How do I check a turfgrass farm’s harvesting machines and cutting schedule?

Machines come first. Ask for a list of harvesters, loaders, trucks and trailers with age, hours of use and repair history. Watch a harvester cut and roll a section. Listen for noise, look for leaks and worn blades, and ask the operator what goes wrong most often. An independent mechanic can give a clearer opinion than the seller.

Then study the schedule. Ask how fields are rotated, how long each one needs to regrow before cutting again, and how orders are matched to ready fields. A farm that sells more than its fields can supply will struggle, while one with idle fields may be underused. Ask to see field records for recent seasons.

Ask also how weather, delivery distances and crew availability change the plan. Finally, ask your accountant how equipment is carried on the books and whether any is financed or leased. Ask who will operate the machines after the sale, because a harvester is only useful in skilled hands. Training an operator takes time you should plan for.

Key takeaways

• Watch each harvester work and ask the operator what fails most often, and what they would replace first.
• Compare the cutting schedule with orders and field regrowth notes, and ask who sets the plan each week.
• Check whether machines are owned, leased or financed, and who will run them after the sale.
• Plan time for training a machine operator if the current one is leaving.