- Thread starter TDJD
- Start date
Adirondack case guy
Well-known Member
Forget the notion. Farmers are hurting financially, and if you don't have hundreds of thousand of dollars to buy combines, tractors, implements, and trucks, and "most importantly a reputation" you will never make it.
Loren
Loren
Adirondack case guy
Well-known Member
What happens when you get jerked around and don't get paid???? Perhaps you have already built your "Reputation " for doing good work.
Loren
Loren
Yes luckily I have a built a good relationship and reputation with my customers I do a lot of work for small farmers and getting paid has never been an issue it?s always cash or a check the day I pull out lately I?ve been taking a half down payment on jobs before I start .
Your country extension service will have some average rates for your state.
Are you looking to start a full time business, get some part time work to make some extra money, or to just pay for your fuel while you get to drive your antique tractor? Being a contractor (custom farmer) caries a lot of risk if you can't deliver quality work on time.
Another option might be to work as a farm employee, operate their equipment and learn some modern skills while making a wage and maybe get some employee benefits.
Are you looking to start a full time business, get some part time work to make some extra money, or to just pay for your fuel while you get to drive your antique tractor? Being a contractor (custom farmer) caries a lot of risk if you can't deliver quality work on time.
Another option might be to work as a farm employee, operate their equipment and learn some modern skills while making a wage and maybe get some employee benefits.
Burn about 6 gallon an hour plowing and about 2 on the disk and drill . I truck most of my equipment I usually stick around 40 miles from home any farther and I?d charge extra I usually pick up 3 or 4 jobs while I?m in an area . I have some equipment stashed in my busy areas so I don?t drag things around to much
flying belgian
Well-known Member
I need more info. How big and new is your equip.? Have you got 500 hp. 4-wheel drive tractors? Class 8 combines? Semi trucks and trailers? Or have you got an old 8n Ford or WD Allis? If the later you are limited to some custom mowing or disking gardens.
I sure do not mean to hurt you feelings and hope you the best but if you are having to ask how much to charge you have problems. You need to know what wear and tear and fuel cost are and what you are going to have to charge. Here where I am (Middle Tennessee) the real farmers need no help and the want to be farmers around the big cities will break you giving you cheap jobs on rough ground. I would be very carful about what jobs you take or you will end up loosing money.
showcrop
Well-known Member
I have done a fair amount of custom work but not so much any more. There is a very broad spectrum of types of work to be done. You don't have to start with the high overhead stuff. I recently paid for some hay mowing, with MOCO. it was about ten acres in two fields. it cost me $180.00. which is very fair for around here.
By the time you pay for fuel,parts,newer/bigger/more equipment there isn't going to be much money left. Then you have travel time....However,dont give up. Custom work is often an avenue to start farming on your own. Leaseing ground.....Start by asking friends,neighbors. Advertize in the local newspaper(want ad). A little work will start to come your way. Do a good job in a timely manner. you will get repeat business,and referrals to new customers.An older line of equipment may be harder to gain the confidence of new costomers. However,once they find out you do good quality work for a fair price,the equipment wont matter.Inquire locally for local rates. If per hour is prevalent,then adjust price to allow for the smaller/older equipment. If per acre is prevalent,you can pretty much follow that.Go for it. Who knows where it will end up.In 5 years(or less) you could be making a full time living if God is willing.BTW,That is EXACTLY how I started with a Jd 730 diesel,buying older'smaller equipment as I had the cash to do so.Now I have 10 tractors that work,a full line of equipment that is all pd for.Yes it is old (Farmall M,up to IH 1456). But who cares(I like the old stuff!). It's MINE,not the bank's.And it earns my living.
The only custom farming around here is just opening corn fields with a selfpropeled forage harvestor for the few farms still with cattle to open the fields for the owner and his pull type 2 row forage harvestor. Very few of those jobs around. Fertilizer and spray done be the dealer. And if you cannot mow it then it does not get mowed.
Eldon (WA)
Well-known Member
Good luck finding work with that old of equipment.
carvel minne farmer
Well-known Member
SV., what you have there is not OLD JUNK! it's experienced equipment, both the equipment and operater are experienced and get the job done :lol:
carvel minne farmer
Well-known Member
SV., what you have there is not OLD JUNK! it's experienced equipment, both the equipment and operater are experienced and get the job done :lol:
Eldon (WA)
Well-known Member
You are cheap compared to here, I just paid a guy $40 an acre to cut, 1.10 per bale and he did a crappy job. I will do it myself next year, just busy building a barn this year. I get $85 an hour brush hogging with an 8' mower, up to 3 acres an hour. Compared to other work, this is where the money is around here.
Traditional Farmer
Well-known Member
- Location
- Virginia
In my area with thousands of suburban type folks you can make more money with a compact tractor a tiller and a small bush hog than about anything.I put in some deer plots they pay pretty good.As far as doing work for another farmer not interested that's a low profit deal almost always.
Geo-TH,In
Well-known Member
TDJD,
Check into insurance first. Insurance agent may want to know how much business do you do? That would be hard to answer if you are just starting out.
Many times I get people wanting me to repair yards that a tree trimmers have left ruts. I always worry about falling into an old dry well or old septic tank.
I think a person could make some money following tree trimmers if you have the right equipment.
Doing backhoe work is risky. Even though you have utilities marked, you never know what you may find.
I know a guy that grinds stumps. He said 90% of his work is at the south end of town. People on the north end are too cheap to have stumps ground. You may find the same to be true. Some people are too cheap to hire you.
If you are good, work of mouth is a good way to get jobs.
good luck. keep us posted on your new adventure.
Check into insurance first. Insurance agent may want to know how much business do you do? That would be hard to answer if you are just starting out.
Many times I get people wanting me to repair yards that a tree trimmers have left ruts. I always worry about falling into an old dry well or old septic tank.
I think a person could make some money following tree trimmers if you have the right equipment.
Doing backhoe work is risky. Even though you have utilities marked, you never know what you may find.
I know a guy that grinds stumps. He said 90% of his work is at the south end of town. People on the north end are too cheap to have stumps ground. You may find the same to be true. Some people are too cheap to hire you.
If you are good, work of mouth is a good way to get jobs.
good luck. keep us posted on your new adventure.
Case Nutty 1660
Well-known Member
You have to chose the work you do,, I used to do a LOT of custom work,, mainly I did custom combining,, I was cutting 200-500 acres a year custom,, plus my own 300-600 acres,, it got to where I had to stop doing it as I was getting way to much to do a good job on it all, my newest combine is a 1969,, I still have people call and beg me to continue cutting,, if you know what you are doing and do a Great job for people they call, all of them admired the job I did for them, not only in crop saving but the sample I put in their bins as no customer cutters that come through here care about any of that, they are here to Shove as many acres through those big high dollar machines as they can and could care less about how much they throw on the ground or crack and damage while doing it, here any way my reputation got me the jobs and kept them coming for well over 20 years when I said I was tired of a month or more long harvest season,, I could have hundreds more acres to farm if I wanted to deal with renting more ground,
cnt
cnt
There is nothing wrong with your equipment.
But what kind of work needs doing in your area?
Here the big farms are 350hp+ tractors, there isn?t anything you could help them with.
The little gardens and such want a pretty little 3pt tractor to do their work and back into corners, they wouldn?t be impressed with a leaky older machine blowing smoke and turning big circles with drawn equipment. As well such suburban areas often have strict licensing deals, to protect the current lawn cutting services.....
I?m just not sure where you would fit with what you got.
You know your neighborhood more than we do, you need to figure your costs per acre and hour, and track down folk that want done what you can get done.
People buy convenience and prestige, you have to offer something they will look fondly at. Save them time, or money, or offer quality, or trendy coolness. Which market will you fit in and go after?
You won?t be fast or cover a lot of acres, you aren?t all polished up gleaming cool, so where do you fit that people will pay you to do some stuff.
That the question you need to figure out.
Good luck, I want you to succeed with it. You need to figure out a local market where people want your service for some reason.
Paul
But what kind of work needs doing in your area?
Here the big farms are 350hp+ tractors, there isn?t anything you could help them with.
The little gardens and such want a pretty little 3pt tractor to do their work and back into corners, they wouldn?t be impressed with a leaky older machine blowing smoke and turning big circles with drawn equipment. As well such suburban areas often have strict licensing deals, to protect the current lawn cutting services.....
I?m just not sure where you would fit with what you got.
You know your neighborhood more than we do, you need to figure your costs per acre and hour, and track down folk that want done what you can get done.
People buy convenience and prestige, you have to offer something they will look fondly at. Save them time, or money, or offer quality, or trendy coolness. Which market will you fit in and go after?
You won?t be fast or cover a lot of acres, you aren?t all polished up gleaming cool, so where do you fit that people will pay you to do some stuff.
That the question you need to figure out.
Good luck, I want you to succeed with it. You need to figure out a local market where people want your service for some reason.
Paul
TDJD,
If you have a passion for farming you will make it happen.Having that forty acres to work will help alot.Your location will probably determine what kind of farming you do.I grew up on a dairy.After high school spent a lot of time building and racing cars.Did the automotive program at a community college.Got a job wrenching on mobile equipment in a paper mill...lift trucks,dozers,bobcats,mobile cranes etc.Still doing that.About 15 years ago bought a massey 65 and a brush hog and started a field mowing business.Every year I'd pick up more business mostly by word of mouth.Over time was able to upgrade tractors.About six years ago got into making hay for the locals.Picked up hay ground in the process.Now have top of the line hay equipment and older but in very good condition tractors paid for with farm income.Just bought this sweet White 2-88 with 3400 hours,gonna fix this one up and use it.Might add it really helps to be a mechanic.Still work my day job and I have more farm type work than I can handle.But I love it!
Go for it man!
Paul
If you have a passion for farming you will make it happen.Having that forty acres to work will help alot.Your location will probably determine what kind of farming you do.I grew up on a dairy.After high school spent a lot of time building and racing cars.Did the automotive program at a community college.Got a job wrenching on mobile equipment in a paper mill...lift trucks,dozers,bobcats,mobile cranes etc.Still doing that.About 15 years ago bought a massey 65 and a brush hog and started a field mowing business.Every year I'd pick up more business mostly by word of mouth.Over time was able to upgrade tractors.About six years ago got into making hay for the locals.Picked up hay ground in the process.Now have top of the line hay equipment and older but in very good condition tractors paid for with farm income.Just bought this sweet White 2-88 with 3400 hours,gonna fix this one up and use it.Might add it really helps to be a mechanic.Still work my day job and I have more farm type work than I can handle.But I love it!
Go for it man!
Paul
BarnyardEngineering
Well-known Member
- Location
- Rochester, NY
Frankly, if you think people are asking you back for any reason other than you work the cheapest, you're kidding yourself.
If someone came along and would work for $1 cheaper, you'd be out and they'd be in, even if the quality of their work was shoddy, they spit half the grain out on the ground with their machine, and ground the rest into a fine powder. A few might come to their senses and realize the VALUE of quality services but most people do not.
If someone came along and would work for $1 cheaper, you'd be out and they'd be in, even if the quality of their work was shoddy, they spit half the grain out on the ground with their machine, and ground the rest into a fine powder. A few might come to their senses and realize the VALUE of quality services but most people do not.
Determined
Well-known Member
Old story about the professor teaching a class.
He placed a jar on the desk and poured marbles out of a bag into the jar until it was overflowing.
He then asked the class if the jar was full, the students inspected the jar and they all agreed the jar was full.
Wrong he said.
He then took out a bag of sand and managed to pour more than a cup of it into the jar that all the students previously declared full.
He had them inspect the jar again.
Once again they all agreed the jar was now full.
Wrong again he said.
Next he managed to pour half a cup of water into the full jar.
The story goes on but the point is in any market the big guys are after the marbles you are probably too small to compete with them at this point.
The smaller but still profitable sand size jobs there is not enough meat on the bone for them to be bothered with tooling up to do them.
The water sized jobs tend to be small volume specialized work that can pay very well.
Based on the skills and equipment you have or can obtain identify where you best fit in.
-Small parcels where big equipment can not fit.
-Mowing and baling low spots in crop land.
-Clearing fence rows.
-Cleaning out bins.
-Rolling fields
-Rock picking
-Post pounding.
-Transporting bales, grain, water, fertilizer, livestock...
-Clearing fallen trees off perimeter of fields prior to harvest.
Countless possibilities if you sit down and think about it.
Start small, see what works find your sand or water then go hard.
The right ideas and best of plans are worthless if you do not have the ambition and drive to succeed.
If you think it is above you to clean a toilet, if you are a whinny little snot and think the world should be handed to you on a platter then disregard everything I have said.
However if you can figure things out, do not give up and are not scared of work you will find a niche market and do well.
Have you got quite a few implements for these old tractors ? If you have it won?t hurt to run an ad or two and see if you get any hits ? As far as insurance I pay less than a hundred dollars a month for my farm insurance and insurance on all the equipment including insurance on my pickup
Eldon (WA)
Well-known Member
Well it is the going rate....if I wanted to get it done that is what I was stuck with. Averaged a ton/acre, he made more $$$ than I did....
Similar threads
We sell tractor parts! We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today.
Copyright © 1997-2024 Yesterday's Tractor Co.
All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of any part of this website, including design and content, without written permission is strictly prohibited. Trade Marks and Trade Names contained and used in this Website are those of others, and are used in this Website in a descriptive sense to refer to the products of others. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy TRADEMARK DISCLAIMER: Tradenames and Trademarks referred to within Yesterday's Tractor Co. products and within the Yesterday's Tractor Co. websites are the property of their respective trademark holders. None of these trademark holders are affiliated with Yesterday's Tractor Co., our products, or our website nor are we sponsored by them. John Deere and its logos are the registered trademarks of the John Deere Corporation. Agco, Agco Allis, White, Massey Ferguson and their logos are the registered trademarks of AGCO Corporation. Case, Case-IH, Farmall, International Harvester, New Holland and their logos are registered trademarks of CNH Global N.V.
Yesterday's Tractors - Antique Tractor Headquarters
Website Accessibility Policy