custom field work

Gearhead210 · Nov 26, 2013

Anyone else ever ponder the idea of doing some custom field work with their " hobby" tractors? It seems like it would be better on the tractor being used a little bit rather than just sitting in the shed going to a pull 3 times a year..... plus a little fall plowing would be fun I think. just not sure if it's worth buying a tool for

DeltaRed · Nov 26, 2013

I do custom farming to supplement my income.It's not so easy.I charge $75/hr(not enough),Do it by the acre on the bigger jobs.For what you want to do(have fun/excercize tractor) just do it for the gas and maybe 'buck or two'.Organize a plow day....As for "worth buying a tool"It's probably not worth all the money/time "just going to a pull" either.That 'tool' is the reason the tractor exists.A tractor without a 'tool' isnt much more useful than a car.Buy the tool (s),put that tractor to work and ENJOY it for what it was meant to do.Even if it is only once or twice a year...

paul · Nov 26, 2013

That is kinda what the plowing bees, plow days, are all about I think?

I know the club around here gets together and plows a couple of fields each fall, like you say works the tractor a little, maybe makes back the fuel cost, and have a little get together all in one.

Paul

gtractorfan · Nov 26, 2013

It's a nice thought but around here an old tractor working in a field would only be in the way to most farmers.

formenwhogrow · Nov 26, 2013

not a whole lot of demand for custom moldboard plowing these days. what sort of work are you thinking? About all I could come up with is maybe some brush hogging or brush clearing?

Alan K · Nov 26, 2013

I do help the renter out chopping stalks with mine. I get to help him out and get to use my equipment. If you can find someone that you can help that way, that you are accomplishing something for someone I would go for it. It is hard to find anyone that way. Maybe there is a larger farmer in your area that has some short rows or small edges of fields that it would be easier for you to do than it is for him.

Gearhead210 · Nov 26, 2013

I was thinking of chisel plowing, or a mounted 3 shank inline ripper- that way there would be some sort of demand since very few people moldboard around me anymore. the ones that do already have the equipment themselves for that. plus either the ripper or the chisel would be marketable to resell the tool if I wanted out of it.......

Ellis Kinney · Nov 26, 2013

I rake hay for a couple of farmers in my area. All I ask for is a few 5 gallon cans of gas. Most are willing to bring gas because they work off their farms and gas is a cheap alternative to the time spent. Raking hay with an M is overkill however. Ellis

massey333 · Nov 26, 2013

Not meant as any kind of put down,but you never said what your tractor is.A true chisel plow takes 20-40 horse per shank and 2000 lbs.per.Example 4020-806-AC190XT-1850=5shank,7shank very max.and you need to cover your tracks(width wise).If you can do any of this,then you might get a little work.Small chiesels are very cheap used.Maybe $150-200 or much less.Good Luck in whatever you might come up with.

Wheat Farmer · Nov 26, 2013

Never got paid, but had fun. And the Farmall C enjoyed a little work.

ohiojim · Nov 26, 2013

I think gtractorfan has it right, some of the equipment around here could run over an h farmall and not know it till they raised the chisel plow

Gearhead210 · Nov 26, 2013

I'm hoping that a MF 1130 has enough meat on its bones to not get run over- and make me a little side cash on top of it

Massey farmer · Nov 26, 2013

I wouldn"t get discouraged. I run a small dairy by myself. If someone came to me and said I"ve got a tractor, can I help you out I would say yes, providing it could work and not overheat or have to be fixed every half hour. You could hook on my haybine so all I had to do was chop. You could haul wagons, the possibilities are out there. If you do it to use your tractor and not to get rich I"m sure some people would love to have you. Fuel and a little cash people would be happy to pay you. Now if you get out the charts of what custom rates are people might decide to just do it themselves, maybe not. Heck, if you had a pull behind picker or sheller I would have you come pick the corn I didn"t have room to chop this year. If older tractors weren"t worth using they wouldn"t still be worth a few dollars. Best bet is to go talk to some local small guys and see if they were interested, worst that could happen is you get to meet some good people.

ericlb · Nov 26, 2013

it is better if you work the tractor like it was ment to be, but.... you may need to buy insurance to work in your area, and you better check that out, you may also need a county business licence in some areas the licence is usually cheap, here its 25 bucks, the fine for not having one is not cheap, then every once in awhile you hit something like i did this last week, i was brush hoggin 4 to 5 foot tall trash weeds, property owner garenteed the field was clear, [ no old fence parts, pipes well heads ect in the field,] what he forgot to tell me was about a year ago he had cut down some russian olive trees and left the branches on the ground which was clear at that time, the field is only 20 acres i just fixed my 11th flat today , and its the 2nd on the rear tires, thats not fun when you have to fix your own tires , even though i charged him plenty for the job and he paid for new tubes ,work time ect , be careful!

Gearhead210 · Nov 27, 2013

all, thanks for the input. There's a couple local guys that I help out already, i think that I would have no issues getting their "small" fields that are a pain for their big equipment to get on and out of. The 1130 will likely be out doing something next year. have a good thanksgiving

custom field work

Gearhead210

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DeltaRed

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paul

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gtractorfan

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formenwhogrow

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Alan K

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Gearhead210

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Ellis Kinney

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massey333

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Wheat Farmer

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ohiojim

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Gearhead210

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Massey farmer

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ericlb

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Gearhead210

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