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Digital Rights/Restrictions Management (DRM) technologies affecting new tractors are behind the continuing rise in popularity of the models. Particularly in the midwest, farmers are finding that 40-year-old tractors do the job with less trouble and expense.
Tractors manufactured in the late 1970s and 1980s are some of the hottest items in farm auctions across the Midwest these days — and it's not because they're antiques.
Cost-conscious farmers are looking for bargains, and tractors from that era are well-built and totally functional, and aren't as complicated or expensive to repair as more recent models that run on sophisticated software.
"It's a trend that's been building. It's been interesting in the last couple years, which have been difficult for ag, to see the trend accelerate," said Greg Peterson, the founder of Machinery Pete, a farm equipment data company in Rochester with a website and TV show.
Previously;
Reeducating Legislators on the Right to Repair (2019)
John Deere Just Swindled Farmers Out of Their Right to Repair (2018)
US Copyright Office Says People Have the Right to Hack their Own Cars' Software (2015)
(Score: 2) by aclarke on Friday January 10 2020, @04:11PM
Here in Ontario anyway, 2wd tractors like the one shown in the article aren't particularly sought-after. OTOH, 4wd tractors hold their value very well and it's hard to find a used one for a good price. I'm not sure when really, but about 20 years ago most manufacturers switched to mostly 4wd tractors. The differences in prices aren't so much about age vs. drivetrain.
The other driving factor here is emissions. Depending on when the tractor was manufactured and the engine power output, it may be subjected to Tier 1-4 emissions standards. For a larger new tractor, that will likely involve DEF and other technologies that add to the initial purchase price, increase running and repair costs, and reduce overall reliability. Overall I'm for these changes as they're the cost of having a better environment. However, for a lot of farmers, if they can find a pre-emissions 4wd tractor with decent horsepower, that's a valuable piece of equipment to keep around.
Remember also that the larger farmers who are buying 100+hp tractors are running quite a few tractors. They'll likely have 2 or whatever new large 4wd tractors with all the latest of everything. But they'll also want an older one around as well to keep their options open.