Buying a shredder or hiring it out

[bdog]

The cost for a shredder, or for paying to have it done will likely be higher at the end of ten years than today. How would buying affect your taxes/depreciation, and do you want to have a shredder? That would be real light use, so I think a good name should hold its value. Are you good with having to wait a while to mow it sometimes, or is it sensitive to time? Would you ever work it for others, or would it only pay you back your investment?

You bring up a good point. I plant a crop and graze 15-20 calves every year. I do this as a side business and file it on my taxes. Last year I bought a 6k wheat drill and a 2k chisel plow. My accountant cautioned me on having my cattle operation classified as a hobby if I kept losing money every year due to buying expensive equipment. For example this year I spent just shy of 20k on calves and hope to make around 3k profit on them.

 

[TripleR]

It really just depends on your personality and priorities. Our renter will shred everything and keep my roads up on one of our farms where I live, but I hate operating on someone else's schedule, so I bought a tractor and equipment to do it myself and not have to depend on someone else or run another tractor between farms. What is important to some of us may not be to you and vice versa.

We have quite a bit of acreage so we buy new, but for less frequent, less acreage, I would seriously consider used as they come up occasionally around here.

 

[bdog]

I do enjoy the mowing as my tractor has a cab / AC / stereo and is comfortable. The shredders I am looking at are 10-15' and I would be able to mow the 18 acres in just a few hours.

 

[newbury]

I do enjoy the mowing as my tractor has a cab / AC / stereo and is comfortable. The shredders I am looking at are 10-15' and I would be able to mow the 18 acres in just a few hours.

Then buy the darn thing and enjoy the toy!

 

[TripleR]

We use a 10'6" Woods DS1260 on one of our farms with a cab tractor and you sure can get a lot done and it's a bit more maneuverable than the 15' in addition to being a lot cheaper with less maintenance. We got the cv PTO shaft for sharper turns and less wear.

 

[Citydude]

Are you sure someone will mow for $19.40 an acre? Sounds amazingly low to me.

 

[GreenYellow]

Trying to follow your rationalization...

If you can justify a 135 horse tractor for only 22 acres, what's the problem justifying a huge mower too? (I mean that respectfully)
What's the difference? Both are likely to be considered overkill by us po-folks.

 

[smstonypoint]

Are you sure someone will mow for $19.40 an acre? Sounds amazingly low to me.

According to an A&M survey, the average 2013 rate for "pasture shredding" in Texas was $22.06/acre with a range from $12/acre to $60/acre --
Custom Rate Survey | Extension Agricultural Economics.

I have seen custom rate surveys from various states and the surveys often reveal rates that are below the estimated total cost (fixed + variable) of providing the custom services.

Steve

 

[bdog]

Trying to follow your rationalization...

If you can justify a 135 horse tractor for only 22 acres, what's the problem justifying a huge mower too? (I mean that respectfully)
What's the difference? Both are likely to be considered overkill by us po-folks.

The big tractor is a 1980 model. It probably cost me less than many of the newer compact tractors on here. I got the big tractor because I plant crops every year. You can't pull much of a chisel plow with a small tractor. Heck I can only pull a 10' chisel with my 135hp. I also have future plans of acquiring more acres down the road but that is likely many years from now.

As to the $19 and change an acre that is probably about right in my area. This isn't huge acreage but it is flat, rectangular, and gets plowed and planted every year so it isn't difficult shredding. Lots of guys in my area with bat wings that shred CRP that could knock it out in no time.

 

[Gem99ultra]

I just love problems like this... i.e. Do I buy a platinum watch, or just settle for a gold one? I think you should just settle for the platinum watch. Enjoy the dilemma.