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Actual farming with an A.

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Zman

11-20-1999 05:24:37




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I have a 41 A that I have used to prepare my seven acres and plant to native prairie grasses. Now that that is done, I don't have anything else to do with the A. Eventually, I can cut the grass, rake and bale it but that might be a couple of years away. My A has not been restored but it is in fairly good shape with good oil pressure. Here is my idea:

I have a neighbor who has 20 acres of wheat stubble and I was thinking of contracting with him to plow it with my two bottom JD plow. I realize that my A has a finite life but if I could contract for an appropriate amount of money, when it came time for overhaul, I would have some cash available to get it done. If this works with the 20 acres, there might be some other ground close by to plow too.

So what do you all think? Is this a good idea or am I just wearing out my A? The second part of this question is, how much per acre is a fair amount to contract for?

Thanks for your opinion, Zman.

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DEERED

11-23-1999 18:35:37




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 Re: Actual farming with an A. in reply to Zman, 11-20-1999 05:24:37  
Pulling a 2 bottom 14" inch plow one has to travel 3.5 miles to plow 1 acre this is according to the 81st ANNUAL EDITION OF THE FARMERS POCKET LEDGER passed out by our local JOHN DEERE dealer this was in 1946. Figure a neighbor will pull 10 bottoms that are18 inch and he gets about 60 an hour for custom work he would be done in a little over an hour and he will plow a lot deeper he will also travel faster.

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Nathan

11-21-1999 07:56:44




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 Re: Actual farming with an A. in reply to Zman, 11-20-1999 05:24:37  
Zman, Go for it. That's what these tractors were built for. Yeah, they are slow compared to the modern ones, but compare the purchase price. If your A is in reasonably good shape, you should be just fine. You're not going to make much, but it will be more than if the A were sitting still(maybe). I wouldn't contract with anybody until I found out if it were practical. Just try it one time and see. Keep up with your time. It's all up to you. I have done work for folks just to have something to do. Sometimes I get enough to pay for the fuel. Other times I made money. I'm not sure what the going rate here in GA is now, but I'll find out if you want to know. Like the other guy said, these old tractors keep going and going and going!!!
Good Luck, Nathan

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Zman

11-21-1999 09:37:03




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 Re: Re: Actual farming with an A. in reply to Nathan, 11-21-1999 07:56:44  
Hi Nathan,

Yah, if you don't mind, I'd like to know what the going rate per acre is in GA. It'll give me a starting point anyway.

Thanks, Zman.



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Nathan

11-23-1999 10:00:35




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 Re: Re: Re: Actual farming with an A. in reply to Zman, 11-21-1999 09:37:03  
Zman, I haven't been able to get a straight answer from anyone. One guy said he wouldn't even crank up for less than $15 per acre. One other said $12-$15 for light bushhogging and $30 for harrowing. These probably aren't accurate. Most want to look at job, then come up with price.
Good Luck, Nathan



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lc

11-21-1999 15:16:18




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 Re: Re: Re: Actual farming with an A. in reply to Zman, 11-21-1999 09:37:03  
We used to get $3.00/ acre in Tn. Course that was in mid 50's. It may be a little more now.



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DP

11-20-1999 22:31:25




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 Re: Actual farming with an A. in reply to Zman, 11-20-1999 05:24:37  
Go for it ZMAN, if I lived closer I'd be there to help you. Don



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Buzz

11-20-1999 19:52:17




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 Re: Actual farming with an A. in reply to Zman, 11-20-1999 05:24:37  
I'm not a farmer. I love two cylinders and plowing is the most fun I've ever had with a tractor. Get yourself A good drag plow and have fun. Don't worry about making money,that's what works for. Enjoy that A Buzz



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RonMC

11-20-1999 17:37:32




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 Re: Actual farming with an A. in reply to Zman, 11-20-1999 05:24:37  
HI - I agree with the rest of these guys. I live on an acre, and have 10 about an hour away. I do a little brush hog, loader, snow plowing, etc for neighbours at $40/hr, but the main thing is I get to play with my toys, and would probably do it for nothing, but so far they haven't caught on. There's nothing quite like coming home dusty, and a little tired after hours of using your machine for what it was built for. Go for it !!

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Chad Wink

11-20-1999 17:18:53




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 Re: Actual farming with an A. in reply to Zman, 11-20-1999 05:24:37  
As one who has plowed far more acres than I want to think about, rest assured that it looses it's fun aftert abou the 2nd hour. After that its just around in circles or squares or whatever, as the center (unplowed) area gets very slowly smaller.



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Chad Wink-Again

11-20-1999 17:20:13




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 Re: Re: Actual farming with an A. in reply to Chad Wink, 11-20-1999 17:18:53  
And that was with a 720 Diesel and a 555 4-14 plow, so it went a heck of alot faster than an A. Still took forever and 3 weeks.



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zane

11-20-1999 15:43:57




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 Re: Actual farming with an A. in reply to Zman, 11-20-1999 05:24:37  
With a 2-plow unit, you should turn at least 2 feet wide at a pass. Your tractor will probably travel at about 3 mph. At that rate, it will take you about 14 hours to complete the job on 20 A. Your tractor, your gas, your plow, and your time; should be worth ???.

But wait! I haven't allowed for the fun you're going to have! Perhaps you should do it for nothing. Think of it as taking your tractor for a walk. Maybe you should pay him for giving you an opportunity to exersize your tractor!

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Plant Doctor

11-20-1999 17:05:20




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 Re: Re: Actual farming with an A. in reply to zane, 11-20-1999 15:43:57  
Hey Mr. Zane: I have done a lot of plowing with an "A" and a "B." We had a couple of JD #44 2 bottom 16 inch plows. The best I could do was about an acre an hour and maybe not even that by the time I figured plowing in the dead furrows and doing a good job. And the length of the rows and the amount of turning needed in each field also entered into that one acre an hour. But, form my past experience it will take 20 hrs+ to do a nice job on that 20 acres. But 20 acre will never hurt that "A" it will just keep the cylinders shined up. One thing that did always amaze me when we plowed with the both the "A" and the "B" was the "A" used less fuel then the "B" and not just a little less, but maybe 5 to 6 gallons/day less. Was the "A that much more efficient then the "B"? Anyway, I thought I would just throw this out at you to keep you on your toes and I am sure you'll let me know how much you could plow in a day or an hr.

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zane

11-21-1999 18:23:38




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 Re: Re: Re: Actual farming with an A. in reply to Plant Doctor, 11-20-1999 17:05:20  
Plant Doctor: You're right, of course. Most of my plowing was with a 4020 and a 4-bottom. And the acres and the hours combined after a while to equal drudgery. But 20 acres with a 2-bottom and an A would be nothing but fun for me. I'd probably ration myself to an hour a day!



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DEERED

11-20-1999 13:06:38




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 Re: Actual farming with an A. in reply to Zman, 11-20-1999 05:24:37  
Use it but don't abuse it. Doubt you will make any money plowing with your A, but you sure will have a lot of fun and people will stop by the field to look and listen. I sure get an audience when our "D" gets excercised pulling a 14 ft. disc in high gear.



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DEERED

11-20-1999 13:06:35




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 Re: Actual farming with an A. in reply to Zman, 11-20-1999 05:24:37  
Use it but don't abuse it. Doubt you will make any money plowing with your A, but you sure will have a lot of fun and people will stop by the field to look and listen. I sure get an audience when our "D" gets excercised pulling a 14 ft. disc in high gear.



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DEERED

11-20-1999 13:06:25




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 Re: Actual farming with an A. in reply to Zman, 11-20-1999 05:24:37  
Use it but don't abuse it. Doubt you will make any money plowing with your A, but you sure will have a lot of fun and people will stop by the field to look and listen. I sure get an audience when our "D" gets excercised pulling a 14 ft. disc in high gear.



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Chuck

11-20-1999 12:34:19




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 Re: Actual farming with an A. in reply to Zman, 11-20-1999 05:24:37  
will take more than 20 acres to wear out an A



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Don

11-20-1999 08:07:31




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 Re: Actual farming with an A. in reply to Zman, 11-20-1999 05:24:37  
Just take care of that A and USE IT!!! It is like that rabbit in the battery ad.....they just keep going and going!!! It might even outlast you! USE IT!



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