I cut 1100 acres of wheat.I saw may dad buy a machine and keep it. It was a new 1959 model A that had set on the lot and we first used it in 1960. It cut every year until he retired in 1982. I still have it. I know my ground cutting it myself. Where to fertilize more, and less. Cutting gives me the final results. Weeds, all the whole package if I cut it. GPS gives yields, ( no I won't spend that much $ for one ) but not the condition of the crop. It rains here and sometimes the custom boys have to pull out for down the line. I don't worry about that. The R62 lets me cut mine in a timely window. I can do it in one week in good weather. Different set up than the corn and swather boys. Hail and bad weather can cost me if I use a larger window. Costs- If one figures custom, 1100 acres X $25_A = 25,000_yr for me. Machine cost $70,000 plus old R70, about $100,000 total. I've cut for 7 years, and had little expense. The machine runs well and I have yet to put much into it. I keep it in the shed and it's much like new. Newer ones cost a lot more, but I have one to run me until I retire in 15 years. What will be my costIJ Very little compared to custom. Another reason, harvest is probably the most fun time of the year around here. If a wet year, then it may be a little more work. Most years, fun as my kids still like to come home for harvest on weekends or after work. It is still a bond among us here. I have two that would like to farm, but the economics say no. One is an engineer and the other is in Med school. Farming is their bloodline. Harvest is the joy. last reason for owning my own machine - the R62 is the easiest machine I have run. (A,C2, M, l, l2, 1480 IHC, N6, r70, and now the R62. All were used except this R62. I have worked with the neighbors on their green ones, red Massies, red IHC. Have yet to touch the Yellow Great One. Have no intentions. My wife likes to ride with me until the truck first fills. I would like to move to an R72, but terraces make it less effecient. Yes, and I can pick up cutting when the custom guys have to move on. Helping neighbors is one part of farming I don't see in other business worlds. Farming isn't the highest paying profession around, but the family benefits are worth the time. I can justify it in those terms. Hope your havest is a good one and the prices rise up to your desires.