2210 needs a big brother - need some input please.

[ddivinia]

I bought a 2210 with all the goodies last year when we bought our new place: 20 acres. The 2210 works for 95% of the stuff I do and it does an awesome job for yard, landscaping, etc. The turf tires in the field can be a pain (especially when you bury it). It does take a long time to mow 20 acres with a LX4. I am going to keep the 2210 and get another tractor.

Also, I want to bale my place. I have people bugging me for hay and I am going to put some cows out on my 160 acres. Baling hay is good for my ag exemption on my place - a nice savings on real estate taxes. I have checked into having others do it and I can't find anybody that wants to mess with my too small of a place. It would be much cheaper to have somebody else do it, but it does not look like it is going to happen.

I bleed green, but would entertain other options. The range on tractor is huge.

5303 - $15,900 (I wish they had it in 4wd)
5205 4wd - $21,700 (I need to beat them down on price) Non-turbo = less power, but less stuff to break?
5425 - $28K - not sure it is worth the extrea
5525 with Cab - $41K

MX8 for a shredder?

265 cutter?
702 rake?
348 baler?

front end loader?

Square vs. round bale (hay will be sold for horses more than likely).

Was thinking tractor and shredder this year. Get the grass in shape over the next year and start haying next year.

Is the $100,000 write off still good for 2005? Up toi $100K a year in accelerated depreciation right? Is it going to be around for 2006?

I know I asked a bunch of questions and probably didn't provide enough backrgound. I appreciate your input.

Regards,
D.

 

[Bob_Skurka]

<font color="red"> Is the $100,000 write off still good for 2005? Up toi $100K a year in accelerated depreciation right? Is it going to be around for 2006?
</font>

Yes. No, at least for the equipment I buy for work it is not acclerated depreciation, it is expensed. Now if you buy an SUV with a GVW greater than 6000#, then you write off the first $25K, take 20% depreciation and the rest (I think) is accelerated. Yes, I was told it will be around in 2006 and there is currently no sunset on the law. {I am not an accountant, this is the way I understand the information I got from my accountant}

 

[ddivinia]

Also - cab or no cab?

D.

 

[JESSE1]

I round baled for several years with an open station tractor. Had to use a dust mask and tried to bale heading into the wind. Having a cab makes all the difference in the world in regards to your comfort. Don't consider a tractor for baling without the cab!

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

You could save substantially if you bought used but it wouldn't help on any depreciation. You would think with all the depreciation available that the market would be flooded with used machines. I may be wrong for everywhere else but there is no plethera of used machines around here.

It is tough baling hay in an open tractor but many folks have done it for many years. There is not much money in hay, but it will keep a field looking nice whilst providing a tax exemption.

Go look in the Ag section and there are many old threads about getting into haying.

What part of Texas are you in? What type of hay will you want to grow?

 

[ddivinia]

Thanks for the input. I agree - where are all the cheap used tractors? I have been looking for used machines and it helps convince me to just buy a new one. Used ones have held their value nicely and have lots of hours. In many cases 5 yr old machines have only gone down 20% in value.

Thanks.
D.

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

My FIL has a 5420 MFWD which luckily I get to use as needed. It is one fine machine. I would like to think it is worth 80% of its original price.