[AT] Spam> Re: Fuel prices and old tractor activities.

[Herbert Metz]

Ralph
Congradulations on getting the hay crop up without any rain on it (once it
is cut).      I can remember that Dad always felt real fortunate when we
were able to accomplish that.     I guess that feeling was because rain can
cause such degradation of some hay crops.
Herb


> [Original Message]
> From: Ralph Goff <alfg at sasktel.net>
> To: Antique tractor email discussion group <at at lists.antique-tractor.com>
> Date: 7/9/2007 12:53:35 PM
> Subject: [AT] Spam> Re:  Fuel prices and old tractor activities.
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Francis Robinson" <robinson at svs.net>
> To: "Antique tractor email discussion group"
<at at lists.antique-tractor.com>
> Sent: Monday, July 09, 2007 6:33 AM
> Subject: [AT] Fuel prices and old tractor activities.
>
>
> >    I find my old tractor activities to have been greatly curtailed by
high
> > fuel prices. Since I retired from grain farming all I do with them is
bale
> > some hay and do mowing of barn lots, around fences etc. but while I
used 
> > to
> > just climb on and do it I now look long and hard at just how badly it 
> > needs
> > mowing. I also do more mowing with the lawn tractors since they
generally
> > use less fuel and leave it more finished. Even using them is painful at 
> > the
> > pump.
>
> Very true, fuel costs do take the fun out of it. I had to do some 
> calculations to see just what we are paying. I know its over a dollar a 
> litre at the pump but I still relate better to gallons. I know a dollar a 
> litre is $4.54 a Cdn gallon but beyond that I need a calculator.
> The last farm gas I bought was $4.27 a gallon. Diesel was $3.25 so I tend
to 
> use the diesels when I need a tractor. The Massey Super 90 and Case 730 
> diesels are seeing more use than the old Cockshutt 40 and 50 gas tractors.
> I do burn up the odd gallon of gas in the JD 111 lawn tractor keeping the 
> farm yard trimmed but don't look on that as work , more like an amusement 
> park ride.
> I suspect our old gas powered tractors will eventually be relegated to
the 
> sidelines in museums and collections as fuel costs become prohibitive.
> I did spend a few hours cutting hay with the gas powered IH swather last 
> week but didn't go to the trouble of figuring the fuel costs. Its still
the 
> cheapest method I have to cut hay since its a once over operation
compared 
> to two separate operations of cutting and raking with the tractors. Less
hay 
> wasted too as the side delivery rake always seemed to miss some hay.
> Hay crops are good here this year with the excess moisture we have had
and 
> its nice cutting. Even managed to get it baled over the weekend without
any 
> rain on the swaths.
>
> Ralph in Sask.
>
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