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Murfreesboro, Tennessee | Although I am a small producer, I have a small fleet of equipment in the field currently. A cotton picker, two module builders, a boll buggy, and four tractors (2 to the builders, 1 to the boll buggy, and 1 to the stalk cutter). In addition, I am killing too much time dumping on the module builder when the boll buggy isn't available, not to mention the labor cost and the amount of cotton I am spilling all over the place.
While waiting for the module builder to pull off, I was thinking it sure would be easier if I had a round baling picker.
Question: How many acres/bales harvested do you estimate it takes to justify a 7760 John Deere round baling picker. I know there are several variables that go into this answer,but just looking for a ball park.
I know it sure would make my life simplier. I am tired of keeping a small fleet of old worn out tractors running.
Thanks for any insight.
Edited by Roger/TN 11/18/2013 15:16
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NE Arkansas SE Missouri | At least 1500 acres |
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Sumner GA, Located in southwest GA, | Most around here that are large enough to have a rolling picker haven't given up the labor, just reassigned, ie the former builder is moving round bales, chopper is still chopping, someone is pulling stalks and planting cover crop if they are conservation minded. The smaller producers here seem to be moving more towards Case IH pickers, slower, not green but cheaper. Talking to a neighbor he said that most of these 7760s around are running a good deal of custom picking or are in partnerships between two farmers. Economics of it to me looks like you will never "justify" it unless you are independently wealthy or can cram 3000 plus acres through one in a season, even a used one right now, cheapest one I have seen was $425,000, that is still going to be somewhere around 2000 to 2500 acres to justify that, maybe. I just as of yet fail to see any real savings, headaches yes, savings no. How much is your headache really worth? |
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NE Arkansas SE Missouri | a case ih "wacky packer" is a real headache. Pretty well everybody that has one says you need an onboard mechanic. |
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Itta Bena Mississippi | The hidden numbers that sell 7760s is being able to get your fall land prep done about as fast as the picker runs. The problem I ran into with 6 row basket pickers was that I killed my ground crew keeping up.
Tom |
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Manila, Ar | If you are growing cotton for the long term......you can't afford not to have one.........:) |
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| The only thing I have against the picker is the wrap. The gin is pitching in and helping out on the wrap here, that is the Thorne that is in my side. The wrap just cost to much but would not go back to basket picker unless I just have to. I have one that will have about 850 fan hours on it when we get through picking this week that will be for sale if you are interested. It has been trouble free since I have had it. Was going to trade last year and glad I did not for the 2012 models, here, had a lot of problems. Back to the picker, my son in law runs the picker and most of the time he is by his self, for me and my other guy is in the bean field. We cut stalks and move modules when we have time or when it rains. |
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Northeast Louisiana | Local guy, who is on here and may chime in, is happy with one on 1100 acres. I've never seen acres as the determining factor on a decision like this-- if you're a little low on acres it just means you'll run it fewer hours and it will last longer.
Last year we ran ours over about 3200 acres, this year our cotton was late so we got antsy and hired some help and only picked about 1500 with ours. As it turned out, we could have gotten it ourselves but I've never wished crop was back in the field.
For years we were over-pickered and would pick our own plus some custom picking. The past few years we've been under pickered and hired some help. We just ordered another one if that tells you which side of that scenario we prefer.
Edited by Five Lock Boll 11/18/2013 19:49
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| There aren't any financial savings over the old fleet. Labour savings are nearly eaten up in wrap cost alone, let alone depreciation. We have 2 and do about 2500-3000 acres with each. Definitely a headache soother though, cut our picking crew from 40 to 4.
I view them as a lifestyle choice, and if I had too few acres to justify them I'd get a contractor.
I have 10 x 9960 for sale if anyone is keen :) |
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Farwell, Tx | 1000 acres and its covered |
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7760 JD picker justification
