tank and box-style carriers, farmers can choose which style fits their operation best. 

“Which is more common? The popularity is a direct reflection on each farmer’s seed handling preferences,” said Jacob Mason, Unverferth product support and development manager. “Some farmers prefer to run the seed boxes right to the planter, while others like a larger capacity and go for models with larger tanks.

“It also depends on the number of varieties you prefer to plant,” he continued. “You can carry up to four different boxes on our 410 unit, but on the bulk tank, we have two separate compartments.”

As planter sizes grow, so does the need for longer conveyors on seed tenders. If you’ve recently upgraded your planter, make sure your seed tender can reach the central fill tanks. 

Conveyor tubes also come in different diameters.

“A 6-inch conveyor tube can do 16 bushels a minute of unload,” Mason said. “Whereas an 8-inch tube can get 35 bushels a minute, which is over double with just 2 additional inches of diameter. A larger tube could really increase your planting efficiency.”

Sales Patterns and Functionality

Andy Campbell, director of insights at Tractor Zoom, said that, unsurprisingly, used seed tenders follow seasonal sales patterns.

“I looked at data for close to 3,000 seed tenders sold at auction, and 25% of sales occur in March,” he said. “Including February and April, about 40% sell in those three months. Year-end sales in December make up about 20%.”

Campbell said the best time to find a good buy at auction is post-planting. 

If you’re in the market for a seed tender, historical auction data collected by Tractor Zoom shows July and October to be the months with the best buys.

“And if you can’t find what you want at auction, engage with your dealer,” he said. “Because if they don’t sell it in June or July, they have to hold it until probably the next spring, so they may be willing to work with you.” 

He added that the market for seed tenders has largely avoided some of the supply issues of the past few years, and that dealers report selling them almost as quickly as they hit their lots. 

“For one, the price point is reasonable for the value it provides,” Campbell said. “Since so many people are going to central-fill planters, it’s kind of a necessity.” He added that nice-to-have upgrades, such as remote automation and scales, often spur people to consider upgrading.

“All of those increased functionalities really allow a single farmer to plant on their own without being serviced,” he said. “And if that farmer is older, it makes a huge difference, because you’re not having to torque your shoulders or hands; the controls alleviate all that.”

Mason said Unverferth offers features including wireless remotes, which can operate the door control, conveyor, and up-and-down motion. A premium package adds wirelessly moving the conveyor side to side and controlling the engine throttle.

“Some features, like the wireless remotes, can be added with an upgrade kit to increase the features on a tender a farmer may already have,” Mason said.

Sales Data

A search of BigIron auction results for 2020 and newer seed tenders returned 41 recent sales, with an average price of $19,620. The highest-priced unit was $49,000 for a 2021 J&M LC390 Tri/A in Kansas, and the lowest was $3,500 for a 2020 CrustBuster Speed King in Oklahoma. 

Tractorhouse.com told a similar story, with 66 recent auction results for model year 2022 and newer seed tenders. The highest-priced sale was a 2022 Meridian 375 in Texas for $51,000, and the lowest was a 2022 Patriot 100 in Indiana for $6,000. The average sale price was $21,517. 

Typically, bulk tenders sold on the higher end versus box-style. Other factors influencing resale value were auger length and remote control features. 

Of the 66 sold on TractorHouse, 13 were Unverferth and J&M models, followed by 10 Patriots, with the remainder from a variety of other manufacturers. 

Big Iron posted sales of six J&Ms, Meridians, and Patriots; four Strobels and Unverferths; and the remainder from other brands. 

Campbell noted about a 10% depreciation rate per year across the board.

“Whatever your price was, if it was used for a year, it dropped 10–11%,” he said. “From the more expensive to the basic ones, it tended to drop at the same rate. Looking at models with the same features, with the only difference being their age, it was still a 10% depreciation rate.”

What to Watch For

When considering a used seed tender, look for several things before buying. 

“I’d say the top priority is inspecting the quality of the belt,” Mason said. “There are some big issues that can arise from a belt used beyond its expected life.”

For example, if a cleat were to come off the belt while in use, it could end up in your planter and plug the seed distribution system. Ultimately, you’d have to clean out your seed tank to find that cleat, taking valuable time during short planting windows. 

Mason also recommended looking at the inlet of the conveyor to check wear on brushes or seals. 

“Seed can fall down into the base of the conveyor, where you’ll start seeing it get chewed up, which really harms your quality,” Mason said. “With seed being such a high-dollar investment, you need to protect it.”

Mason advised checking a used unit for rust, which could indicate a previous owner used it for fertilizer.

“Once the conveyor and tank start to rust, you’ve put an end-of-life date on the seed tender — it’s not going to last forever anymore,” he said.

Other things to keep in mind are tire condition and wheel bearings; as miles accumulate on seed tenders, those items need to be replaced.