[AT] Demolition

Fri Apr 9 07:34:20 PDT 2010

Grant,  you stated very well what I was thinking but didn't take time to 
say.  We have a small farm.  I'd love to tend it.  It's not big enough to 
justify buying equipment but I have plenty of tractors.  If I had a small 
combine I could drill wheat, soybeans, grain sorgum, etc. no-till, spray 
them for weeds and combine them.  My 40 acres might take 2 weeks work a year 
doing it that way.  Any old combine would work as long as it didn't spill 
too much grain out the back condition wouldn't matter much.  Of course I 
know the things break down and they are expensive to fix but it's an option 
I'd like to have.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Grant Brians" <sales at heirloom-organic.com>
To: "Antique tractor email discussion group" <at at lists.antique-tractor.com>
Sent: Friday, April 09, 2010 9:54 AM
Subject: Re: [AT] Demolition

> This thread struck a chord for me because there is a fallacy in our 
> handling
> of combines in this country. Like other small operations (relatively
> speaking) I could use a functioning small combine. In my case it would be
> used for vegetable seed production. This is a common situation that there
> owould be a need for the small combines to produce vegetable or flower 
> seed.
> If one were to attempt to purchase a new combine today in North America, 
> it
> would NOT be possible to purchase a durable unit for this purpose!
>     The only sources of small combines today are Japan and China. Neither
> are readily available in the US, and the Chinese quality is abysmal. There
> is one Japanese manufacturer of mini-combines for rice which MIGHT 
> possibly
> be adaptable for the purpose, but they are optimized for small paddy rice
> harvest. Also, if these units are built as it appears they are, then they
> are not made to stand up to the abuse that farm machinery usually needs to
> endure here. Also, if either type of machine were actually available in
> distribution here (they are not widely available with any dealer network)
> then there would be the issue of parts availability and price being a
> challenge.
>     Where does this leave the US/Canada farm economy? Excessive reliance 
> on
> foreign produced vegetable/flower seed. Not enough surviving small 
> combines
> in actual annual use to make parts available readily (for units that were
> actually manufactured here in one of our two countries!) Removing a source
> of farm income for small farms from seed production that efficient harvest
> could enable.
>     What is the solution? Well a part of the solution clearly is to make
> sure that there still are some small combines running and available. 
> Another
> part is for small/medium size farmers to seek out contracts with the
> independent seed companies. I recognize that there is also an imbalance in
> combine supply between different parts of the countries as well, with a
> place like coastal California where I am not having many because of 
> minimal
> grain production levels.
>     One statement that was made is that the reason the combines are 
> trashed
> is because they have no value. But they should be perceived as having 
> value.
> It is a little like antique tractors - there are no examples of some
> tractors because there was no one who cared, not because there was no 
> value.
> There is my opinion.
>              Grant
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: at-bounces at lists.antique-tractor.com
> [mailto:at-bounces at lists.antique-tractor.com]On Behalf Of charliehill
> Sent: Thursday, April 08, 2010 5:37 AM
> To: Antique tractor email discussion group
> Subject: Re: [AT] Demolition
>
>
> I know those combine demo derbies are all in good fun but I can't stand to
> watch them.  I grew up on a small farm and we could never justify owning a
> combine so we had to give up 1/4 of the crop every year to a custom
> operator.  Everytime I see folks tearing up combines all I can think is 
> that
> some small farmer somewhere needs that combine.  Even if it's worn slam 
> out
> there are some parts on it that some guy needs.
>
> With that said, I know I'm being stupid about it.  If the things had any
> value the farmers wouldn't be tearing them up in the derby.  It's just an
> emotional thing with very little logic behind it.  If those guys gave me 
> the
> combines.  They wouldn't be worth what it cost to haul them to my farm and
> that is exactly why they are tearing them up for fun.  They have no useful
> value other than junk.  I still can't stand to watch it.
>
> No offense meant to you Ralph.  Thanks for posting it.
>
> Charlie
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Paul Waugh" <pwaugh at embarqmail.com>
> To: "Antique tractor email discussion group" 
> <at at lists.antique-tractor.com>
> Sent: Thursday, April 08, 2010 7:39 AM
> Subject: Re: [AT] Demolition
>
>
>> Ah, for to good old days, just fun, no fences , spectators at their own
>> risk
>> .... love it, looks like the Oliver had some power.
>> Paul-46555
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Ralph Goff" <alfg at sasktel.net>
>> To: "Antique tractor email discussion group"
>> <at at lists.antique-tractor.com>
>> Sent: Wednesday, April 07, 2010 11:51 PM
>> Subject: [AT] Demolition
>>
>>
>>> Nearly forgot to mention that while I was uploading antique tractor 
>>> video
>>> recently I also included some scenes from the local demolition derby 
>>> back
>>> in
>>> the fall of 87. The typical crunching and flattening of various older
>>> cars
>>> is seen but for the first time ever there was a combine event in which a
>>> Massey 510, a Case 1060 and an old Oliver take turns trying to destroy
>>> each
>>> other.
>>> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjkPKLjMlqU
>>>
>>> Ralph in Sask.
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
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>>> http://www.antique-tractor.com/mailman/listinfo/at
>>>
>>
>>
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