PaulChristenson said:
Well when you're plowing or baling...you'll be running wide open or you have more tractor than you need for the job which is NOT cost effective farming...
That seems true enough, but for a serious farmer -- which I most definitely am not due to lack of funds, time, and land -- a CUT running wide open is probably more costly than a bigger but older machine running at part throttle.
Has anyone ever done a survey or something similar to determine the ratio of people here who farm for a major part of their income versus the rest, who more or less have a tractor to enhance a rural lifestyle? I don't mean that in a derogatory manner. It just seems that most of the posters here use their tractors as part of a hobby or secondary activity, so the tractors are very useful, very helpful, very nice, and very fun, but not a necessity. I could get along without mine if needed. It would be a lot more like work making and bringing in firewood, cleaning the barn, clearing the driveway, and a hundred other things I use it for, but if I sat down and did the math, the thing would undoubtedly be an expense, not a source of increased income or savings.
We debate all the points like HST vs. Gear, solid color vs. plaid, and so on with great interest and passion for our points of view, but what percentage of us actually depend on the machines for our livlihood? I would guess less than 20%, not counting dealers and such who post here. Given that, the debates are by and large matters of opinion and thus somewhat moot. Buy and use what you like and wish you had the space and money for one of each.