Farming is always a precarious business, but 2008 has been more difficult than most years for the American farmer living in the Midwest. They have endured unprecedented bad weather. There have been tornadoes, extreme flooding and sever storms. Whereas hundreds of thousands if not millions of people have been affected by the severe weather, none as much as the farmer.

In addition to the bad weather, record high fuel prices impact the farmer disproportionately. Whereas the typical consumer can elect to drive less the farmer does not have this option. The crops must go in, come out, and go to market regardless of the cost of gas and diesel.

In today’s economy, it is imperative that the farmer save money whenever possible. They must always be on the lookout for a good deal.

Tractors are an essential part of a farmer’s equipment and they don’t come cheap—which is why the market for used tractors is booming.

So you’re in the market for a used tractor, where do you look? There is of course the old stand-by—the classified ads. The classifieds in your local newspaper is certainly one option, but these days it is very limited. With the advent of the internet, you can now look for used tractors worldwide. A quick search on your favorite search engine will turn up plenty of dealers willing to sell you a used tractor, but you first need to make sure you know what you’re getting into. Avoid sites that charge you hidden fees, over time, these could add up so much that you’d be better off buying a new tractor. Dealers that sell their used tractors through eBay, such as www.saveonfarmmachinery.com, are a great option. eBay is a reputable service that charges the seller fees, not you.

One great tool in searching for the perfect used tractor is the Used Tractor Price Guide. This 328-page book has comprehensive information about virtually all of the farm tractors that were built from 1939 to 2003. The Used Tractor Price Guide details forty-four different tractor manufacturers and will probably cover just about any tractor you end up looking at. This price guide is an invaluable tool that will allow you to decide if a seller is charging too much for a particular tractor.

Look and see where the tractor is located. If you find one that is within driving distance of your farm, ask the seller if you can come and look at it. A hands-on inspection is worth its weight in gold. Used tractors that look beat up have probably not been cared for properly. Check out the axles for signs of leaking seals. Seals tend to be expensive to replace, and this will just be another cost to consider. Inspect the engine for any signs of repair or damage. Most used tractors will probably have signs of engine repairs; it’s inevitable for any machinery. You need to make any repairs made are not sloppy—sloppy repairs tend to mean that you will just have to have the engine repaired again soon. If the tractor has two pedals, make sure that both pedals actually work. Also, you want a tractor that has a wide front end, rather than a narrow one. Tractors with narrow front ends tend to easily roll over on hills, causing injury or even death.

All in all, if you are in the market for a tractor, your best option is to go for a used tractor at Save on Farm Machinery. Used tractors can get the job done just as well as a new one, but you need to be careful about what one you buy.