earth tool
Earth Tools is the largest walk-behind tractor dealership in North America (over 5x the next dealer), selling BCS, Grillo, and Barbieri two-wheel tractors plus 45+ implements to U.S. small-scale farmers, market gardeners, and homesteaders from its Owenton, Kentucky base.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1977
- HeadquartersOwenton, United States
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What earth tool does
Earth Tools, Inc. is a privately held specialty equipment dealer headquartered at 1525 Kays Branch Road in Owenton, Kentucky, operating as the largest walk-behind tractor dealership in North America — reportedly over five times larger than the next largest dealer — and the only full-time power-equipment dealership in the U.S. dedicated exclusively to walk-behind farming equipment. Founder Joel has been using, selling and servicing walk-behind tractors since 1977; the entity Earth Tools, Inc. was established in 2003 and today employs 15 people whose combined BCS and Grillo experience is described as unmatched on the continent. The firm distributes BCS (Italian manufacturer founded 1942 near Milan; 500+ North American dealers), Grillo (Cesena, Italy; 60+ years operating), and one model of Barbieri walking tractors, alongside an extensive accessory and implement catalog.
The company's product platform is built around the walk-behind (two-wheel) tractor as a modular power source paired with PTO-driven implements covering soil working (rear-tine tillers, R2 Rinaldi power harrows, Berta rotary plows, subsoilers, bedshapers, Caravaggi strip tillers), mowing and groundskeeping (flail mowers, sickle bars, brush mowers, Caravaggi leaf blowers, pull-type aerators), seeding and spreading (Wizard ultra-precision vacuum seeders, Eden no-till drills, Hoss/JANG multi-row precision seeders, R2 Rinaldi drop seeders, Rescia Guiliano centrifugal spreaders, BCS compost spreader, Zilli and Eden Haraka jab seeders), haymaking (CAEB mini-round balers, Molon hay-rakes, bucket/rake), material handling (Caravaggi chipper/shredders, stump grinders, Erreppi driven-wheel utility trailers, Earth Tools power barrows), and specialty applications (Earth Tools Manual Crimper-Roller co-developed with the Rodale Institute, plastic mulch layer, PTO generator, water pump). Proprietary Earth Tools-manufactured implements — TDS tiller depth system, adjustable axle extensions, debris screen, mowing sulky, plastic mulch layer, generator, power barrows, bucket/rake — are sold alongside premium hand tools (Gulland Forge broadforks, Ammann and Rogue hoes, Spear-Head spades, Wilcox trowels, Hori-Hori knives, Hoss wheel hoes). Earth Tools also offers NETT Technologies catalytic-converter mufflers for greenhouse/high-tunnel applications and operates a bulletin board for second-hand listings.
Earth Tools runs a direct-to-consumer model: sales are taken primarily by phone (with a stated emphasis on consultation to match product to need), customers can visit the Kentucky demonstration site by appointment, and equipment ships 99% assembled directly to customers' doors. Revenue derives from one-time equipment sales (walk-behind tractors $3,000-$8,000+; implements $785-$3,200+; accessories $45-$760), spare parts (over $250,000 in inventory including new and used ACME engine parts and replacement engines), and a service and repair stream with dedicated in-house staff. Payment is required in advance (30-day terms offered to government agencies and universities), with discounts off MSRP, custom packaging, and modest cancellation/restocking fees. Customers are primarily U.S. small-scale and market farmers, homesteaders and serious gardeners, and professional landscapers/groundskeepers, with secondary relationships in government agricultural research (USDA Agricultural Research Station Alabama), specialty crop growers (hemp via Wizard vacuum seeders), and a mutual technical-consultation relationship with BCS America.
earth tool firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- earth tool
- Legal name
- Earth Tools, Inc.
- Website
- https://earthtoolsbcs.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1977
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- Earth Tools is the largest walk-behind tractor dealership in North America (over 5x the next dealer), selling BCS, Grillo, and Barbieri two-wheel tractors plus 45+ implements to U.S. small-scale farmers, market gardeners, and homesteaders from its Owenton, Kentucky base.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
earth tool industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Walk-Behind Tractors and Small-Scale Farm Equipment
- NAICS
- Farm and Garden Machinery and Equipment Merchant Wholesalers (42382), Farm Machinery and Equipment Manufacturing (333111), Agricultural Implement Manufacturing (33311)
- SIC
- Farm Machinery & Equipment (3523)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Farm Machinery Parts, Service & Maintenance Equipment (Spare Parts, Diagnostics, Workshop Tools) (AFAAAAAH)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Implements, Attachments & Quick-Hitch Systems (3-Point Implements, Couplers, Tool Carriers) (AFAAAAAG), Hay & Bale Handling Equipment (IMAHACAF), Farm Material Handling & Attachments (Loaders/Implements) (IMAHACAI), On-Farm Milling, Grinding & Feed Processing Equipment (Hammer Mills, Rollers) (AFAAAJAD)
Keywords
Where earth tool is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Owenton
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
earth tool business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Walk-behind Tractor Sales: Sales of BCS, Grillo, and Barbieri walk-behind tractors at discounted prices
- Implement Sales: Sales of over 45 different types of implements including power harrows, rotary plows, hay balers, flail mowers, tool-bar cultivators, bedshapers, plastic mulch layers, electrical generators, water pumps, snowblowers, stump grinders, and specialty seeders
- Parts and Accessories: Over $250,000 worth of spare parts in stock including new and used parts for ACME engines. Replacement engines and conversion kits. Accessories including axle extensions, wheel weights, quick couplings, PTO accessories, and specialty implements
- Service and Repair: Complete service for all equipment sold, with dedicated in-house service staff
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Walk-behind tractors ranging from BCS 710 7hp to BCS 853 13hp, plus Grillo models |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Implements - soil working (tillers, power harrows, rotary plows, subsoilers) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Mowing implements (flail mowers, sickle bars, brush mowers) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Specialty implements (stump grinders, chippers, spreaders, seeders) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Accessories (axle extensions, wheel weights, quick couplings) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Garden tools (broadforks, hoes, trowels, shovels) |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels4 records
earth tool product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Earth Tools is the largest walk-behind tractor dealership in North America (over 5 times larger than the next largest dealer), selling BCS, Grillo, and Barbieri walk-behind tractors alongside over 45 types of PTO-driven implements (tillers, power harrows, rotary plows, flail mowers, sickle bars, brush mowers, snowblowers, chippers, seeders, spreaders, hay-making equipment). The company also designs and manufactures exclusive implements including the TDS (Tiller Depth System), Crimper-Roller, Plastic Mulch Layer, Electrical Generator, and Power Barrows, supported by a $250,000+ parts inventory and in-house service operations.
Product overview
Earth Tools is a specialized dealer and largest walk-behind tractor dealership in North America, offering walk-behind tractors (also called walking tractors or two-wheel tractors) from BCS (Italy's largest manufacturer), Grillo (Italy), and Barbieri, along with over 45 different implements and accessories for these tractors. The product portfolio centers on the walk-behind tractor as a modular power platform that can operate various implements including: BCS and Grillo rear-tine tillers in various widths; R2 Rinaldi power harrows; Berta rotary plows; CAEB mini-round balers and Molon hay-rakes for haymaking; Caravaggi flail mowers, chipper/shredders, stump grinders, and strip tillers; Earth Tools-manufactured implements including TDS (Tiller Depth System), crimper-rollers, plastic mulch layers, generators, power barrows, and bucket/rakes; seeders from Wizard (vacuum precision seeders), Eden (no-till drills), Earth Tools/Hoss multi-row seeders, JANG precision seeders, R2 Rinaldi drop seeders, and hand seeders (Zilli jab seeder, Eden Haraka); lawn care implements including Caravaggi leaf blowers and pull-type aerators; earth Tools rock/landscape rakes; Erreppi driven-wheel utility trailers; Earth Tools mowing sulkies; BCS compost spreaders; Rescia Guiliano fertilizer/lime spreaders; plus garden hand tools including Gulland Forge broadforks, Ammann and Rogue hoes, Spear-Head spades, Wilcox trowels, and Hori-Hori knives. Accessories include wheel products (axle extensions, weights, wheels, steel cage wheels, tire chains, tracks), PTO accessories (quick couplings, extensions, adapters), and various other tractor/implement accessories.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- BCS Walk-Behind Tractors European-built single-axle walk-behind tractors from BCS (founded 1942 near Milan, Italy; sold in 80 countries). Designed as a single power source capable of operating many different implements, with All-Gear Drive and automotive-style clutch engineered for thousands of hours of service life. Earth Tools is the largest BCS dealer in North America, representing the BCS line exclusively.
- Grillo Walk-Behind Tractors Italian-made walk-behind tractors from Grillo (Cesena, Italy), manufactured for over 60 years, offered alongside BCS as an alternative line. Grillo and BCS are competitors but both are represented by Earth Tools.
- Barbieri Walking Tractors Italian-manufactured Barbieri Leopard walking tractor offered by Earth Tools in addition to BCS and Grillo lines to provide the most complete walking-tractor selection in North America.
- Walk-Behind Tractor Implements Over 45 types of PTO-driven implements for walk-behind tractors including tillers, power harrows, rotary plows, hay balers, hay rakes, flail mowers, sickle bars, brush mowers, snowblowers, sweepers, chipper/shredders, cultivators, bedshapers, plastic mulch layers, generators, water pumps, spaders, subsoilers, power barrows, straw choppers, stump grinders, vacuum seeders, drop seeders, crimper-rollers, lawn aerators, leaf blowers, buck-rakes, and rock/landscape rakes.
- Wizard Vacuum Seeders Italian-made multi-row ultra-precision vacuum seeders capable of handling any seed size with vacuum-operated singulation achieving virtually 100% seed singulation accuracy. Available for walk-behind tractors, 3-point hitch tractors, and as battery-powered self-propelled units.
- R2 Rinaldi Power Harrows Italian-made power harrows for walk-behind tractors, featuring press rollers and various widths. Earth Tools is the original and only importer of R2 Rinaldi power harrows into the North American market.
- Berta Rotary Plows Italian-made rotary plows for walk-behind tractors. Earth Tools is the original and only importer of Berta rotary plows into the North American market.
- CAEB Mini-Round Hay Balers Italian-made mini-round hay balers designed for small-scale haymaking with walk-behind tractors. Earth Tools is the original and only importer of CAEB hay balers into the North American market for walk-behind tractors.
- Molon Hay-Rakes Italian-made hay-rakes for walk-behind tractor hay-making operations. Earth Tools is the original and only importer of Molon hay-rakes into the North American market for walk-behind tractors.
- Caravaggi Chipper/Shredders and Stump Grinders Italian-made brush chippers, straw choppers, high-speed brush chippers, stump grinders, and strip tillers from Caravaggi. Earth Tools has brought many Caravaggi products into the North American market including implements not previously available.
- Earth Tools TDS (Tiller Depth System) Earth Tools-designed full-width roller system for BCS and Grillo tillers that regulates tilling depth precisely (0-3 inches) and leaves a level, pressed bed for precision multi-row seeding. Easy 2-minute mounting/removal with lever-type depth adjustment in 1/3 inch increments.
- Earth Tools Crimper-Roller Earth Tools-manufactured cover crop termination device designed in consultation with Rodale Institute. Uses steel barbell weight plates instead of water, 1/4 inch thick chevron-pattern crimper blades, exceeding Rodale design on crimp PSI by almost 25%.
- Earth Tools Plastic Mulch Layer Earth Tools-manufactured implement for laying plastic mulch on garden beds, designed for walk-behind tractor operation.
- Earth Tools Electrical Generator Earth Tools-manufactured electrical generator powered by walk-behind tractor PTO.
- Gulland Forge Broadforks Tennessee-made broadforks with forged curved tines and symmetrical points, available in Standard, Big Bertha, and Valkyrie 7-tine models. Earth Tools partnered with Gulland Forge owner Larry Cooper to offer these hand-made broadforks for primary tillage and carrot lifting.
- Hoss Wheel Hoes American-made (Georgia) wheel hoes with Amish-crafted ash handles and 15-inch steel wheels, available in single and double wheel configurations.
- Ammann and Rogue Hoes Swiss-made Ammann hoes with replaceable hardened steel blades (Colinear, Upright, Oscillating styles) and American-made Rogue hoes from recycled agricultural disc blades (Garden, Scuffle, Field, Hand styles).
- Tractor and Implement Accessories Wheel accessories (axle extensions, wheel weights, wheels/tires, foam-filled tires, steel cage wheels, tire chains, tracks), PTO accessories (quick couplings, PTO extensions, PTO adapters), tow couplers, drawbars, debris screens, engine-side weights, hour meters, battery maintainers, and other tractor/implement accessories.
- Spare Parts and Replacement Parts Over $250,000 worth of spare parts in stock including new and used parts for ACME engines, replacement engines and conversion kits, and parts to support the BCS, Grillo, and Barbieri walk-behind tractor lines.
- Equipment Service and Repair Complete service for all equipment sold by Earth Tools, performed by dedicated in-house service staff with deep BCS and Grillo expertise.
Quantifiable outcome
- Equipment designed for thousands of hours of service life vs. consumer-grade equipment
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use earth tool
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
earth tool technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
earth tool partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- BCS (Brarudi SpA)coreBCS is an Italian manufacturer of walk-behind tractors founded in 1942 near Milan, selling equipment in 80 countries with over 500 dealers in North America. Earth Tools is the largest BCS dealer in North America, representing the BCS line exclusively. BCS America regularly calls Earth Tools for technical consultation, indicating a close working relationship.
- GrillocoreGrillo is an Italian manufacturer from Cesena, Italy that has been manufacturing walk-behind tractors for over 60 years. Earth Tools represents the Grillo line of walk-behind tractors alongside BCS. Grillo and BCS are competitors but both are represented by Earth Tools.
- BarbieriminorBarbieri is an Italian manufacturer of walking tractors. Earth Tools represents one model of Barbieri walking tractor (Leopard) in addition to BCS and Grillo lines to give customers the most complete walking-tractor selection.
- R2 RinaldicoreItalian manufacturer of power harrows and drop seeders/spreaders. Earth Tools is the original and only importer of R2 Rinaldi power harrows and drop seeders into the North American market.
- CaravaggicoreItalian manufacturer of chipper/shredders, straw choppers, high-speed brush chippers, stump grinders, and strip tillers. Earth Tools has brought many Caravaggi products into the North American market including implements not previously available.
- BertacoreItalian manufacturer of rotary plows and flail mowers. Earth Tools is the original and only importer of Berta rotary plows and flail mowers into the North American market.
- CAEBcoreItalian manufacturer of mini-round hay balers. Earth Tools is the original and only importer of CAEB hay balers into the North American market for walk-behind tractors.
- MoloncoreItalian manufacturer of hay-rakes. Earth Tools is the original and only importer of Molon hay-rakes into the North American market for walk-behind tractors.
- Gulland ForgecoreAmerican manufacturer (Tennessee) of Gulland Forge broadforks. Earth Tools has formed a partnership with Larry Cooper, owner of Gulland Forge, to offer these hand-made broadforks which Earth Tools considers the finest on the market.
- Wizard (Mater-Macc)coreItalian manufacturer of vacuum seeders. The Wizard company was started by an engineer who previously worked for Mater-Macc (known for high-accuracy vacuum seeders) and improved on their design. Earth Tools stocks Wizard vacuum seeders in multiple configurations for walk-behind tractors and 4-wheel tractors.
- Rodale InstitutecoreEarth Tools consulted with Rodale Institute extensively in designing their Manual Crimper-Roller, based on Rodale's original crimper-roller designs for cover crop termination. Earth Tools made improvements on Rodale's design using steel weights instead of water and chevron-pattern blades.
- Mechanical Transplanter CompanyminorImporter of JANG seeders. Earth Tools directs customers to Mechanical Transplanter Company for JANG seed rollers, while Earth Tools provides the custom-adapted frames for walk-behind tractors.
- BCS AmericacoreBCS America regularly calls Earth Tools for technical consultation, indicating a close strategic relationship where Earth Tools' expertise informs BCS product development and support. Earth Tools also offers BCS-manufactured implements like the PDR (Precision Depth Roller).
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
earth tool competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- BCS America: BCS America is the North American master distributor for BCS walk-behind tractors, selling through a network of ~500 dealers. Earth Tools is the largest dealer in that network, so BCS America sits upstream as both supplier and indirect channel competitor.
- Kubota: Kubota's compact tractor line competes for small-farm buyers whose needs exceed walk-behind capacity, representing the natural upsell path for Earth Tools customers who outgrow walk-behind equipment.
- John Deere: John Deere serves the broader small-farm tractor market and competes indirectly for the professional small-acreage customer who might otherwise buy a walk-behind tractor.
- STIHL: STIHL is a global outdoor power equipment incumbent whose handheld and walk-behind tools (mowers, brushcutters, blowers) overlap Earth Tools' mowing/brush-clearing implement lines.
- Tractor Supply Co. Tractor Supply is a major rural-lifestyle retailer that distributes consumer-grade outdoor power equipment and competes for the entry-level buyer that Earth Tools' prosumer customers might otherwise start from.
Direct peers
- DR Power Equipment: DR Power makes walk-behind and ride-on outdoor power equipment for property maintenance, including tillers, mowers, and brush cutters that overlap Earth Tools' consumer-grade competitor set.
- Troy-Bilt: Troy-Bilt (an MTD-owned brand) sells consumer walk-behind tillers and outdoor power equipment in the US, competing for the same homeowner/small-acreage buyer that Earth Tools serves at the prosumer tier.
- Grillo: Grillo is an Italian walk-behind tractor OEM that Earth Tools represents in NA; they are a peer-supplier relationship, and Grillo's other NA dealers directly compete with Earth Tools for share of the Grillo line.
Emerging players
- Hoss Tools: Hoss Tools builds American-made wheel hoes, seeders, and small-plot farming implements aimed at the same market-gardener and homesteader segment; Earth Tools already adapts Hoss seeder frames for walk-behind tractors.
- Mechanical Transplanter Company: Mechanical Transplanter imports JANG precision seed rollers for small-scale vegetable farming; Earth Tools already refers customers to them, indicating direct overlap in the precision-seeding niche.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
earth tool social profiles
Digital presenceearth tool financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
earth tool leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
earth tool funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
earth tool M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about earth tool
What does earth tool do?
Earth Tools is the largest walk-behind tractor dealership in North America (over 5 times larger than the next largest dealer), selling BCS, Grillo, and Barbieri walk-behind tractors alongside over 45 types of PTO-driven implements (tillers, power harrows, rotary plows, flail mowers, sickle bars, brush mowers, snowblowers, chippers, seeders, spreaders, hay-making equipment). The company also designs and manufactures exclusive implements including the TDS (Tiller Depth System), Crimper-Roller, Plastic Mulch Layer, Electrical Generator, and Power Barrows, supported by a $250,000+ parts inventory and in-house service operations.
Is earth tool a public or private company?
earth tool is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was earth tool founded?
earth tool was founded in 1977.
Where is earth tool based?
earth tool is headquartered in Owenton, United States, in the North America region.
How does earth tool make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Walk-behind Tractor Sales are the primary driver. The others are implement Sales, parts and Accessories and service and Repair.
Who are earth tool's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are BCS America, Kubota, John Deere, STIHL and Tractor Supply Co.. Direct peers are DR Power Equipment, Troy-Bilt and Grillo. Emerging players are Hoss Tools and Mechanical Transplanter Company.
Does earth tool have an API?
No public API is recorded for earth tool.
What industry is earth tool in?
earth tool's product category is Walk-Behind Tractors and Small-Scale Farm Equipment. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFAAAAAH, Farm Machinery Parts, Service & Maintenance Equipment (Spare Parts, Diagnostics, Workshop Tools), with a secondary code of AFAAAAAG, Implements, Attachments & Quick-Hitch Systems (3-Point Implements, Couplers, Tool Carriers). Its NAICS code is 42382 and its SIC code is 3523.