How much hp/weight would you want?

rambler · Mar 24, 2006

Financing aside, it sure would look sweet to me to get a good used 80-90 hp tractor for $15,000, saving you 5 grand, and giving you 2 tractors so you have no downtime for tractor repairs. Personally I find 1977 - ~1990 tractors to be more durable, rugged, & better lasting than the new plastic & computer chipped machines out there. My personal opinion, and without warrenty there is bigger risk, more chance of sticking bucks into an unknown machine.

Credit unions often do financing differently than banks, and there are ag-based financing companies that are getting more aggressive in looking for clients.

As mentioned we are all just discussing options, whatever works out for you is best. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

--->Paul

BarryinMN · Mar 25, 2006

I read a lot of what I went through in your comments. I bought the family farm and a JD model A came along with it. My new tractor drivers were primarily safety (ROPS & seat belt) and convenience diesel powered (to match other stuff I dragged in the barn.)

To make a long story short, I ended up buying a Zetor cab loader with 55PTO and 10K lbs. Pricewise it was $20K cheaper than the "big 3" in my area. I really liked the 5420 Deere but my first task was to lift a 40' container & the 5420 did not have the spec's for it. After 2 years and 200 hours it is still the right decision for me. Snow clearing at -15 and mowing at +95, helping neighbors who ride along in the jump seat...

I fixed up the A as a second tractor pulling trailers, wagons etc. I only drive one at at time but still save time picking & loading then transport & dumping.

Might ask a wider net of dealers about financing, my dealer had insight into county programs that subsidized interest on agricultural equipment purchases. I never heard it widely advertised but the funding was part of a larger rural capital investment push. Another point is that a dealer may have a customer wanting what you have so he will offer you more in trade because he knows the tractor will never sit on the used lot.

It might help to run the financials to determine break even timing with various scenarios.

Interesting thread, keep us posted /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

MarlandS · Mar 25, 2006

I'd seriously consider a second tractor for a variety of reasons since you're going to be doing custom work .

First, if you expand your acreage there's always the chance that the weather will close up the window of opportunity and you might need a second operator to be cutting or rolling while you are baling

Second even if you don't need the second operator , having the second rig hitched to the next tool can save a lot of time.

Third, as mentioned previously, downtime. Sometimes the window for baling quality hay is pretty narrow and having to wait on parts even overnight, can make a huge difference.

JoeinTX · Mar 26, 2006

When you've got a 3 year old tractor with 400 hrs on it, newer than a whole bunch of people on this board, I can understand the disenchantment with going through the trade process again. A cab is worth the extra $5-8K for comfort and such, no doubt.

Then again, noticing your avatar, maybe you should just wait while your union renegotiates the next contract and maybe they can guarantee you can get smaller fields having less density....solving your problems.

A great big grin..... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

zjohnson · Mar 26, 2006

MF 491/cab/4wd/MF 1070 fel/ bought 12/05=77ptohp = 35K. Same setup with a NHTL90 = 39k. A JD with 75 pto hp like above could not be bought for less than 40k. At least in my area( W TN ). As I see it, you have 2 options. Keep the 4wd open station that you have and buy a used 20k cab 2wd (at least) 75-? pto hp tractor. Of coures, the only time you will need the 4 wd is when you need the cab /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif - when you are putting the hay out in the cold, wet,muddy winter. Or trade/sell your current tractor and buy new within your 40k budget. My 77 pto hp does fine with 6x6 rounds (since the tractor is ballested to ~ 11k lbs). As many have suggested, I wouldn't go less than 75 pto hp.

jwcinpk · Mar 26, 2006

This whole process of deciding what fits my budget, my needs, and my wants has me disgusted. I should have bought a cab tractor the first time. Then again maybe I should forget this whole venture and keep my tractor, only do my own hay, and try to be complacent. It will take a lot of custom work to make the $20k difference. On the other hand even though it is work I really enjoy it.
I really feel like a 70 hp tractor will meet my needs here on my place. What would start using it up would be doing for everybody else. I'm not sure that's even profitable. At 170 acres I'm right between being too small to even bother with hay and too big not to.
Thanks to all that have let their thoughts be known.
What was it with that union crack? Here's some food for thought. Only 12% of americans belong to a union, but 63% of those asked would join a union if available to them.

Another Story:
It was 100 degrees that day and the ironworkers were working on the eighth floor of an office building under construction in the heart of downtown. One of the ironworkers sat down to eat his lunch and spotted a clerk gesturing to him from the building across the way.
The clerk had written a note he was holding up to his office window with a superior and a smug look on his face. The note bragged, " It's 70 degrees in here."
The building tradesman smiled and reached into his lunchbox and wrote on his napkin. He held it up for the clerk to read:
IT'S $30 AN HOUR OUT HERE!

HammerFour · Mar 27, 2006

I'll stay out of the heat vs hourly wage thing, but the statement about 12% of the US population belonging to a union but 63% of folks asked wanting to join a union only becomes meaningful if you know what percentage of the population was asked.

If you ask 100 folks and 63 want to join, that is all well and good but you can't extend that ratio to the nation as a whole unless that 100 folks is an even sampling of the nation. Even then the sample size is to small to be reliable when applied to the US population.

=)

jwcinpk · Mar 27, 2006

Of course any poll can manipulated. Those aren't my numbers. I've been following this whole "Coalition To Win" deal pretty close and that's where the numbers came from. I just know I'm glad to have a union!

BarryinMN · Mar 28, 2006

Back to crops: an acre of ginseng may gross well into 6 digits. 5-10 acs of hardwood veneer quality trees may get 6-7 digits of revenue after 10-15 years.

Or clean out the barn and add neon lights with dancing girls /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Farmwithjunk · Mar 28, 2006

I work for one of the largest general contractors in the state of Kentucky. We were union until 10 years ago. Rumor got out that the company was thinking about becoming NON union. We had a meeting with all the employees who'd been with the company for longer than 5 years. We put it to a vote, and 96 of the 105 employees polled cast their vote in favor of ELIMINATING the union. We are now a much leaner, more competitive business, with a better bottom line. Employees are happier, and life is grand.

I'm not sure what union official gave you those numbers, but they don't reflect reality in any way shape or form. Unions were needed back in the "sweat shop days" but have long since outlived their usefullness. They are in large part, the reason why so many of our jobs are leaving this country. The "You can't fire me, no matter what I do or DON'T do" mentality they foster has ruined many a thriving business.