Farmwithjunk
Super Member
Begin in Manitoba you probably have a shorter growing/harvest season. Most guys around me are done early and would have more than enough time to get a small custom job done. You are correct that there would be alot of loss if you waited too long. Like another poster I don't necessarily think there are many good combines around with heads for $3,000. In my experience the least you could get by with as a total for combine and heads for corn and beans would be $25,000 and that is probably pushing it. You still have to add in Maintenance/repairs and fuel. It may be easier to buy your own than have some custom work done, but there is no harm in investigating if a close neighbor would be willing to do it.
Here in Eastern SD we have guys that do conventional till, strip till, and no till. It depends on soil type/location, erosion potential, harvest window, soil moisture in the fall. All types have their time and place and there is no set answer.
I see the OCCASIONAL older combine that'll sell in the $3,000 range. That's generally 35 or 40+ years old, no head, or just one head, and what would be described today as a low capacity combine. Used corn heads sell really high if they're model that's in a popular row width (ie 30" rows)
Looking at used, but 20 years old or less, the prices jump up quite a bit from $3000..... I got a bargain a couple years back on a low hour 9610 Deere, 30' header, 8X30" corn head, all for under $60,000. Go back into the '70's and '80's and they'll sell a bit cheaper.
Due to the fact that all the NEW combines being built and sold now are MONSTERS compared to years ago, the older, smaller units are holding a strong resale value. Many small operations just can't make a new class IIX or class IX combine pencil out.
Older combines can be a real money pit. Find one that's been maintained on through time of sale and you'll do OK. Get one that's been ran 'till it dropped, and they get VERY expensive. If you can do most of the repairs and maintenance yourself....not so bad. If you need to hire a combine mechanic.....I hope you have deep pockets.
As far as "custom harvesters".... The availability of custom combining is a local issue. We happen to have a couple very reliable custom operators in this immediate area. They stay booked, but seem to stay reasonably caught up with demand. They don't range too many miles from home though.