Artex Manure Spreader Availability: Winter 2021-2022 Update
By: Derek Bontrager, Equipment Sales
As we head into late fall and winter, activities turn from harvesting and tillage to spreading and applying nutrients for next year’s crops. While we admittedly are still learning the ins-and-outs of dry manure spreading, we do know the busy time for buying Artex manure spreaders tends to be from November to early April.
We have been working at trying to get our stock up of new and good used Artex manufactured spreaders heading into this season—and have been able to the last couple of years. Unfortunately, going into 2022 it does not look as promising. While we have been able to secure a timely supply of the Artex SB200 (a quick-rising star in the lineup), the larger SB and SBx models have not fared as kindly. We are currently experiencing 10 to 12-week lead times on all retailed units. Artex manure spreader units that we ordered for stock earlier this year (and late in 2020) have been converted to retail sales at a 100% rate. We have secured more build slots for stock units but expect most of them to be converted to retail units prior to arriving in Hills.
One of the reasons for the high retail conversion rate is Artex manufacturing allows us to make changes to the unit we have ordered for stock prior to its build date. For example, a spreader is ordered for stock as a gray SBx800 with vertical beaters. Our customer wishes to have a black SBx600 with Cyclone beaters. We can make the change with the factory (if given proper lead time), the customer gets what they want, and we can plan for the next unit.
We are often asked if we will work with other dealers to get Artex spreaders. We will, provided the logistics work out and availability is not an issue. Unfortunately, we are not the only dealer that is very low on supply. Many people are finding out that Artex dry manure spreaders are excellent units, and the factory is working hard to keep up with the demand this year. Like many other products we are all dealing with, demand is outpacing supply—by a wide margin.
If you are thinking of updating your dry manure spreader, we will be glad to work with you and get the model and specifications that best suit your needs. You just might have to be patient.
For more information about Artex dry manure spreaders, please contact Derek Bontrager, Chase Kalous, John Yoder or Rob Frank.