You’ve chosen a terrific way of integrating images and text into your website. Move the image anywhere you want in this container and the text will automatically wrap around it. You can display events team members new products and more easily and creatively. To start add an image from the Image Picker and edit it as you would edit any image in the system. For example you can link the image to existing pages in your site a website URL a popup or an anchor. After you’ve chosen the image add your text. You can add text that describes the image you’ve selected or simply use the image for decorative purposes. \nYou’ve chosen a terrific way of integrating images and text into your website. Move the image anywhere you want in this container and the text will automatically wrap around it. You can display events team members new products more easily and creatively. To start add an image from the Image Picker and edit it as you would edit any image in the system. For example you can link the image to existing pages in your site a website URL a popup or an anchor. After you’ve chosen the image add your text. You can add text that describes the image you’ve selected or simply use the image for decorative purposes.

What Is Sourcewell?

David KM • July 17, 2026

A Smarter Way for Government Agencies to Buy Equipment

If you work for a municipality, school district, county government, public works department, parks and recreation department, or another public agency, you've likely heard of Sourcewell. But what exactly is it, and how can it help your organization purchase equipment more efficiently?

The answer is simple: Sourcewell is a cooperative purchasing program that helps eligible organizations buy equipment and services through competitively solicited contracts, saving time, reducing administrative work, and ensuring compliance with procurement requirements.

What Is Sourcewell?

Sourcewell is a government agency that develops nationally solicited cooperative purchasing contracts on behalf of public organizations across the United States and Canada. Rather than conducting your own lengthy bid process for every equipment purchase, your organization can often purchase through an existing Sourcewell contract.

Thousands of organizations use Sourcewell each year, including:

Cities and towns
Counties
State agencies
School districts
Colleges and universities
Parks and recreation departments
Public works departments
Fire and emergency services
Utility districts
Nonprofit organizations that qualify

Because the contracts have already been competitively awarded, many organizations can purchase directly while remaining compliant with their procurement policies. Always verify your organization's purchasing requirements before making a purchase.

Why Do Government Agencies Use Sourcewell?

Traditional bidding processes can take weeks—or even months—to complete. Sourcewell helps simplify purchasing by providing access to contracts that have already gone through a competitive solicitation process.

Benefits include:

Faster purchasing process
Reduced administrative workload
Competitive pricing
Procurement compliance support
Access to nationally recognized equipment manufacturers
Streamlined purchasing documentation

Instead of starting from scratch, purchasing teams can focus on selecting the equipment that best fits their needs.

Equipment Available Through Sourcewell

Many of today's leading equipment manufacturers participate in Sourcewell, giving public agencies access to a wide range of commercial-grade equipment.

At K&M Lawn, Garden & Arborist Supplies, we proudly offer several brands available through Sourcewell contracts, including:

Scag Commercial Mowers

Whether you're maintaining city parks, athletic fields, school campuses, or municipal properties, Scag commercial mowers are built for durability, productivity, and professional-quality results. From zero-turn mowers to stand-on and walk-behind models, Scag equipment is trusted by grounds professionals across the country.

Gehl Construction Equipment

Public works departments and municipal maintenance crews depend on versatile equipment every day. Gehl skid steers, compact track loaders, articulated loaders, and attachments are designed to handle projects ranging from road maintenance and snow removal to material handling, landscaping, and construction.

STIHL Professional Outdoor Power Equipment

Grounds crews need equipment that's reliable, efficient, and easy to maintain. STIHL offers a full lineup of professional-grade chainsaws, trimmers, blowers, hedge trimmers, pole pruners, and battery-powered equipment designed for commercial users, municipalities, schools, and parks departments.

Who Can Use Sourcewell?

Organizations that commonly qualify include:

Local governments
County governments
State agencies
Public school systems
Colleges and universities
Special districts
Public safety agencies
Certain nonprofit organizations

If you're unsure whether your organization is eligible, K&M can help point you toward the appropriate Sourcewell resources.

How K&M Can Help

Purchasing equipment is about more than choosing a brand—it's about selecting the right solution for your application while navigating the purchasing process efficiently.

Our team works with government agencies, schools, municipalities, and commercial organizations throughout Virginia to help identify equipment that meets operational needs and fits within available procurement options.

Whether you're looking for:

A fleet of Scag commercial mowers
A Gehl compact loader for your public works department
Professional STIHL outdoor power equipment for grounds maintenance

We can help you understand your options, answer equipment questions, and assist with the purchasing process.

Ready to Learn More?

If your organization purchases equipment for parks, public works, schools, municipalities, or other government operations, Sourcewell may help simplify your next purchase.

Contact K&M Lawn, Garden & Arborist Supplies to learn more about Sourcewell purchasing and explore our lineup of Scag, Gehl, and STIHL equipment. Our team is here to help you find the right equipment while making the buying process as straightforward as possible.

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John Deere vs. Yanmar Compact Tractors

August 26, 2026

John Deere vs. Yanmar Compact Tractors: Which Is Right for You? If you’re shopping for a compact tractor, there’s a good chance both John Deere and Yanmar are on your list. Both brands have long histories in agricultural and compact equipment, loyal owners, and tractor models designed for everything from property maintenance to small farming. The better question isn’t necessarily, “Which brand is better?” It’s which tractor is the better fit for your property, your jobs, and your budget. Here are some of the key differences to consider when comparing John Deere and Yanmar compact tractors. Both Brands Have Deep Agricultural Roots John Deere is one of the most recognizable names in agriculture and has been building agricultural equipment for generations. Its compact tractor lineup is widely used by homeowners, farmers, landscapers, municipalities, and commercial operators. Yanmar also has a long history in agricultural equipment and diesel engine manufacturing. The company has been building diesel engines and tractors for decades and is especially well known for compact diesel power. One interesting connection between the two brands is that Yanmar has historically manufactured engines and equipment for other major tractor companies, including John Deere on certain compact tractor models over the years. That history helps explain Yanmar's strong reputation for compact diesel engines. Engine and Power Both manufacturers offer diesel-powered compact tractors designed for long service life and fuel-efficient operation. Yanmar is particularly known for designing and manufacturing its own compact diesel engines. In many Yanmar tractors, the engine, transmission, drivetrain, and tractor are engineered as an integrated system. John Deere also offers proven diesel engines across its compact tractor lineup and has a strong reputation for dependable power. When comparing tractors, don’t look at horsepower alone. Consider: PTO horsepower Loader lift capacity Hydraulic flow Tractor weight Transmission type Three-point hitch capacity Tire options Implement requirements A tractor with slightly less engine horsepower may actually be the better machine for your work depending on its weight, hydraulics, transmission, and attachment capabilities. Loader Capability For many compact tractor owners, the front-end loader becomes the most-used attachment on the tractor. Loaders are commonly used for: Moving mulch Handling firewood Cleaning barns Moving gravel Loading trailers Moving manure Landscaping Snow removal Carrying logs and brush Both John Deere and Yanmar offer loader-equipped compact tractors. When comparing them, look closely at lift height, lift capacity, breakout force, attachment compatibility, and how easy it is to remove and reinstall the loader. The right answer depends on what you actually expect the loader to do. Transmission Choices Hydrostatic transmissions are extremely popular in compact tractors because they make frequent forward-and-reverse work easier. That can be particularly useful for: Loader work Landscaping Mowing around obstacles Snow removal Barn work Both John Deere and Yanmar offer hydrostatic transmission options in their compact tractor ranges. Depending on tractor size and model, buyers may also have different transmission configurations available. Someone doing heavy ground-engaging work may value different transmission characteristics than someone primarily mowing, landscaping, and performing loader work. Operator Comfort Comfort matters more than many first-time tractor buyers expect. If you spend several hours on a tractor, things like seat position, control placement, visibility, steering effort, and ease of getting on and off the tractor become important. Both John Deere and Yanmar have focused heavily on operator-friendly compact tractors. The best way to compare them is simple: Sit on both tractors and drive them. Check how easily you can reach the loader joystick, three-point controls, PTO controls, pedals, and other frequently used functions. A specification sheet cannot tell you which tractor feels more natural to you. Attachments and Implements Compact tractors are valuable largely because of what you can attach to them. Common implements include: Rotary cutters Finish mowers Box blades Land planes Tillers Landscape rakes Post-hole diggers Pallet forks Grapples Backhoes Snow blades Spreaders Both Yanmar and John Deere tractors can operate a broad range of three-point and PTO-powered implements. You don't necessarily have to buy every attachment from the tractor manufacturer. Many implements use standardized three-point hitch and PTO systems. That gives tractor owners a large selection of aftermarket implements. Warranty and Ownership Costs Purchase price is only one part of owning a tractor. Before buying, compare: Tractor price Loader price Financing offers Warranty coverage Required maintenance Parts availability Dealer support Resale value Cost of attachments Yanmar frequently attracts buyers looking for strong tractor capability for their investment. John Deere benefits from tremendous brand recognition and a large dealer network. Depending on the models being compared, the price difference can sometimes allow a buyer to purchase an additional attachment or move into a larger tractor. That is why comparing equally equipped tractors is important. Dealer Support Matters as Much as the Tractor One of the most overlooked parts of buying a compact tractor is the dealership. A good dealer can help you size your tractor correctly, select attachments, get parts, perform routine maintenance, and handle repairs when needed. That relationship may last for decades. When evaluating any tractor brand, ask: Does the dealer service what they sell? Do they stock common parts? Can they help match implements to the tractor? Do they understand the type of work I do? Will they support the machine after the sale? A great tractor supported by a poor dealership can become frustrating very quickly. John Deere vs. Yanmar: Which Should You Buy? There is no universal winner. John Deere may be a great choice for buyers who value the familiarity of the Deere brand, its extensive product lineup, broad dealer presence, and strong resale recognition. Yanmar may be a great choice for buyers who value Yanmar’s diesel-engine heritage, integrated tractor design, straightforward compact tractor lineup, and competitive equipment packages. The best tractor is ultimately the machine that has enough capability for your work without forcing you to pay for significantly more tractor than you need. Compare the Tractors Based on Your Property Instead of choosing based on the logo on the hood, start with the work. Ask yourself: How many acres do I have? What am I mowing? Will I be using a front-end loader regularly? Do I need to move round bales or pallets? Will I maintain a gravel driveway? Do I need a backhoe? Will I be working in woods or tight spaces? What implements do I expect to use? Once you answer those questions, comparing tractor models becomes much easier. Looking at a Yanmar Compact Tractor? If you're comparing compact tractors for your property, K&M Lawn, Garden & Arborist Supplies can help you determine what size tractor and attachments make sense for the work you actually need to accomplish. Rather than simply looking at horsepower, we can help you compare loader capacity, tractor weight, PTO power, implements, transmission choices, and overall equipment packages. Sometimes a smaller tractor is plenty. Sometimes moving up one tractor size makes a significant difference. The goal is to help you choose the right tractor for the job — whether you're maintaining a few acres, running a horse property, managing a small farm, or simply looking for a versatile machine that can work around your land for years to come.