how do u deal with it

[tbish]

the riddicule from people when u have nothn but older equipment what i can afford they call junk id love to have new equipment

 

[Anonymous-0]

do not leave the house, stay in your room.

 

[Mo 1032D]

At the local repair shop one day a couple of guys were doing that to an older guy, his reply was that he can repair his older stuff easier and cheaper because it didn't need a computer to diagnose, and that he could sleep at night not having to worry about coming up with that big payment. Shut them up real quick. LOL

 

[rufus80]

I laugh all the way to the bank. Every time I go to the field I am making money because it is paid for. Next time they laugh just tell them it is paid for, then ask what there quarterly/yearly payment is.

 

[LonM]

About all you can do is ignore them. If they are really sincere in their criticism then they are not worth knowing, and others around probably will find that out if they haven't already noticed. The new stuff breaks down too, but i'll second what's been said: at least you can fix the older machinery on your own! Plus if its anything like what we run, it will appreciate in value over time It's your stuff to manage as you please- life isn't about living up to others expectations.
LonM

 

[rrlund]

What ridicule? I don't see too many people making a good living and getting things done with this older stuff. I take a lot of pride in keeping this stuff in good shape and running.

 

[paul]

Just have to make fun of the equipment they use that the banker owns.......

--->Paul

 

[DeltaRed]

I ignore/pay no attention to them.My "junk" is paid for(that means it belongs to ME,not the bank).At the end of the day,my old 1256 has just as much work done as their 'new' one does,at about the same fuel usage.

 

[maxwell99]

I just drive my little 1957 TO-35 Fergy from one farm to the other any time i want, the guys with the big tractors will just have to get out of my way or past,

Today, i drove it to town (about two miles) and disc up an old fellows garden spot.

The guys with the big tractors could not do it because they could not get into his garden area.

so there is a still a need for us old dudes with little tractors.

 

[donjr]

I don't worry about it. I upgrade when I can, and do a lot of fixing. I have no payments going out, and a good line of machinery that works, most of the time. And, even the new stuff breaks. I just broke a wheel off of a 2 year old Pequea tedder this evening. It's almost new, and I got a good deal on it. But it snapped off just as I was leaving the field to come home. So, even the BFO's have trouble. But, it's paid for, it's mine, and this will be the first time it has to be repaired. I'll get some ribbing because it's sitting in the field right along the road. But even after fixing it, it's still paid for. So, don't be jealous. Just smile and think, 'Yeah, it's old and ugly, but it works and belongs to me'.

 

[Dean Olson]

I run right back at them mocking them for wasting so much money. Some are jerks that I stop associating with, some are my buddies so it's good natured.

I have a real short list of people I care about what they think of me. Sounds like you need to shorten your list.

I have a big garden and choose to do that with 1950's era Farmalls. Specifically a Super C and 200 both with fast hitch and most all the fast hitch and mounted implements. I probably have around 5-6K in all of it.

My buddy just spent $20k+ on a new Kubota compact with some implements, tiller, box blade etc . He's so proud of it. He's on about an 1-1/2 acre lot.

It's hard to justify the cost of gardening at all, compared to just going to the store, let alone spending that kind of money to do it. I rationalize and justify it because it's a hobby for me and I like the taste of the fresh veggies.

 

[old]

I let them have both barrels so to speak. I tell them all my stuff is payed for and that includes my house farm cars and equipment. Most that say things are paying big bucks in interest me I am not paying any thing but fuel and repair parts and that shuts them up.

 

[cjd12000]

If it works run it. If it ain't worth fixing run it. I got some new and some old. Got a 4010 with a loader that everyone questions if it even runs. Tins all dented leaks oil a little missing some tin fenders are rusted through at bottom but use it everyday to feed and hauled 500 bales with it.use a screw driver to start it 3 point arms are loose. I like it though. If your happy driving it or pulling it thats all that matters

 

[uncle henry]

don't worry the new equipment is built in quantity and old equipment is built with quality

 

[sideconsole4020guy]

well I look at it this way, they wouldnt be here if it wasnt for the old equipment, and the new technology wouldnt be here either, In my opinion if they say any thing about it say well real men get by with what they can afford and dont care what the neighbors think. I dont think there is the connection to the land with the new stuff as there was with the old equipment. I love the feeling of a hard long days work on my 4020. I wouldnt trade it for anything newer, heck if some one gave me something newer i would trade it for another 4020

 

[Don Mac]

Never let it worry you.
The guys driving the modern stuff I find have the most interest in the old tractors. The ones I meet are really keen to see how a farmer worked a field with 25 to 40hp and are never jealous of the fact they drive 100hp to 250 hp.

 

[60 acre hillside]

I just stay out of the coffee shops and beer joints. That way I do not hear them

 

[Tony W]

You maybe using junk to them, but to you it is making you money instead of a payment. I planted wheat with an ar and van brunt drill after plowing with an R. My wheat went 93bpa and the large farmer around here went 95bpa. Now who made more money. Mine was/is payed for and he has a new fancy drill and tractor. Oh yeah cut it with a John Deere 12A combine and hauled it with a 52 Chevy truck. This was three years ago. They are jealous.

 

[Charlie M]

Drop over sometime when they are broke down and you are still running.

 

[Dick2]

My brother dealt with it all the time that he was farming. He didn't think much about it until one of the BTO's came to see him. Somehow the BTO found out that my brother had more net worth than he did.

Brother has spent the last 20 winters in AZ; whereas the BTO stays home 'cause he owes his soul to JD Credit Corp.

 

[BANDITFARMER]

Over the years I think I have herd it all about what I farm with, And I dont care. Now my sons are grown and on there own now so its just me and dad now on the farm. We cut back on the ground we farm and its more enjoyable now. I know my old equipment payed for the cars and going to collage and helping them get started in there lives. I also know if I had to be making payments on all my equipment insted of using my old stuff this would have never happend. It would be nice to have some newer or new equipment but I just cant see that ever going to happen now (guess I am set in my ways now). I know all of my equipment and the cars and trucks are payed for and the only thing I owe on is my house, And that feals good for someone in there 50s. Now my grandkids(8) cant wait to come see papaw (me) and Gpaw (dad) at the farm with all our old stuff. Bandit

 

[mkirsch]

Where are you living? In a 3rd grade classroom?

I've NEVER seen a farmer openly ridicule another for having OLD equipment. Sure the "green tractor" guys like to razz the "red tractor" guys, and vice-versa, but that's friendly ribbing, not malicious.

Running old stuff is more of a badge of honor around here than anything. It's the equipment most of the current generation of farmers grew up on so seeing it still in use reminds them of their childhood or something.

 

[yessam]

we don't let it bother us all this new equipment is a pain to work on and when you have to pay to get it fixed it cost a arm and a leg one want to be bto start in on my wife at work on day about our old equipment she told him everything we make off the farm is profit we are not paying a note to the bank every month it didn't seem to phase him she said to him if they were making so much money on the farm why was he work away from it no a peep out of him after that.

 

[wijim]

I had a go around with the IRS a couple of years ago. The audit was about two years where i bought some equipment and put up a farm buiding and had deductions over my farm income. The woman who was doing the audit told me that my equipment was not good enough. All of my equipment is paid for and I get just as good of yields as any BTO around here. She told me I should buy new equipment and go in debt. I told her she was nuts. In the end we were found to be correct in all our dealings. So its not just some people its government also. Jim

 

[JRSutton]

Just tell them you know it's not as efficient, but it feels more like farming this way.

 

[jackinok]

ive never heard any personally. take two farmers side by side,one buys and runs new,other farms with old.both do the exact same thing and both make very much the same amount of profit. which has more wealth? which often has more ready cash?two different styles farm accounting.go to the bank and ask your banker which one is worth more.you will be surprised to learn its not very often the man driving 20-30 year old equipment even though he has more cash on hand.a really (so called) "good" profitable farmer doesnt buy equipment at all,he saves enough on his taxes/seed/ fuel etc to buy it in lots of cases. when your tax man tells you to spend some money,listen.unless of course you enjoy giving money to uncle sam. its called building wealth,and often has nothing to do with building cash reserves. its simply two different buisness styles.sort of like buying land or cd's with your money or keeping it in a sock. the guy with it in a sock can go to his stash,the guy with the cd's can go to the bank.one carries a roll of bills,the other carries a checkbook.

 

[R Wyler]

I understand. Society anymore has become very ignorant. People waste to such a high degree it is unreal. This country and the entire western world is essentially in economic ruins because of the endless waste and desire to buy new. The debt is beyond figures and is unacceptable. Just look at the good machinery that has been cut up for scrap. They call it junk. Rebuilding a tillage tool is practially always several times less than the cost of new. Just look how complex these new machines have become. As I have said many times before and my words ignored, Once the solid practical machines are gone, many small guys like me will be forever out of the picture. Our country and world is going in a very bad direction. This machinery is of much higher value than most realize at the present time. It CANNOT be replace for scrap price. The math tells me that we are in serious trouble. And as I have said before I am very scared of the future. I am sorry for the long post but I am truly concerned.

 

[Tim(nj)]

Oh, I've heard it said to potential landlords when a piece of land comes up for lease. Farmer Y says 'I farm with new stuff, so I can grow better crops than X with his 20 year old stuff, so you should lease it to me'. Farmer Y also has his farm name plastered all over everything he owns to project his image. Brags about how 'professional' that is vs. farmer X, another reason for leasing to him, supposedly. However, if the landlord wants a cash rent deal up front instead of shares . . . Y balks because he has no cash to pay up front.

 

[wisbaker]

Most of the farmers I've worked around would often question our whisper about those that bought a lot of new equipment and speculating about how they could afford it. Almost like buying a bunch of new stuff was arrogant or even a little too proud and you know pride goes before a fall. Only once I can remember something being said that didn't get shrugged off. I grew up about 20 miles outside one of the cities in Michigan. Most farms in our area were hobby farms with folks farming on the side while working in a autoplant or at the university. There were maybe a dozen or so folks that were full time farmers earning most or all of their living on the farm. Our immediate neighbor was a part timer like us, his uncle was one of the dozen. Our neighbor had cobbled up a pto pump and some piping to make a rudimentary irrigation system and was using it on a potato plot of a couple of acres. He was talking about it and the challenges he'd overcome (like we do on this forum). The neighbor's uncle basically told him he was wasting his life playing farmer with his potatoes and sheep.

 

[Bret4207]

"..told him he was wasting his life playing farmer with his potatoes and sheep." Sounds familiar. Try being the lone sheep man in a dairy area. And then really top it off by using horses too. You think they make fun of you with 30 year old stuff? Try 40 year old stuff and horse drawn stuff from pre-WW2!

 

[FC Andy]

In my neighborhood, I've never heard a guy get made fun of who runs well maintained older machinery. There are a few who get made fun of for running junk, mainly because they are.

Do what you enjoy, shrug off people's B.S.

My machinery is old, but in good working order. I like my old stuff. But, I farm so small right now it's all I can afford and it's good enough for me. If that situation changes, I'll deal with it then.

Now, on the other hand, the guys who make good money farming and don't re-invest it in land or machinery are just making a charitable donation to the US government. My best understanding on the tax situation is if you make the money, and spend it on business expenses (machinery, land, tools, etc.) you then get to deduct that from your taxable income. And with interest rates what they currently are, you'd be silly not to spend your money to your advantage instead of banking it. The kicker is, you have to have the money to begin with to spend it. The guys who need more land or newer equipment often don't make enough money to get it. Just how I see things. -Andy

 

[504]

When I was in high school I put a new motor,clutch, 4 shocks and 4 new tires on my old Dodge Polara. My buddy with his new Challenger(1972) was giving me a hard time for putting all of that money in an old car, till I told him I had the same as a new car for a 1/4 of what he was paying, and I didn t have a car payment! (Never let your daughters date a guy with a 4 door car, there was a lot of room in that thing)

 

[S.Crum]

Well first I learned how to spell "you" instead of "U" but that's neither here nor there. I've never owned a truck or tractor for that matter that was younger than 10 years. For the trucks they are closer to 20 years old and rarely does the paint on one panel match any of the others. I do however like to keep the mechanicals in top fighting trim. That being said, I get new truck performance and reliability. One other thing I really like is the incredable amount of respect I get on the road from otherwise very rude drivers and their $50,000+ vehicles. I'd like to think they are just being cordial but tend to agree with Chris's "amount of damage that could be inflicted" assessment. I developed that 'go get %&^*ed' attitude towards those people way back.

 

[Doug Wi]

We all need each other. All the "old" machinery us bottom feeders use was once bought new by somebody. if nobody bought new there wouldn't be any used stuff to buy. But if everybody bought new there would be no market for the used stuff and when you went to trade your " worn out" 2000 hr $150,000 tractor the dealer would say keep it I can't sell it. If you want a new one it's cash up front. But I am in total agreement that the new stuff has way too much electrical components that will be a nightmare at 30 40 years out.

 

[Anonymous-0]

All hail the Wheat Baron!