Recent content by 12251HD

I traded in my 13 Chev Duramax for a 22 6.6 gasser last year. No issues. Plenty of power for me. 16-17 MPG hwy, 12 local (empty). Far less maintenance than the DM. Good luck.

I have 3: Sportsman, Big Bear, and a Kubota RTV--all 15 years and older, running good, and located around the farm. For a livestock operation, I would bite the bullet and get a side-by-side.

A few years ago, I sold a farm with a 20 pr cow-calf operation, house, tractor and equipment, hay and crops in the barn to a young neighbor using the USDA new farmer program. He had another job that augmented the farm income. Not for everyone, but it has worked out great for him. A slow...

I sold one of our family farms to a young neighbor who wanted his own farm a few years ago. Sold him everything: land, cows/calves/bull, an old tractor, cattle trailer, etc. It even had a mobile home on it. He worked on his large family farm and had a good income. He financed the purchase...

May be a different program, but a few years ago, I sold one of our family farms to a young neighbor using the USDA New Farmer Program. Cattle and some equipment included. It took a long time--lots of inspections/appraisals and he had to submit a very detailed business plan. It eventually...

Recommend going for the heaviest your tractor can handle.

I have a heavy duty tow bar that I attach to my farm pickup and drop off for distant fields. Load RTV on trailer for short distances. I try not to be without tools or a ride.

If you are looking for a GM gasser with pulling power, you can't beat an 8.1. Ran an 04 Chevy with 8.1 and Allison tranny for years pulling a backhoe over hills and back roads. Traded for a 13 Duramax last year. Still miss that old beast.

I picked up a Rainsoft water conditioning/filtration system very cheap on Craiglist for sulfur and bad smelling water--works great.

I bought an old farm house very cheap, circa 1901, a few years ago that sits next to my farm. Replaced all plumbing, upgraded electrical, renovated bathroom, water well cleaned out, and added a water system and central AC. Replaced all windows and doors. Except for well, AC, and windows, did...

I have order a number of tractor and equipment parts on line with no problem. I tend to use the major suppliers. If unsure, I call and talk to someone first. Great convenience, especially for those hard to find parts. In the east, Messicks is a good place for tractor parts, but you might...

The smartest thing my late parents did was to set up a trust. In addition to all the advantages described by others, the trust is simply a set of (legal) instructions as to how my parents wanted the farms and everything else distributed. Most importantly, it kept my siblings and me from going...

I lease out land to a neighbor for corn and soybean production. While I do make money, my objective is to improve the land quality and value each year. The operator who farms it has a goal of improving production (and profit) each year. His yearly investments has paid off for both of us. We...

I had a couple neighbors that had unused land that I limed and fertilized for hay for no charge. In addition, I bush hogged their scrub lands at no charge. Worked out well for all of us.

I have LTC insurance, but could not get my wife to sign up. She said she would not need it, but I would probably. She passed away a year ago--collapsed in the middle of the night. She is smiling down right now. Still, I would recommend all to get it prior to 65 if they can.