I’ve appraised a number of walnut processing faculties in the past few years, some for California Section 2000 shareholder disputes, others for IRS gift and estate tax, and one outcome has been consistent: the value of walnut processing equipment is not what it was. These current low values are mostly due to two intertwined factors:…Read More
Spray Dry Technology: Atomizers and Evaporators
We regularly appraise food processing plants, and one constant is that they are all fascinating. From the basics of rice and almond processing, the specialty equipment of row-crop packaging and winemaking, to the intricacies of legacy facilities, I remain amazed by the technology. When I was hired by a CPA to appraise his client’s evaporation…Read More
Case Study: Lowering Property Tax Costs on Wine Tanks
A California client, one of the oldest continuously operated family-owned wineries in the country, wanted to review their equipment values with an eye toward possible property tax appeal. Including in the holdings were tanks, bottling equipment, support machinery and equipment including forklifts and wastewater systems, agricultural equipment, restaurant equipment and, of course, office and administrative…Read More
Specialty Equipment: Orchards & Vineyards
Big changes are happening in California agriculture! As farmers convert massive amounts of acreage to orchards and vineyards, abandoning annual crops like tomatoes and rice, farming equipment is changing as well. As one would expect, orchard and vineyard crops use entirely different machinery types, especially for harvesting. This is an interesting transition for appraisers of…Read More
Drought and its Impact on Valuing Agricultural Equipment
Several equipment appraisal report clients have recently asked me to include information on California’s on-going drought conditions and how current and continuing conditions might affect the value of the equipment appraised. It’s an interesting situation for an equipment appraiser to be in. As a rule, equipment appraisal reports state that the opinion of value provided…Read More
Valuing Ag Equipment in California
Had a chat this morning with a fellow from a governmental lending agency who wanted to know if I’d like to be their go-to equipment appraiser for agricultural equipment in California — from the Mexican border up to the edge of Oregon. Would I? Yessir, I believe I would. Thanks for asking! I’ve written before…Read More
CARB Tractor Rule: Rumors & Reality
As a machinery and equipment appraiser working in the Central Valley of California, I appraise a fair amount of mobile diesel-powered agricultural field equipment: tractors, of course, but also harvesters, sprayers, shakers, sweepers, and on and on. As anyone with an interest in diesel equipment knows, over the last several years the California Air Resources…Read More
Appraising Electrostatic Spraying Systems
Most equipment appraisers are captivated by some of the equipment they appraise and that’s certainly true of me. Earlier this year on an equipment appraisal inspection in the Salinas Valley I had the pleasure of chatting with a couple of agricultural mechanics who had modified several dozen ESS (electrostatic spraying systems) sprayers especially for berry…Read More
Raisin Harvesting Equipment: Now & Then
Raisin harvesting equipment has sure changed since I was auditing Sun-Maid raisins with CPA firm KPMG back in the 1980s. Of course that was over 30 years ago, as my son enjoys reminding me! We closed the equipment appraisal office on opening day of the State Fair and took a field trip over to Sacramento…Read More
Trailer Values 2012
I often tweet truck and trailer stats. Partly because I am, after all, an equipment appraiser who enjoys inspecting and researching transportation fleet equipment, and partly because truck and trailer sales could be seen as economic indicators. Last time I wrote about trailers, the used market was strong. That doesn’t appear to have changed, especially…Read More
Appraising Agricultural Equipment in Salinas
Salinas, CA – Ag equipment appraisals in Salinas are always a good time. First, there’s that good looking equipment! From top-of-the-line standards to well-maintained, customized classics, the sprayers, spreaders, planters & seeders, harvesters, tractors and other equipment tends to be some of the best in the state. Assets like that are a real treat for…Read More
Appraisals along the Central Coast
What was this equipment appraiser thankful for in November? I got to spend most of Thanksgiving week working in & enjoying California’s Central Coast, focused on an inspection of a manufacturing concern for tax estate purposes in the Salinas Valley area and one very long day of ASA meetings in Costa Mesa. The non-work related part?…Read More