Custom Work (plowing?)

[E.B. Haymakin']

I have been toying around with the idea of doing custom work (if I ever had the free time) and wanted to get some input on it.
I have a Farmall 55 with a fully rebuilt mounted Case plow and the idea of doing some custom plowing around my local area might be something to advertise on marketplace. I can even log coverage information and bill off actual acres.

Obviously with modern corporate farming its the big equipment/enterprises that can cover large areas fast that can make that kind of custom work happen so small things seem kind of dead on arrival. You cant cover enough ground fast enough to make it worth your time/effort and even then no-one would want to/have a need for that service.

I know some on here do custom brush hogging/mowing and can make it work at times. Just wanted to get peoples thoughts. Obviously plowing is kind of a dead practice.

Thanks.

On the Iowacustom rate stuff, what I'm not clear on is this, they have the hourly rates respondents are charging for their services....?question is that the labor rate? The Iowa custom rates also have equations for tractor rental/usage rates. Let's say brush hogging is $24 an acre, that probably doesn't really cover your labor cost, it sure doesn't cover equipment cost. I've backed off a lot of side work in the last few years as the cost of getting a job done has skyrocketed. A tube of hi+temp grease $9.99, can of penetrating oil $10. After tax $24 bucks, just cost an hour to service equipment in just lube & didn't even pay your labor to do that. FB market place can develop opportunities, but we are in expensive times. They don't teach real life in schools, we learn it out here after the fact. Be cautious, at the very least make certain your fuel gets covered, then your labor, maybe something down the road will cover the unrealized equipment wear. Or be like me and nothing ever materializes!

 

[JOCCO]

You might look at a 3 point tiller lots of people use them (gardens and small plots)

 

[TomA in CA]

I have seen good farm land destroyed by beating the crap out of it with a tiller over years.

 

[showcrop]

I have seen good farm land destroyed by beating the crap out of it with a tiller over years.

How does that work?? Does it keep it from holding moisture? Upset the pH? Compact it?

 

[NY 986]

How does that work?? Does it keep it from holding moisture? Upset the pH? Compact it?

Depletes soil organic matter which is important for minimizing soil compaction, nutrient retention, and water holding capability in dry weather.

 

[flying belgian]

I have been toying around with the idea of doing custom work (if I ever had the free time) and wanted to get some input on it.
I have a Farmall 55 with a fully rebuilt mounted Case plow and the idea of doing some custom plowing around my local area might be something to advertise on marketplace. I can even log coverage information and bill off actual acres.

Obviously with modern corporate farming its the big equipment/enterprises that can cover large areas fast that can make that kind of custom work happen so small things seem kind of dead on arrival. You cant cover enough ground fast enough to make it worth your time/effort and even then no-one would want to/have a need for that service.

I know some on here do custom brush hogging/mowing and can make it work at times. Just wanted to get peoples thoughts. Obviously plowing is kind of a dead practice.

Thanks.

I think you would get more work with a disk then a plow. Most people don't want their garden or small field left in rough plowing. Either plow and disk or disk only. The custom work I do (mostly hay related) I charge $75/hr. from the time I leave my driveway to the time I return to my driveway.
That way if word gets out and someone calls from 8 miles away to do their one acre garden, you don't have to have a different per acre rate. Weather the job is near or far, you will be making money.

 

[showcrop]

Depletes soil organic matter which is important for minimizing soil compaction, nutrient retention, and water holding capability in dry weather.

Where does the tiller make the organic mater go?