Planter for Super M

nh269 · Feb 2, 2012

I own a Farmall Super M. I want to know what brand/model/size of planter would be a good choice for me to buy. I plan to plant 5-40 acres of corn on a farm with hills. I want to buy a used planter that has a history of being reliable.

Thanks in advance for any recommendations.

big jt · Feb 2, 2012

Number one suggestion would be a Deere 7000 four
or six row.

Tractor should be able to handle it and parts are
very available.

I would think for a Super M you want to steer
clear of rigs that require power input for the
metering. You don't have the hydraulics for a
Deere vacuum meter and IH and CaseIH Cyclos will
drop all the seeds out of the drum everytime you
step on the clutch.

Nother option would be a white or Allis air
planter that used the electric blowers but you
will need 12 volt with a alternater on your
tractor for that.

Really hands down would be the 7000 series Deere.
1240 or 494a deere would be a second choice.

HTH

jt

donjr · Feb 2, 2012

An M will handle just about anything you want to pull up to a six row. I may be predjudiced, but a four row 7000 series Deere or Kinze would be ideal.

Gene Dotson · Feb 2, 2012

My recommendation would be an International 456 or 656. Old technology with ground drive, but was a very good, reliable planter. Hydrailic lift adaptable to the M's single hydraulic.

Gene

fixerupper · Feb 2, 2012

I pulled a IH 58 six row 30" with disk openers but without fertilizer, with a 51 A Deere over 500 acres per year for at least ten years. The tractor had power to spare in fourth gear which was pushing 5 MPH wide open. Fifth gear throttled back to 5 MPH was a bit much. I also pulled a Deere 7000 six row 30" with the same tractor planting mudholes and it seemed to pull the same as the IH. With the 7000 the hydraulics have to be healthy for an old tractor's type of pressure to raise the markers. A super M has more poneys than a stock A so it should loaf along with a six row. I would think a super M could pull an 8 row 5 MPH of fairly flat ground if it can get traction.Jim

Bluehorse · Feb 2, 2012

I concur with the suggestions for an IH 456 series, or 58 series 6-row. Both are simple, reliable planters, and can be obtained relatively cheaply. Also, lots of them around for parts in most areas.
A JD 7000 is a great planter also. But depending on how much you want to spend, will cost a lot more for the amount of acres you will plant each year.
I don't know much about the older JD planters than a 7000, but I'm sure they are also very good, and can be bought quite reasonably.

Tom in TN · Feb 2, 2012

nh269,

Okay, I admit it, I'm a real old, real cheap guy. I wouldn't pay any attention to my advice if I were you. However, having said that, I used to farm 120 acres of row crop in Minnesota with a Super M. I bought two used John Deere 290, two row planters and tied them together to make a four row planter. The planters cost me $50.00 apiece. I planted 36 inch rows of corn and beans.

I don't know if it's possible even to find any old 290s today, but like I said, I'd pay more attention to the other guys on here than I would to me anyway.

Good luck,

Tom in TN

rrlund · Feb 2, 2012

I don't know where some people get things in their heads. Come on guys,a 6 row for 5-40 acres? Where's the common sense here. A two or four row plate type,that's it. Don't get something with fans on it with an old Super M either. Disc openers would be preferable.

Knoxcityfarmboy · Feb 2, 2012

John Deere 494a would be a good choice. Easy to work on, ground drive and doesn't cost much to buy at auctions.

gene bender · Feb 2, 2012

Whats for sale in your area any good honest dealer should be able to fix you up with something.

jbp · Feb 2, 2012

If it were me I would buy a KInze or Deere four row finger type planter. Plenty of parts available for either, good spacing and good depth control. Easy to switch to soybeans if you want. You can easily plant forty acres a day with a four row 30 inch planter. A two row model would do the job for your acreage , but don't think they are available with finger meters or good depth control. Joe

kj(seil) · Feb 2, 2012

don't recall the model number but pulled a 6 row ac plate type planter in the late 70's with dads super m helped him on weekends and evenings as much as possible.

cumminspuller · Feb 2, 2012

I bought a 494A last march at an auction for $300. Been used every year up until last year. I've bought several parts off another planter and have 2 more to go look at. You can still get some parts from Deere but I like to save as much as i can so used parts are fine for no more than I plant. I'd like to have a 7000 Deere but don't have the money right now for it and this is fine for what i do with it. Got a box full of plates for it as well.

DeltaRed · Feb 2, 2012

I use a JD #70 unit planter-4 row.This year I
'buckled up' 2 more units and made a 6 row.Planted
almost 70 acres this year.Put down liquid starter
fertilizer,too.Steve

GordoSD · Feb 2, 2012

JD 7000 4 row. If you are going to dedicate 40 acres to corn and do it right you are talking about a harvest worth about $36,000. I think you can afford a 8 thousand dollar planter.

Josh in Pa · Feb 2, 2012

I agree. With $300 seed corn and high commodity prices, I think a good planter will pay for itself quickly.
Josh

GeneMO · Feb 2, 2012

JD 7000's are going for $8,000? I think they could be had around here by the truck load for less than $2,000. We didn't pay that much for a brand new one in 1979, with heavy duty, No-till colters.

And those old 494's? They have two ways of planting. Too deep, and too shallow.

Gene

1468 Chris · Feb 2, 2012

I think id be looking for an IH 400 air planter, You can buy them super cheap and they are a good ol reliable planter, atleast mine is.

Anonymous-0 · Feb 2, 2012

400s were great but you really need a live pto or you drop all the seeds with every stop. An age appropriate IH or deere planter ground driven is the best bet if you can find one. Simple and usually cheap.

fixerupper · Feb 2, 2012

Close to 20 years ago I got rid of that 58 IH planter and bought a used very nice 7000 six row for $3700 on a farm auction. By far the best money I've ever spent. A 7000 will space the seed and keep the depth just as well as a brand new planter of any brand as long as you are under 5 MPH. The new ones do better than the 7000 at faster speeds if you're the kind of person who likes to go fast. Like what was mentioned before, when you plant $300 seed you want to do it right.

Another strike against an old plate planter, besides poor seed spacing is finding the right size seed to match your plates or vice versa. The 7000 does plant certain sizes better than other sizes, but there's still no comparison between finger VS plate. Jim

the tractor vet · Feb 2, 2012

I planted a lot of corn with a John Deere 1240 plateless and as long as you do it the old way of plow disc and plant it did a super fine job at 4.5 MPH . If we had not gone to notill we would still be using it and it would go to the field wright now and plant . It is just setting in the barn taking up space .

BarryfromIA · Feb 2, 2012

Find out how you are going to harvest it. If its a custom operator be sure your planter fits the method of harvest.

RossMN · Feb 3, 2012

6 row 30" Kinze or 7000 Deere for several reasons...

Only 1 hyd outlet needed, parts available through sloans and shoup catalogs cheaper than Deere, finger meters and kinze soybean brushes are more accurate than plates as today"s seed corn doesn"t seem to be graded that well (flats vs rounds and large and small) seed is expensive and you only get one chance to get it right. 6 row to get the job done faster, I assume OP works in town for a living (I know 4row 36" is close to the same width. 30" spacing is common "here" and it would be easier to find someone to custom harvest the crop. The only thing that would be a hang up that I can think of is a monitor that requires 12v. I have planted with Deere 1240 4-36" plate, 1250 6-30" finger and bean spillers and currently a 8-30" 7000 my best germ has been with the 7000. Your mileage may vary!

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