Quick answer: To finance farm machinery or an implement in Canada, check that the exact unit works with your tractor or other equipment. Then get an itemized quote for everything needed to put it to work, including missing controls, transport and setup. Ask what the loan or lease covers, what the farm pays separately and when the supplier expects payment. Do this before paying a deposit or bidding at auction.
Disclaimer: This article is general information only and is not tax, legal or accounting advice. Tax rules change and depend on your situation. Speak with a qualified accountant or tax advisor before making any purchase or filing decision. Mehmi Financial Group does not provide tax advice.
Key takeaways
- Use the manuals or supplier specifications for the actual tractor and implement configurations. Check hitch, power, hydraulics and controls.
- Price the complete package. A used implement may need a monitor, a different harness, replacement wear parts or a service call before the first field day.
- Ask the financing provider which line items it will cover and how it handles costs from more than one supplier.
- Put the first payment, delivery, setup and field test dates beside your first planned day of use.
Match the implement to the machine already on the farm
Start with the work. A planter needs to handle your row spacing and field conditions. A baler needs to make a bale your loader and storage setup can handle. A grain cart has to fit the tractor, the fields it crosses and the clearance around the unloading point. Put those details on the quote request. They give the supplier a way to propose a configuration and give you a basis for comparing it with another machine.
Write down the model, year and serial number of the tractor and implement. Use those details to find the right manuals and check any options fitted to either unit. For a used planter, ask whether the vacuum system runs off the tractor hydraulics or a separate power take-off pump. Manufacturer documentation shows that a particular configuration can require a closed-centre hydraulic system and a dedicated valve, while another uses a separate pump. Ask the supplier to confirm what is on this unit. Ask who will verify the tractor can run the required functions together.
| Check | Compare | Ask the seller to document |
|---|---|---|
| Hitch and load | Drawbar or three-point hitch specifications, allowable loads, loaded weight and clearance | Hitch setup, approved adapters, and any ballast specified by the manufacturer |
| Power take-off (PTO) | Required shaft speed, power at the PTO and driveline fit | Shaft and guarding included, plus any manufacturer-approved changes needed |
| Hydraulics | Flow and pressure at the required connections, available remotes and any return or drain requirements | Configuration of motors, hoses, couplers and simultaneous functions |
| Monitor and controls | Display, harness, connectors, software compatibility and any licence transfer | What transfers, what must be bought separately and who will test the setup |
| Use and transport | Field conditions, folded dimensions, loading access and storage clearance | Delivery, assembly, inspection and first-use support included in the quote |
Check specifications where the load or power is applied. For a PTO-driven baler, compare the specified power at the shaft with the tractor's PTO rating. A baler's options can also change the number of hydraulic remotes it needs. For a mounted implement, use the tractor maker's lift specifications at the relevant distance, and check its requirements for ballast and stability. Have the supplier or a qualified technician confirm the fit using the applicable manuals before a test or installation.
On a used machine, get photos of the serial plate and connectors. Ask for the service history, a demonstration where practical and an inspection focused on the work the implement will do. On a planter, that might mean checking row-unit play, wear on openers and the condition of the harness. Ask whether the current owner is keeping the display or any controller that was used during the demo. Put each included component on the bill of sale.
Price the package you can take to the field
A used implement's purchase price may leave several supplier bills. List the purchase, freight, installation and repairs separately. For a new machine, ask whether the quoted price includes freight, assembly, calibration and the first setup visit. If a display comes from one seller and a used implement from another, give both invoices to the financing provider before either seller expects payment. Ask who pays each seller and which items need separate approval.
Suppose a farm finds a used planter that matches its tractor once the missing cab controls are installed. The planter is $26,500. A compatible display and harness cost $2,400, transport costs $1,650, setup and testing cost $850, and the inspection identifies $600 of immediate wear parts. The field-ready package is $32,000 before applicable taxes and financing charges. Those are hypothetical figures. If the written financing quote covers the planter and transport only, that covers $28,150 of the listed expenses before any down payment. The farm must plan for the remaining $3,850 plus whatever other cash the deal requires.
Use that breakdown to compare a second implement, including any service work covered in its asking price. A higher-priced dealer unit with the right display and setup included may have a smaller total cost to get working. Check whether the dealer will test the controls with your tractor and what it will do if the planter fails the agreed check. Put the test and any remedy in writing before signing.
Build the financing request around the purchase and delivery
Give the provider the farm's legal name, the itemized quote, the serial numbers and a short description of where and how the equipment will be used. Include the invoices for freight or separately purchased components, the expected delivery date and any condition report on used machinery. Be ready to supply recent financial information and details of existing equipment payments. For startup financing through Mehmi, prepare bank statements showing at least six months of revenue.
For a dealer purchase, confirm what the quote includes and when it expires. Ontario's Farm Implements Act program explains provincial requirements for registered dealers, agreements and certain warranty and parts obligations. Check the rules for your province and ask which warranty or support applies to the specific machine and sale. For a private sale, confirm the seller's authority to sell, what the financing provider needs to verify ownership and how any existing registered interest will be handled. If a trade-in is involved, show the trade allowance and the settlement amount separately so the quote reflects the equity actually available.
For an auction, read the particular sale terms for payment, fees and removal. Ask the financing provider which documents it needs, whether it can review the machine before bidding and how it handles auction invoices and deadlines. Use the full cost of freight, fees and setup to set your bid limit. If the seller cannot confirm that the monitor or other components are included, price replacements before raising your bid.
Compare an equipment loan and lease on the same package and dates. For the loan, ask what the borrower owns, which assets secure the agreement and what remains payable if you sell the equipment before the term ends. For the lease, check the lessor's interest, how it handles separately purchased components and what it costs to keep or return the implement. Confirm what happens to a display or harness fitted to the tractor if the implement goes back. Put the scheduled debits into the farm's forecast and check whether payment starts before installation or the first planned use.
Frequently asked questions
Can I finance just the implement and use my current tractor?
An implement may be considered on its own. Give the provider a separate price and its year, make, model, serial number and condition. If the tractor needs an upgrade to use it, show the cost separately and ask which items the agreement covers.
What if the implement needs parts from a different supplier?
List each supplier and identify which invoice covers the implement, the parts and the labour. Ask for a written answer on which bills the provider can pay and when. Keep enough cash available to pay bills outside the quote so the implement can go into service on time.
How do I plan around delivery close to planting or haying?
Work back from the first field day. Allow time for transport, assembly and a test with the actual tractor. Ask what you can rent or contract out if the machine arrives late, and include that cost in the purchase decision. Check how a delivery delay affects payment and deposit terms.
Tools and next steps
See our farm and agriculture financing overview for other kinds of farm equipment. If you are reviewing a second-hand unit, use the used farm equipment age and hours guide and the Canadian private-sale equipment financing guide.
To discuss a farm machinery or implement quote, contact Mehmi Financial Group at 1-833-863-4644. Bring the itemized quote, the supplier's compatibility confirmation and the date you need the machine ready for work.
Disclaimer: This article is general information only and is not tax, legal or accounting advice. Tax rules change and depend on your situation. Speak with a qualified accountant or tax advisor before making any purchase or filing decision. Mehmi Financial Group does not provide tax advice.
Sources
- John Deere Canada planter vacuum and hydraulic configuration documentation
- John Deere Canada round baler tractor requirements
- Ontario Farm Implements Act program
- Example of published Canadian auction payment and fee terms
By Jodhbir Mehmi. See our editorial standards. Updated November 12, 2026.