The factors affecting the choice between new and used machinery are simple and well-known, or so we might like to think.

A recent survey by AMTEC, a retailer of used equipment in the UK, has picked up a few subtle nuances that influence purchasing decisions of its stock.

Quite unsurprisingly, it found that the two largest considerations were price and condition, with the latter being slightly more important than price, 26% against 25% of framers putting it down as their number one priority.

Yet another factor which is often cited as being a deal breaker, access to finance, is only considered the major concern of 2% of respondents.

Those who are seeking to buy secondhand may well be doing so precisely because they do not wish to borrow, therefore this figure should not come as too much of a surprise.

Of much more importance in encouraging the purchase of used machinery is the availability of grants for new machines.

The Sustainable Farming Initiative (SFI), or the The Farming Equipment and Technology Fund (FETF) in the UK are targeted at improving the sustainability of farming generally and does not place the emphasis on new machinery purchase as TAMS does.

There are grants of between £1,000 and £25,000 available but there is not the clarity as to items are eligible, but if it is certain that they do not apply farmers are three times more likely to buy secondhand.

Resale value is another important factor in purchase. 77% of respondents saying that it is important, while 23% were of the opinion that it isn't.

Maintenance costs were also noted as being important, with only 17% of farmers not considering them an issue. With older machines there is the expectation that repairs will be more frequent so it is accepted that costs will be higher anyway.

One of the reasons given for considering old machines over new was that different seasons will present different challenges and in more difficult situations the purchase of an implement to address one particular problem, that may not frequently recur, does not justify a new item.

When it comes to sustainability making a difference to the decision to buy new or used, only 2% of farmers thought it a strong consideration, 33% were moderately interested, 42% slightly interested, while 23% were not at all swayed on this score.

It must be remembered that surveys like these are snapshots in time and the same farmers when asked the same questions next year may have shifted their opinions due to changes in personal situations.