Me city folk....

[ges]

Boy did I learn some more stuff, (just the beginning) about farming.!

Behind my 1.0 Ac plot is about 50 ac. 25 of that is what you guys, (tbn,ers) call tillable. The owner leases it out. Anyway this year it was soy-bean, and yesterday they picked or harvested.

What an operation, at least to me. They had 2 JD 9500 pickers. They seemed to be going 90 mph and wouldn't stop to talk, which I can understand. But I was thinking alot while watching them. Like.........

What does a machine like that cost....
Who was the Engs. that designed it.....
What does it cost to run it..fuel, maint, ect...
How could the farmer even make ends meet...

It sure put my BX to shame, I hid it till they were gone..

I WAS IMPRESSED...George

 

[F350Lawman]

Being a reformed city boy myself, I have had similar questions.

All ya' have to do is walk up to the farmer and say " I know how to drive a tract[or, give me a call if you ever need a hand, here's my #_ _ _ - _ _ _ _"

You WILL get called and you WILL soon learn much about the farming they are doing. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

I did similar and eneded up baling hay and shopping corn during many nice days in August and September. It was hard but fun.

 

[RichZ]

Please don't take offense at this, because, I don't mean any, but if I was George, I wouldn't do that. The BX is a very useful machine, but there's a world of difference between operating a BX and operating a farm tractor.

 

[F350Lawman]

Actually I was half joking, I am sure George doesn't need a new hoobby /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

In my case it wasn't THAT much different aside from a huge size difference. The farmer has JD 3020/4020s and I have a 790. Pretty much the same deal shifting and FEL work. Actually his tractors shift easier as they have SOME synchro gears. I also did the grunt work, he baled or chopped and I mostly raked, teded, blew the silage into the silo and ferried carts back and forth.

Just having someone who can run get stuff ready to balestuff back and running stuff back and forth saved tons of time for him.

 

[thcri]

As I grew up I was a city slicker, but worked on farms. Actually I guess I spent more time on farms but lived in the city.

There is lots of times when I drive in the country now I would just love to pull over and kick the farmer out of his tractor or rig and tell hime to go do something else and I would plow for him or whatever he was doing that day. I miss the farm, I even miss milking cows if you believe that!! /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

And anyone driving a little one can drive a big one. The bigger ones make you stand prouder and taller and are nicer to drive.

murph

 

[Bird]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I even miss milking cows if you believe that!! )</font>

Well . . . , maybe believe it. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif Milking the cows was sometimes enjoyable and I wouldn't mind doing it again occasionally but that twice a day, every day, regardless of the weather or anything else is one thing I don't miss about the farm. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[cowboydoc]

I'm with Rich on this one. There is quite a difference between operating a small and a large tractor. If you're out in the middle of a field doing nothing but driving sure. But hook something up and then worry about raising and lowering implements etc. it's a different ballgame really quick. I never let other people drive my equipment that aren't experienced. There are just too dang many accidents to take this lightly and put inexerperienced operators on big equipment. I'm certainly not saying somebody can't learn but to equate driving a BX to driving a 100 plus cab hp tractor with a load of hay or a 10 ton wagon of grain behind isn't real rational in my opinion. That's kind of like saying driving a semi is no different than driving a pickup.

 

[higgy]

you guys have forgotten about the 4 am cold as a well digger you know what and getting slaped up the side of the head with a not so clean tail, havent you? /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

Can't turn'em off.

No, bustin sod is it for me, and rasing some beef cows on the side. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[bigblock]

Every summer I go home to Pa.. I have a cousin who owns several farms there. I look forward to taking his 4255 with a 15' mower and mowing huge fields. Very relaxing and satisfying. Love the sound of that big 6 cylinder turbo diesel and the feel of all that power! Uphill through goldenrods higher than the hood and never strains a bit. You really should get to know your neighbor. Farmers can always use a little help, especially during harvest times, and I think that you would enjoy it.

I'd love to farm for a living if you didn't need about $10 million just to get started. Not too many prosperous small farmers in todays world.

just plain Bob

 

[Bird]

Nope, Higgy, I sure have not forgotten those days although we didn't milk until 5:30 and the only heat or light we had outside the house, in the barn, in the henhouse, etc. was a kerosene lantern. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif