Combines coustom combiners quiting

[Row_Crop]

Yes. A couple of years ago it was around $27-29 per acre, but with the cost of diesel you will really have to search for someone to do it for under $30_acre. I charge all my loyal customers $32, and the jobs I pick-up here and there $34-35_acre.

 

[Proto]

I seem to remember hearing a rumor somewhere that Canadian custom harvesters were subsidised by their government. I don't know how much truth there is to it and I don't mean to offend anyone but this would explain the tale I heard about Canadians cutting in parts of Montana for 3-$10s an acre in '99. Not sure how much truth there is to this one either Proto

 

[cutter2388]

I dont want to offend anyone either but there is truth to the 3-10s allover not just in montanna. I dont mind the fact of canadian harvesters because I know they have to do quality work to get repeative work. I dont know about the subsidies but who does. I know it is tough to get work at times when the farmer says I can get it done for 3-10's I cant compete with that and neither can any other american harvester. You cant blaim a farmer for trying to make a dollar, but the rates for harvesting needs to be minimum of 3-15's and there still isnt a lot left over at that. There are getting to be more and more of them in the fall harvesting also. I know where I cut my corn the going rate is $.22-$.25 a bushel to cut and haul and this year a crew was doing it for $.18 to cut and haul. Oh well I guess this whole ag industry is a upside down mess so hopefully we can pull thru the rough times. I will give one of the canadian crews a big thanks as I ended up with a job they had all because they gave the farmer a bogus tax id number and after the second year with 2 different numbers the good ole irs wrote the farmer and threatend to charge him on these taxes if it happened again so he took no chances and I got the job. Dont get me wrong and dont be offended as I know there are good ones out there who keep their rates where they should be and keep up to snuff with what they need to....

 

[Big_Al]

Well You are right on one count but wrong on another I am a Canadian Harvester who has the PRIVlIDGE of working in your great country. We do not get any sort of subsidy per acre. There was a payment by your Goverment back in the 1940's because their was such a short supply of combines back then but I have been involved in the harvest business since 1988 and there has never been a payment to Canadian harvesters. As for the tax number issue I am glad you got the job from a Canadian because we know the rules of your IRS but some of the Canadian harvesters don't abide by them thinking they can cheat the system well I am glad they lost the job to you. As for the price issue I have heard that in Montana the price competion is feirce so maybe three 10's is true. I know last year I refused a job because all the farmer wanted to pay was three 12's but we renegotiated and he paid three 13's which is still not enough

 

[cutter2388]

like I say I dont want to offend anyone and hope I havent done so to you as for I know there are good and bad both ways. I have a friend who his family cut for the same farmer for several years and lost out on a job because he wouldnt do it for 3-12's like the other guy would so he gave up the job, this other guy was new to the area and wanted to get his foot in the door so he cut throated another harvester, they were both americans. My friend says let him wear his machines out at that rate but im not going to. That is when it is nice to have some loyalty with the farmers you cut for. like I also say I dont mind you guys here as long as everyone can keep the rates where they need to be, I know you have to turn out quality work so you can cut for the same farmer again the following year. The subsidy issue I know nothing about so I said nothing about it. I have put together a fairly decent run and anymore dont really care but I know a lot of fill in jobs I am offered always bring up the issue of the canadians will do it for this much what will you do it forIJ I have met and become friends with a few different canadian crews and others think they are all that and a bag of chips, but oh well life goes on I guess you will have cut throating taking place in this business so we will just have to learn to deal with it, both ways. I just dont understand why we cant pack together and keep the rates where they need to be and right now with the price of the crops the way they are were just going to have to settle for 3-13's wich isnt enough. If others want to wear out their 180,000 dollar combines just so they can get work then more power to them. like I say I am not trying to get under your skin and maybe I should have reworded my original post.

 

[kidroff]

3 $13's is plenty enough for the poor little farmer when the price of wheat is $1.50. My uncle is a harvester and he just like many of you go on harvest every year. I know you wouldn't be doing it if you took a loss every year. With my farm I payed for my old Massey 760 in one year and then saved some from just what it would have cost to have it hired cut. I know you harvesters are in the same boat as the farmers, and I know a lot of you go on the runs just so you can afford to pay for your combines to run on your own place. But what I would like to see is a grain cooperative rather than a band of custom combiners. A farmer is going to be willing to pay a little more if the price is a little better. I'll tell you right now the way the prices are most farmers will hire the guy with the lower rates, especially if his wheat is ready and his usual combiner isn't in town yet.

 

[cutter2388]

I agree the price really needs to come up on wheat and every other crop. There are a lot of loyal farmers out there, I cut for several of them, a local farmer here my family has cut for him for 25yrs straight now and I dont care who comes here there is nobody who can undercut whether I have made it back home yet or am still away from home for a few days. Once I cut for a farmer once I have no trouble getting back into his fields. I guess there are to many factors to put into the picture to make it perfect for everyone. Dad tells storys of how well the harvesting was back in the late 60's all thru the 70's and a majority of the 80's. A lot of the farmers what I now cut for what my father cut for back then also say the same thing. So I guess we have to take NAFTA,CRP,TECHNOlOGY,lDP,HIGH FUEl AND EQUIPMENT PRICES and piece someting together to make it work, some guys have found that groove and I guess others will have to work to find it.

 

[Big_Al]

Hey Cutter 2388 no offense taken and I wish you the best on your harvest run this year. Thanks for your input.

 

[G]

Has nothing to do with exchange rate! Remember that 95% of