Kelley Manufacturing

What Kelley Manufacturing does

Kelley Manufacturing Co. (KMC), headquartered in Tifton, Georgia, is a U.S. manufacturer of specialized agricultural equipment serving row-crop farmers, peanut growers, and commercial poultry producers. Founded more than 50 years ago, the company has built a 25+ SKU catalog across three verticals: tillage implements (deep-tillage rippers and strippers, field cultivators, bed shapers, tool bars, and row-crop cultivators), peanut harvesting equipment (Digger/Shaker/Inverters, Peanut Combines including an Unload-On-The-Go variant, and vine lifter/conditioner attachments), and poultry house equipment (litter pulverizers, blowers in tractor and skid-steer formats, cleanout machines, windrowers, wall cleaners, and washers). The company pioneered the first 4-row and 6-row Peanut Inverter and Peanut Combine, holds a patent-pending Cover Crop Roller design, and conducts product development and testing on a company-owned farm.

The business sells exclusively through an authorized dealer network with a public dealer-locator and dealer-login portal; equipment is quote-priced with no published MSRP, and revenue is generated from unit sales of capital equipment, a proprietary parts catalog, and a small branded-merchandise e-commerce line (apparel, hats, coolers, decals). KMC is structured as a 100% employee-owned ESOP, which it cites as a quality and retention differentiator, and has won the ASABE AE50 innovation award in four consecutive years. The firm has 101-250 employees, a single manufacturing/headquarters site in Tifton, and does not disclose revenue.

Name

Kelley Manufacturing

Legal name

Kelley Manufacturing Co.

Website

https://kelleymfg.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1970

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Kelley Manufacturing (KMC) is a Tifton, Georgia-based, 100% employee-owned manufacturer of peanut harvesting, tillage, and poultry house equipment, sold through an authorized dealer network to row-crop farmers, peanut growers, and commercial poultry producers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Agricultural Equipment Manufacturing

NAICS

Farm Machinery and Equipment Manufacturing (333111), Agricultural Implement Manufacturing (33311)

SIC

Farm Machinery & Equipment (3523)

akta.pro primary industry

Residue & Straw Management (Choppers, Spreaders, Windrowers) (AFAAAEAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Hay & Forage Machinery (Mowers, Rakes, Tedders, Balers, Wrappers) (AFAAAAAE), Shelling, Hulling & Dehusking Equipment (Rice Hullers, Nut Shellers) (AFAAAJAE), Crop Protection & Application Equipment (Sprayers/Spreaders) (IMAHACAC)

Keywords

• Peanut harvesting equipment
• Tillage equipment
• Poultry house equipment
• Agricultural machinery
• Farm implements

Headquarters

HQ city

Tifton

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Farm Equipment Sales: Core revenue from manufacturing and selling agricultural equipment including peanut harvesters, tillage equipment, residue management, harvest carts, and poultry house equipment. Sales processed through dealer network with quote-based pricing.
2. Parts and Accessories: Extensive parts catalog including bearings, belts, blades, hydraulic components, and specialized parts for KMC equipment.
3. Merchandise: Branded merchandise including hats, shirts, decals, and coolers sold through company website e-commerce.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Kelley Manufacturing designs and manufactures specialized farm equipment, with a core focus on peanut harvesting equipment (4-row and 6-row inverters and combines, diggers/shakers/inverters, vine lifters and conditioners), conservation and deep tillage implements (Rip Strip, Ripper Bedder, Rip Roller, field cultivators, row crop cultivators), residue management tools, and a complete line of poultry house cleanout equipment (litter pulverizers, blowers, washers, windrowers). The company complements equipment sales with an extensive parts catalog and branded merchandise, distributing through an authorized dealer network and direct website e-commerce.

Product overview

Kelley Manufacturing (KMC) is a manufacturer of agricultural equipment with over 50 years of experience, offering a diverse portfolio of farm equipment organized into five main categories: Tillage Equipment (including the 6700 Series Rip/Strip, 6800 Series Ripper Bedder, 6900 Series Rip Roller, 2100 Series Field Cultivator, Bed Leveler Inc, Bed Shapers, Wide Sweep Cultivator, and Speed Wheel Cultivator), Peanut Harvesting Equipment (including Peanut Combine, Unload-On-The-Go Peanut Combine, Digger/Shaker/Inverter, Vine Lifter, and Vine Conditioner), Poultry House Equipment (including Litter Pulverizer, Poultry House Blower, Poultry House Blower Skid Steer, Poultry House Cleanout Machines, Litter Windrower, Wall Cleaner, and Washer), and general farm implements including Harvest Carts (Hydraulic Dump Cart), Harrow (Phillips Rotary Harrow), Hay Equipment (Disc Mower Caddy), Residue Equipment (7500 Seed Spreader, Cotton Stalker Shredder Puller), and Tool Bars (6000 Series Tool Bars, 7100 Series Row Markers, 7000 Series Planter Lift Assist Wheel). KMC is an ESOP company that introduced the first 4-row and 6-row Peanut Inverter and Peanut Combine. The company also sells branded merchandise including hats, apparel, coolers, and decals.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• 6700 Series Rip/Strip Deep tillage implement designed for breaking hardpan and preparing in-row seed zones for uniform seed planting in conservation tillage conditions; features Reset on the Go shank technology and a patent-pending Cover Crop Roller. Targeted at progressive row crop farmers practicing conservation tillage.
• 6800 Series Ripper Bedder Deep tillage implement combining ripper shanks with disc gang assemblies to break hardpan and form uniform peaked beds in a single pass; designed for row crop farmers preparing seedbeds.
• 6900 Series Rip Roller Tillage implement that breaks hardpan across the implement width and levels the surface in heavy crop residue conditions while leaving an undisturbed surface appearance.
• Peanut Combine Mechanical harvesting equipment for peanut collection, designed to improve efficiency and reduce yield losses compared to traditional harvesting methods. KMC introduced the first 4-row and 6-row Peanut Combine.
• Unload-On-The-Go Peanut Combine Peanut combine with continuous on-the-go unloading capability, allowing harvest operations to continue without stopping for unloading.
• Digger/Shaker/Inverter Peanut harvesting attachment that digs, shakes, and inverts peanut vines for drying. KMC introduced the industry's first 4-row and 6-row Peanut Inverter.
• Vine Lifter Equipment for lifting inverted peanut vines for collection during the peanut harvesting process.
• Vine Conditioner Equipment for conditioning peanut vines during the harvesting process to optimize drying and collection.
• 2100 Series Field Cultivator Tillage equipment for field cultivation and seedbed preparation in row crop production.
• Wide Sweep Cultivator High-speed row crop cultivator available in 2, 4, 6, 8, and 12 row models with wide sweep gangs per middle for efficient weed control.
• Speed Wheel Cultivator Row crop cultivator with speed wheel design for efficient high-speed weed control in row crops.
• Bed Leveler Inc Tillage implement that levels beds, applies and incorporates chemicals, and prepares seedbeds in a single trip.
• Bed Shapers Equipment for forming beds in bedded row crop production.
• 6000 Series Tool Bars Agricultural toolbar systems for mounting various implements across the KMC equipment line.
• Tool Bar – Stack Fold (Rear Hinge) Folding toolbar with rear hinge stack-fold design for transport and field operations.
• 7100 Series Row Markers Row marking system for precision planting alignment in row crop operations.
• 7000 Series Planter Lift Assist Wheel Lift assist wheel system for planters to support weight and improve planting depth control.
• 7500 Seed Spreader Seed spreading equipment for cover crop and pasture seeding applications.
• Cotton Stalker Shredder Puller Residue management equipment for processing cotton stalks after harvest.
• Phillips Rotary Harrow Harrow equipment for seedbed preparation and residue management.
• Hydraulic Dump Cart Harvest cart with hydraulic dumping capability for transporting crops from the field.

Quantifiable outcome

• Mechanized peanut harvesting improves efficiency by over 30% and reduces peanut yield losses by up to 30% compared to traditional methods.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Orthman Manufacturing: Orthman Manufacturing produces tillage equipment, row crop cultivators, and fertilizer applicators with strong presence in the western US row-crop market. Its 1tRIPr and row crop cultivator lines compete with KMC's deep tillage and cultivator equipment.
• Landoll Corporation: Landoll Corporation manufactures tillage, planting, and material handling equipment including vertical tillage, disc harrows, and seedbed finishers. Its tillage product portfolio directly overlaps with KMC's 2100 Series Field Cultivator, Bed Leveler, and cultivator offerings.
• Kinze Manufacturing: Kinze Manufacturing specializes in planters, grain carts, and tillage equipment for row-crop agriculture. It is a direct competitor in the planting and tillage segments where KMC sells tool bars, row markers, and planter lift assist wheels.
• Great Plains Manufacturing: Great Plains Manufacturing (a Kubota company) manufactures tillage, seeding, and planting equipment including subsoilers, cultivators, and vertical tillage tools. It directly competes with KMC's 6700/6800 series deep tillage and cultivator product lines for row-crop and conservation tillage customers.
• AMADAS Industries: AMADAS Industries manufactures peanut harvesting equipment (combines, diggers, inverters, conditioners) and other agricultural machinery. It is the most direct competitor to KMC in the peanut harvesting equipment niche, offering overlapping product lines for the same southeastern US row-crop customer base.
• Bigham Brothers: Bigham Brothers manufactures peanut and tillage equipment including row crop cultivators, in-row subsoilers, and peanut combines. It competes directly with KMC across both peanut harvesting and tillage product lines for similar row-crop farmer customers.

Broad incumbents

• John Deere: John Deere is the dominant global agricultural equipment manufacturer with a comprehensive tillage, planting, and harvesting portfolio. While not a specialist in peanut equipment, its scale, dealer network, and growing conservation tillage offerings make it a key competitive force for KMC in row-crop machinery.
• AGCO Corporation: AGCO owns multiple farm equipment brands including Massey Ferguson, Fendt, and Sunflower Manufacturing, with tillage and planter products that compete against KMC's tillage portfolio. AGCO's broad distribution network and brand portfolio make it a broad incumbent competitor.
• CNH Industrial (Case IH): Case IH (owned by CNH Industrial) manufactures a broad portfolio of tractors, tillage implements, planters, and harvesters. Its Ecolo-Tiger and True-Tandem tillage lines compete with KMC's 6700/6800/6900 series in row-crop and conservation tillage applications.

Emerging players

• CrustBuster / Speed King Inc. CrustBuster / Speed King manufactures grain drills, planters, tillage, and fertilizer equipment primarily serving small-to-mid-acreage farmers. Its tillage and planting product lines overlap partially with KMC's tool bar and planter accessory offerings.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/KelleyMfgCo
• Facebookfacebook.com/KelleyManufacturingCo

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Kelley Manufacturing