Any changes made to agricultural equipment parts need to be known by all people involved in the farming industry. With advances in technology, purchasing the latest in farm tractor parts can save you time in the field, making you more productive and efficient.

With so many news sources to decipher, it can be daunting to sort through all the information about agriculture equipment parts. Utilize technology, and search out informative sites online when beginning your research. Consider the following when tracking agricultural equipment parts news and trends:

1. Research online any new information available on agricultural equipment parts news and trends.

2. Pay attention to agriculture parts publications.

3. Share information with others in the farm equipment parts field.

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Stay current on changes to agriculture equipment parts via online sites

Although it may be difficult to digest all the information available on parts for agricultural equipment, try your best to stay informed on any changes in the industry. Check out industry leaders for daily updates if possible.

I recommend: Agriculture Online provides daily updated news on all things related to farm equipment. Look to Monroe Tractor and its e-newsletter, where you have access to new parts announcements and industry news. Check out Union Farm Equipment, and sign up for its newsletter. You can search through older newsletters on its site for any information you may have missed.

Subscribe to publications based on changes to farm tractor parts

Farm publications are one of the top sources of information for the nation's farmers. This is one of the most effective ways to remain informed about any advances to agricultural equipment and its parts. Familiarize yourself with changes to any sort of tractor parts. This can be new and improved machinery, or changes in the state or national requirements. Locate farm equipment-based publications that can keep you updated on important changes.

I recommend: Find product updates on parts for farm equipment at the website for Lessiter Publications' Farm Equipment subscription. Learn more about new products to be released as well as the industry's top dealer organizations. If you're interested in hard-to-find parts, and even used tractor parts, then look to Red Power Magazine, which is a publication geared toward collectors of International Harvester Company equipment.

Join organizations catering to agriculture parts

Associations and organizations can be a great way to stay current with any changes in farm equipment. By becoming a member, you can have access to newsletters, conferences or trade shows. You can also network with other members, trading information or maybe purchasing new farm equipment or buying agricultural equipment salvage used parts.

I recommend: The National Tractor Parts Dealer Association provides information regarding trade shows and conferences. Members enjoy selling and buying repair parts and equipment. You can also peruse the association's blog for any recent updates. Become a member of the Farm Equipment Manufacturers Association, where you can network with more than 700 other members.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Check with your favorite agricultural equipment suppliers to see if they have heard any recent information regarding the industry. Sometimes they might have the inside track on news for agriculture equipment parts.

Farm equipment requires a lot of maintenance, and every producer will have to find tractor parts and parts for farm equipment at some point. When you know where to look, you can locate agricultural equipment parts from reliable sources while also keeping expenses to a minimum.

The Internet can be a great starting point when searching for new and used tractor parts. Also, the following sources can help you locate those farm equipment parts that could prove a little more difficult to come by:

1. Tractor dealers and salvage yards, especially for specific brands.

2. Feed store or farmers' cooperative bulletin boards.

3. Tractor enthusiast clubs, especially for antique or used agriculture parts.

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Check out agricultural equipment salvage used parts online and near home

The first stop for finding agricultural equipment salvage used parts is a reputable salvage yard. You may get lucky and have a neighbor who knows of a great farm equipment salvage yard, but if you don't, find an online salvage yard database maintained by like-minded tractor fans.

I recommend: If your primary crop is hay, Combine World has late-model haying equipment and is constantly expanding its farm equipment parts inventory. Worthington Ag Parts includes other specialty equipment. Or, look for a more comprehensive listing of parts offered by Lorenzo Manufacturing.

Find other brand loyalists and their inside track to agricultural equipment parts

Make new friends who have a tractor just like yours. It's easier than ever with online interest groups. From lawn tractor parts to farm tractor parts, you're sure to find someone on these posting groups who can help you locate the parts you need.

I recommend: More than 1,200 members love their Massey-Ferguson garden tractors on Yahoo! and you can also find other groups with a simple search on Yahoo! Groups for your tractor's make and model. Antique tractor lovers congregate at Antique Farming website, which offers a forum for various farming and equipment topics.

Look for agriculture parts where you buy other supplies and feed

Your local farmers' cooperative or feed store bulletin board might be one of the best places to look for tractor parts suppliers. If you've already found all there is at your local stores, online bulletin boards are just as helpful, and you can often post requests for specific parts.

I recommend: If you get your feed at Tractor Supply Company, you can also get your agriculture equipment parts there. Find your local store and browse online sales for the best deals.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Ask your local farm equipment dealers how you can find local tractor enthusiast clubs. Members use the groups to locate the tractor parts they need and show off their antique rebuilds.

Just like its machinery counterpart, farm equipment parts can take a beating and may need to be replaced or repaired. If agriculture is your mainstay, then you need to have these parts on hand at all times, in case of any type of machinery emergency. You don't want productivity to decline simply because you forgot to order a few parts.

With so many agriculture parts options to digest, it can be overwhelming to determine which fit is best for your company. To help you out, consider the following when examining the pricing and costs of agricultural equipment parts:

1. Purchase new farm equipment parts for your business needs.

2. Save money, and buy used agricultural equipment parts.

3. Buy parts for farm equipment in bulk, which can ultimately save money.

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Locate brand-new agriculture parts to supply your facility's needs

If you're in a business that relies on agriculture machinery daily, then purchasing new parts may be your best investment. Most businesses provide a warranty if you purchase a new part; this may be the extra incentive your facility desires. Determine the needs required by your business, and then locate the agriculture equipment parts for sale. Depending upon the type of part you need, expect to spend anywhere from a few dollars to a few hundred.

I recommend: Messick's offers a lengthy library of agriculture and tractor parts for sale. Agri Industrial provides numerous options in agricultural parts. The company offers monthly specials, or you can view the full catalog.

Save considerably by searching for agricultural equipment salvage used parts

Salvaged parts for farm equipment come from the remaining working components of out-of-commission machinery. This type of agriculture used parts is usually very inexpensive, but the availability for specific parts can be sparse. If you purchase used or refurbished parts, then look to spend one-third to one-half of the cost that you'd spend on brand-new farm equipment parts.

I recommend: Find salvaged agriculture equipment parts, such as cultivators, discs, grain drills or planters from Voyles Equipment. All States Ag Parts lists rebuilt tractor and combine parts for sale. You can even complete an online request form for the parts that you need.

Purchase parts for agricultural equipment in bulk

Most farm equipment parts companies offer discounts for purchasing their products in bulk. The more you purchase, the more you save. Certain companies also offer free shipping on large orders. If you have storage space, buying in bulk is a great way to cut down your agricultural parts budget. Look to spend more overall when you buy in bulk, but the cost per item should be around one-third of the original cost.

I recommend: AGCO Parts supports a network of dealers who sell more than 1 million farm equipment parts and accessories. Tractor Supply Company not only focuses on tractors, but also tractor repair parts. Look to both of these companies to purchase your farm equipment parts in bulk.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Pay attention to any recalls that involve agriculture parts. Manufacturers should cover the cost and shipping to you, but it's up to you to stay informed if a recall should occur.

Farm machinery has a lot of moving parts. Unless you have a good understanding of agricultural equipment parts key terms, you may spend a lot of time at your local farm equipment dealer returning the wrong ones. Because it’s impossible to list all the parts of agricultural equipment individually, it helps to start with a basic list of things you may have on your farm. From there you can find key terms associated with that particular piece of equipment.

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Field cultivators

Field cultivators loosen and aerate the soil to prepare the ground for planting. After the field cultivator passes, the seedbed is ready for planting.

I recommend: You can see examples of field cultivators at Wil-Rich. You can read information about other pieces of agricultural equipment as well.

Chisel plow

A chisel plow is a good tool to till the ground deeply. The individual plow points loosen the soil and break up existing plant root systems from previously harvested plants. Because a chisel plow disturbs the ground less than a traditional moldboard plow, most farmers now use chisel plows in their fields as a form of soil conservation.

I recommend: Market Farm Implement provides more information about chisel plows.

No-till drill

A farmer can plant seed with a no-till drill without disturbing the previous year's seedbed. The planting shanks of the no-till drill cut through the old vegetation on the ground and allow the farmer to set the new seeds at the proper spacing and depth.

I recommend: For a detailed explanation of no-till drills and their parts, check out University of Missouri Extension.

Disc mower

A disc mower has a series of round discs with sharp blades attached. These blades, evenly spaced on a horizontal bar, cut grasses and hay by spinning rapidly in a circular motion. A disc mower comes with a heavy cover that goes over the cutting mechanism to protect the tractor driver from flying debris that the blades sling. Hay cut by a disc mower cures more quickly and is ready to bale faster.

I recommend: Read the article from the University of Wisconsin Extension to see the differences between a disc mower and a traditional sickle mower.

Hay rake

A farmer uses a hay rake to put cut hay into windrows for baling. A hay rake can also stir mown hay to help it cure faster.

I recommend: You can find more information about different parts of hay rakes from the Penn State University College of Agricultural Sciences.

Hay baler

A hay baler takes cured or properly dried grasses and forms them into bales for storage. It ties the bale with either twine or wire. Newer models wrap plastic covers around the bales for storage. Hay balers can make small round or square bales. New models of hay balers often make large round or square bales.

I recommend: AgrAbilityProject.org has detailed information about different types of hay balers.