[AT] Off Road Gasoline / High Octane / Farmland

[Troy Bogdan]

Here in Pennsylvania, (Just like Richard's case in NY) we do not have
off-road gasoline available either.  Same as NY, we get the refund at the
end of the year.  We fill out a form with the state, and get a refund check
for off road use of gasoline.  Diesel is a different story, that we can buy
at the pump, but those pumps are few and far between, and sometimes even
with the tax taken off, it is no bargain.  By the way, off-road diesel is
dyed a purplish color so you can see the difference.

>> Regular gas prices along the I-79 corridor in Western PA are averaging about
>> $2.19, but once you get off the interstate and towns the rural areas are
>> charging $2.23, 2.25. 2.29 or higher.
>> I don't know how I can afford to keep farming at those prices, I might be
>> better off with a team of horses!!
>> Troy Bogdan
> 
> Hi TroyWhy are you not buying "off road" gasoline for your farming?
> Dave 
 
> ------------------------------
> 
> Message: 6
> Date: Tue, 12 Apr 2005 08:23:43 -0400
> From: Mike Sloane <mikesloane at verizon.net>
> Subject: Re: [AT] Gas Prices
> 
> Save your money, Troy - our old tractors were designed to run on about
> the poorest grade of fuel that could be found. Another point that most
> people don't realize is that there is no more "power" in higher octane
> gasoline. The octane number merely is an indication of how well the fuel
> resists pre-ignition in high compression engines, and this is done
> with additives not refining. So no matter how high the octane number of
> your gas, you won't get one bit more power out of it, nor will it extend
> the life of your plugs, or get your wash any brighter. :-) (I should
> point our that, in all fairness, high compression engines like those
> found in performance cars and some racing/pulling machinery certainly do
> benefit from higher octane fuel. But not old tractors). If you find that
> your tractor engine "pings" under heavy load, it usually means that you
> need to retard the ignition timing slightly.
> 
> Mike

Well Mike, I guess I was wrong, but a lot of old farmers I know said these
tractors from the 50's were designed to run on "Fire Chief."  I figured that
they meant higher octane gas.  I should probably tell one of them to stop
wasting his money, because he gets the oli company to fill his gasoline
tanks with high-octane for his fleet of Farmalls.

> 
> Troy Bogdan wrote:
>> Since others chimed in about gas prices, I guess I will join in.
>> I don't consider it to be off topic, because it does affect our tractors in
>> a very major way.  I usually try to run 93 octane in my tractors, since they
>> were originally probably receiving a much higher octane when they were new,
>> but with these high prices, I have only been using the regular 83 octane.
>> 

> ------------------------------
> Date: Tue, 12 Apr 2005 12:52:55 GMT
> From: "rasmith4 at juno.com" <rasmith4 at juno.com>
> Subject: Re: [AT] Gas Prices
> 
> Here in NY there is no such thing as "off-road" gasoline.  We have to pay all
> the tax on it, then get a refund when you file your income tax.  And  gasoline
> is running from $2.35 to $2.39 here in Central NY.
> 
> Diesel is another thing.  Just yesterday I got about 400 gal of "off road"
> diesel at $2.00/gal.  Commercial diesel is $2.52 - $2.55 here unless I hit the
> Indian Reservation where it is $2.31.
> 
> Check out  www.gasbuddy.com to see the reported gas prices in various parts of
> the country.
> 
> Richard
> In Central NY

Message: 19
Date: Tue, 12 Apr 2005 12:27:58 -0400
From: "jfgrant" <jfgrant at triton.net>

>" I don't know how I can afford to keep farming at those prices, I might be
> better off with a team of horses!!


>Troy & others. When you figure the cost of fuel, fertlizer (over $500 per
>ton), seed, wear & tear on the equipment, time, and all the other cost, we
>will make more $$$ by NOT planting this year!!!
>Let "them" eat their oil!  MANY farms around her are starting to grow
>houses. Don't know where it's going to end but I don't think it's going to
>be pretty!!! I also think that most of us have lived in "the best of times".
>Good Luck to All.  John Grant

And last but not least, yes, farms are growing houses here too, but I am
trying to stop that to the best of my power, and try to keep farming.  If
you like to see farmland instead of developments, stop buying your food at
"Sprawl Mart" and buy it from a local farmer instead.  I'm not old enough to
have lived through the best of times, so I have to make these days my own
best of times.  THANKS,  Troy