| vulcan900 - 3/13/2018 21:15 Used equipment is cheaper to buy but I am not sure it costs a lot less per acre to run. Repairs are expensive and I have seen a lot of cases with old bean heads that they are leaving more on the ground then the cost of hiring someone to do it..
If a guy pulls his own wrenches used equipment can make a place. My tractor was 26k with 6800hrs, that was around 10000hrs ago. No breakdowns over $500 in that span, last year I decided to redo engine, hydro pump, and a couple odds and ends $5000 out the door (my labor). Combine same thing $1800 is what I paid, $1500 straight head, $4000 cornhead. Put a radiator, concave/bars, few bearings $3200total and ran 3000 acres without a full day downtime throughout.
So for less than one new combine payment I can run an entire fleet of equipment (less than $30/ac). However, I know of a couple local operators that try to buy cheap junk and have the dealership/local mechanic fix it. That is where your point is well taken. |
Cost of production/per acre ???
