[AT] Need more tractors

[Greg Hass]

After reading posts on this topic, I have decided I am in dire need of more 
tractors.  I farm 110+ acres with only 2 tractors, a Farmall 856 and a 
Farmall 574 (both over 35 years old).  The 856 does the plowing and the 
field cultivating, which leaves the 574 to do all the rest: brush hog, crop 
spraying, run the corn planter, grain drill, crop cultivating, running the 
pull-type combine for edible beans.  As you can see, I am short many 
tractors.  I am, however, better equipped with combines.  I have one IH 715 
which does wheat and corn, one IH 715 that does soybeans, and an IH 82 
pull-type for my 22 acres of edible beans.  I also have an IH 203 which I 
have not used in several years since the sieves fell apart.  I have not had 
the energy to find replacements and the IH 82 works as well or even better 
for the edible beans.

To the young people on the list, I second Farmer's recommendation to never 
live near your parents.  I have lived all my married life just across the 
corner from my parents (400 feet away) and 200 feet from my younger brother 
who lives on the corner straight across from me.  If you must live near 
them, move at least a mile away and make sure it is not in the direction 
they must go past to get to town.  From my dad's picture window, he could 
always see every move that was made in my yard, and would always have 
something disparaging to say about every move I made.  I was forced to do 
chores night and morning every day of the year since I was eight years old, 
so when I got rid of all the livestock 15 years ago, I decided to go to the 
local coffee shop in the mornings.  Over a 2-hr. period approximately 20 
farmers sit at the table at one time or another, most of whom farm much 
more land than I do. If I would mention to my dad that I hadn't got a 
certain job done, his first remark would be that I could have gotten it 
done if I'd stay the he$$ home.  He died a year and a half ago after 10 
years of Alzheimer's.  When we would ask my 4 sisters to help they would 
just remark that they were glad we were close and could take care of him 
and refused to help.  Since he's been gone, for the first time I feel free, 
however, I am now in my mid-fifties and have some health problems such as 
arthritis, which sort of takes some of the fun out of being free.  Had I 
been able to foretell the future, I would have made sure I had moved at 
least a few miles away.

PS I do have a Cub and a 185 Lo-Boy, however I do not consider them field 
tractors as they are only capable of doing garden type work even though 
they are a lot of fun.

Greg Hass