|
|
Southwest michigan Berrien county | Grow about 800 acres corn on corn. Rotate some with specialty crops. Have neighbor that plants with his tractor and combines with his machine. It's gets done timely for most part. Pay custom rates for each process. We have are own trucks grain bins and have tractors capable to pull a planter. When is enough acres to justify are own equipment and how much should a guy spend on each item? Just wondering some of your opinions. |
|
| |
|
68340 | Buy your equipment when you would be spending less to get the job done. Figure depreciation, storage, repairs, fuel, headache of ownership. How much more per acre would you pay some one to take on all the above responsibilities as apposed to me owning all the machinery. |
|
| |
|
| What's the rate that you pay him for harvest and planting.. we have our own equipment but I sometimes say a combine doesn't pay very well at custom rates. The big advantage to a combine is you can harvest on your time and don't have to sit there and wait and watch your crop dry out. If he getc there when you want him I'd leave it the way it is.
|
|
| |
|
Clark Co. Wis | Agree with above...if planting and harvest are ontime....cheaper to continue with custom. If you are waiting for planter....get rained out and you have toorework or delays no- till , or usually have a short planting window....then get set up too plant it yourself. On harvesting....really hard to justify a really good combine. JMO.....John |
|
| |
|
| With 800 acres u should be able to justify it now i would think. If it were me with 800 acres id have 2 good tractors maybe like a JD 7810 and 4650. and have a JD 9500/9600 combine. |
|
| |
|
Western Iowa | I would add 'when you are spending less to get the SAME job done'
If seed stands are just average and so is combining is a lot different than a picket fence stand and very little harvest loss.
Billybob otherwise is right on. |
|
| |
|
Abilene, Texas | Your location makes a lot of difference! Really affects your planting, tillage and harvest windows. Plus the yield in your area makes a big difference in harvest time and labor. There are too many variables to give you an accurate answer. |
|
| |
|
Southwest michigan Berrien county | Location is southwest michigan. Half acres under pivot high yield 200+ A lot of our ground is "10 minute ground ". (To wet today ... To dry tomorrow). Right now all ground is worked. No notill. As for labor we help move from field to field when planting and in fall run grain cart and our our trucks back to our bin/dryer. |
|
| |
|
Fulton County Ohio | How good are you at maintaining equipment? Expect to spend more time working on equipment than driving it. Inflation has paid for more equipment than custom work. Own it, maintain it and sell it for more than you paid for it works well. |
|
| |
|
NESD | I would say with 800 acres you should try to get a combine and a planter. Another factor to consider when you own the equipment you build net worth as opposed to having that custom work payment gone every year. |
|
| |
|
Hazelton, Kansas | Brett,
Your age makes a "just a little" difference, also. If you are 58, with no kids interested in the farm, I'd continue to pay the custom bill. It's a different picture if you're 25.
Regards.
MDS
|
|
| |
|
20 Miles West of Indianapolis Indiana | I'd buy a planter before I bought a combine.
What does he harvest with? 8 row head? If so I'd look for a 16 row planter.
|
|
| |
|
The Internet | I think that the date you start planting or harvest is less important than the date you finish and would be something I would take into consideration in your position. |
|
| |
|
Alton, Ia | You certainly have enough acres to justify owning both, "here" anyway. But should you? Equipment is getting more technical, people are testing multi-hybrid, variable rate planters. Narrow row, twin rows, etc. One guy told me in 10 years planters will cost $300K and it will all be hired out. The bushel benefits will greatly outweigh the custom cost, so basically you'll be forced into it. I think he's full of it, and hope he's wrong, but who knows. Working with someone spreads your cost out and lets you keep up if technology does have paybacks.
Plus, good help is always hard to find and keep. Do you have it available? How will you get done then what your are doing now while he is planting?
IMO, I would talk to him about your desire to be more invested. Maybe you can own the planter together, maybe you can own something else, make it more of a joint venture than custom work. This all depends on how well you and he work together, and if you have similar goal and outlooks for farming. Maybe he's been thinking of buying a sprayer or such, you can buy it and trade off, etc.
Penciling out the buy vs hire decision is easy, building a good relationship takes the work. |
|
| |
|
EC IL | I do a pretty fair amount of custom farming for guys like you. Most of them just have between 120 & 300 acres but I do have one guy thats over 700 acres. I think sometimes they are making pretty decent money each year, not having the repairs, fuel bills, labor, interest etc.........but yet, they have to write out a pretty healthy check each year that is gone and not going towards equipment that they can sell when they retire. In our area planting rates run $15 on up and corn combining probably $30 on up. |
|
| |
|
| ...along with how much time do you have? Do you have an off-farm job that would interfere with timely harvest and planting? How far apart are the farms? Don't be scared into spending six figures on a complicated planter. A 7000 Deere planter can be bought for less than 10,000 and if you make sure you drive less than 5 mph and keep the units in shape you'll plant as well as the planters with all the bells and whistles. In this neighborhood if I didn't own a combine you can rent one for less than owning it. There are so many combines sitting on lots that haven't moved I'd try that before buying one. You might try renting one with someone else to share hauling equipment. With 800 acres I wouldn't rush into owning a sprayer especially if you can hire someone who is timely and knowledgeable. Talk to neighbors who no-till. You might save on equipment investment if you don't need tillage equipment. good luck |
|
| |
|
Western illinois | I started farming 35 years ago with 300 acres. I owned my own planter and combine. I wouldn't want to be at the mercy of someone else for 800. There is plenty of capable used equipment available out there to do you a good job. You don't need all the gps bells and whistles to grow a good crop. I'd look for an older 12 row planter and 6 row combine and do it myself if I were you. |
|
| |
|
Amherst WI | First I would ask if you have time to do it.
If you do then I would consider buying your own machinery to plant and combine your own stuff, you certinally have enough acres to justify it. |
|
| |
|
SC Kansas | Agree with much of above. Why not work your way up to one or the other? I'd setup to plant half the acres the first year and see what you think and how it goes. Planting gets really timely and I enjoy it. We are in an area with many custom options and they are all really good to work with. If we get behind or have planter problems or frustrations we won't hesitate to pick up the phone and get custom rolling. It sounds like your harvest setup is good for now. Get a planter first IMO. Some pretty good planter deals are out there. |
|
| |
|
franksville wi | Remember that it takes a lot longer to haul and combine yourself if you don't have extra help custom may be the way to go. A good planter should be doable with 800 acres. |
|
| |
|
Ohio | All above are great points to consider.
I'd add that it's not as easy as it looks.
You're in MI raising 200+ corn. (compressed planting and harvest window). I'm surprised your contract providers get crops in and out timely. I would not change unless you want to 'get out of the house' |
|
| |
|
| Well, it depends on the equipment that you think you have to have...As others have stated, you don't have to spend a fortune on machinery. Just a small fortune. ;)
Get machinery that will pay for itself quickly and I will tell you that it will be worth it to you...It doesn't have to be new or have a large price to do the job, or even do it better, that John Doe and his six figure setup is doing right down the road.
Just keep that in mind...But I will add, there's no way I would be farming that kind of acreage without my own equipment. Keep that in mind, as well. |
|
| |
|
NW Montana | If you have time to do it then maybe. Do your specialty crops tie you up when you would be planting? Do you have a line of equipment for specialty crops? If so do you have time to maintain more equipment?
There are many farmers who would be able to pay for custom work just on the header loss with beans. |
|
| |
|
ND | Can't believe that what your doing pays you anything not owning your own equipment, unless you think you have to buy everything New. |
|
| |
|
Osakis, MN | Here this year the "date you started planting"made about a 50 bu per acre difference in the final yield on our corn so you could take some opportunity cost into consideration too. I think with 800 acres you need to get your feet wet and decide if you want to farm the ground or have it farmed for you. You really need to figure how much more you might make off the land at this point if you just rented it out! |
|
| |
|
ND | With all the companies selling parts or the dealers themselves for planters & combines I'd be having the equipment myself. A planter like a JD 7200 can plant a crop just as good as the new planters -just keep it up-not hard. There gets to be a myth looking around at your neighbors maybe having the latest & greatest but older equipment works as well-your better off to farm while you can-your custom helpers maybe just want your land. If you bought say a lower houred JD 9500 or 9510 or 9550 & have it paid for -farming your acres & by taking to a dealer for green light, your repairs should only amount to about $6000/yr---your custom rate your paying maybe is $32000/yr & you've got nothing to show for it at the end of the year. Buy a planter & a combine. I farm a little more than you & have a complete line of equipment & do it all myself but a little hired help in busy times. |
|
| |
|
Minnesota | you have enough acres to justify some nice equipment should be able to get a nice 12 row planter and or a 9500jd or 2188 ih combine |
|
| |
|
Western Ky. | Picket fence singulation has never been proven to add more than 2 to 3 BPA. Even emergence is a much different story. |
|
| |
|
NW Montana | x2
|
|
| |
|
| If you have the time to do it you have more than enough acres to justify owning both a planter and a combine.
They don't have to be brand new and they don't have to be loaded up with every electronic gizmo that a salesman can dream up.
|
|
| |
|
Western Ky. | This all comes down to the time you have to devote to the enterprise. If you have the the trucking ability and are already moving the grain to the bin 2/3 of the battle is already won. Find a good 1480 IH, 8820 Deere, or 860 Massey and 6 or 8 row corn head and GO! In my neck of the woods it will run $30 per acre+ for the custom combine to run over the acres. Half way through the first year your own combine is paid for.
Planting is a little different if you are working the ground 2 or 3 times. Myself, I have learned to make notill work but I am 700 miles south of you.
Edited by Gro-Mor Farms 12/8/2014 14:23
|
|
| |
|
Osakis,Mn | In our part of the country, a planter would be the first priority because of the small window to get the crop planted on time. |
|
| |
|
NE Nebraska | You have enough acres to justify your own equipment. I have a nice 12 row 7200 if your interested |
|
| |
|
Middlesex County, Ontario | Look at the price of a used 12 row planter, and the same planter but 7-10 years older. Almost no difference in price. You can own a 12 row planter for the cost of fuel, tractor depreciation, and maintenance. You won't lose much, if any, dollars on planter depreciation. You can cover 10 ac/hr with a 12 row if you are somewhat efficient during fill ups and your fields aren't little triangles. If you have "10 minute ground" its something to look into.
Combines.... if you have the acres to justify a 6 row combine that breaks down sometimes and you can start right away, but your custom guy who can't start right away has a 12 row machine or 2...... Its not when you start, its when you finish.
You can run a large PT sprayer for ~$4-5/ac. Spraying is arguably more time sensitive than planting, and definitely more time sensitive than combining. That's enough savings to pay for a nice pull type sprayer. Nice pull type sprayer, or old 1480 with a 6 row head in a wet fall. Which will be less of a headache?
Edited by WildBuckwheat 12/8/2014 12:12
|
|
| |
|
Southwest michigan Berrien county | Thanks for all the input. To answer some of everyone's questions. I farm full time, mid 30's married with 3 kids, specialty crop is our main focus. We have 2 full time employees plus lots of part time seasonal help so we have time to do the work. Started growing corn about 6 years ago for rotation purposes on veg. Been adding pivots on dirt we own for better ROI. Basically paying avg custom rates.
Anything I missed?? |
|
| |
|
Southwest michigan Berrien county | 270 - 12/8/2014 11:39
You have enough acres to justify your own equipment. I have a nice 12 row 7200 if your interested
My email should be good. Give me some more info |
|
| |
|
chestertown, md | we do about 500 ac. we handle everything except harvest and hauling, including spraying. works well. |
|
| |
|
| I have a buddy that farms/owns 160 and hires all of it done. He pays 1/2 with the fuel what I charge myself.
Edited by Cattle Feeder 12/8/2014 19:27
|
|
| |
|
Floyd County, Iowa | Like someone said above, there really is no right or wrong answer. I hold a fulltime job in town working 45 (normal)to 90+ (in season) hours a week, and farm only 160 acres. I had an additional 160 until 4 years ago when I gave it up to keep my town job (mistake, but that's hindsight). Just couldn't do it anymore- gotta sleep sometime.
I've got a full line of equipment, all of which I had when I still farmed the additional acres- 9400 combine, 12 row planter, tractors, sprayer, wagons, truck, tillage, etc. A lot more than I needed for 320 acres, but I felt I had to have the equipment "oversized" to get the job done on time.
I hauled the crop from the other farm to town, and the crop here at home got dried and stored here. If I would have had it custom farmed, the dryer at home would have been a bottleneck, holding the combine up. Planting is, at times around here, a "right now, not next week" thing. Same with combining beans. Was just easier to own my own, and am happy with it. Just can't stand to pay for something I can do myself.
Besides, it wouldn't be any fun if I wasn't running the equipment.
my 2 cents |
|
| |
|
NW Illinois | Based off your scenario you do have enough acres to justify. I have a John Deere 7000 8 row 30" spacing for sale if your interested? |
|
| |
|
Northeast Indiana | oldbones - 12/8/2014 21:17
Like someone said above, there really is no right or wrong answer. I hold a fulltime job in town working 45 (normal)to 90+ (in season) hours a week, and farm only 160 acres. I had an additional 160 until 4 years ago when I gave it up to keep my town job (mistake, but that's hindsight). Just couldn't do it anymore- gotta sleep sometime.
I've got a full line of equipment, all of which I had when I still farmed the additional acres- 9400 combine, 12 row planter, tractors, sprayer, wagons, truck, tillage, etc. A lot more than I needed for 320 acres, but I felt I had to have the equipment "oversized" to get the job done on time.
I hauled the crop from the other farm to town, and the crop here at home got dried and stored here. If I would have had it custom farmed, the dryer at home would have been a bottleneck, holding the combine up. Planting is, at times around here, a "right now, not next week" thing. Same with combining beans. Was just easier to own my own, and am happy with it. Just can't stand to pay for something I can do myself.
Besides, it wouldn't be any fun if I wasn't running the equipment.
my 2 cents
Couldn't agree more |
|
| |
|
Floyd County, Iowa | Hey, farmbucks-
You might not be aware of it, but above, you told someone to e-mail you, but your e-mail is not listed in your profile. Neither is your general location. You might get a lot of more "accurate" responses to your inquiries if we have a general idea where you're located- NC Iowa, southern Florida, etc. It's not at all required, but it's nice to know, and people familiar with your area will be able to give you more specific info in many instances.
Just sayin.... |
|
| |
How many acres
