[AT] Wineries and vineyards - was Re: Potebtial tractors for the East Bend, NC area

Sun Feb 26 10:13:09 PST 2017

Fun fact:  I've seen a couple of mechanical grape harvesters in the
area in the last couple years with what looks like a Farmall 544 Hydro
or 656 Hydro for a powerplant.  Viticulture has become something of a
cottage industry in eastern NC since the decline of tobacco.

It's sort of an isolated case, but there is one farm operation near me
that does most of its business with old tractors--Farmall Ms. Mike's
Farm (www.mikesfarm.com) is an agrotourism attraction about 10 miles
from me.  They do strawberries, Christmas trees (most are trucked in
now although that's how the business started) weddings, have an
awesome country food restaurant, a bakery, and do hayrides (pumpkin
picking in the fall, Christmas light show Thanksgiving-New Years).
He's an IH guy (with a couple newer caseIHs and a Ferguson and a Case
mixed in for good measure)  so all his hayride tractors are Farmall
Ms.  He has a fleet of 10-12 and it's an impressive display to see
them all lined up.

http://www.mikesfarm.com/images/hayride1.JPG

http://mikesfarm.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/pie-300x200.jpg

By the way, the Super M in the pic with the pie used to be my tractor.

Al

On Sun, Feb 26, 2017 at 11:25 AM, Grant Brians
<sales at heirloom-organic.com> wrote:
> A few quick thoughts about Wine, Vineyards and Subsidies. California
> accounts for over 95% of export sales, over 85% of gallons of US wine
> production and depending on the choice of measure 89% or more of sales
> dollars of American Wine in the US. I have quite a number of friends,
> acquaintances and colleagues in the Vineyard and Wine businesses here. I
> also have had interesting conversations with people in the business in
> other counrties and other parts of the US.
>       First, few people today in the Wine and Vineyard businesses are
> mechanics and the number of skilled mechanics available keeps declining.
> Second, Tractors are only used intensively during a very few periods of
> the year. Third, big organizations and "Investors" usually pay more
> attention to working the tax system than a farmer like me.
>       What is the significance of these pieces of information? A tractor
> that can sit for months at a time and then be used without a need for
> service frequently is beneficial to most of these businesses. Second,
> leasing or short term rental of tractors is more prevalent in this
> business than any other agricultural enterprise thanks to favorable tax
> treatment. Third, few in the industry use new purchases of older
> equipment, the only ones who do already had it....
>       Lastly, yes there are quite a few people for whom having their
> name either on the door of the winery or the ownership documents are
> more important than the profitability if the losses are small in
> comparison to their income level. This makes wineries a rich man's game
> in some places. On the other hand, there are plenty of small to mid size
> wineries around the country owned by people who love wine and love
> farming and are just like those of us struggling farmers I largely
> associate with! The only difference is the products they produce and the
> fact that a really good wine added to  dinner can make any dinner taste
> better!
>                    Grant Brians - Hollister,California farmer of
> vegetables, herbs, edible flowers, nuts and fruit but not wine
> production sadly
>
>   On 2/25/2017 9:34 AM, charlie hill wrote:
>> Spencer,  this is only my observation and it may be way off
>> but it's what I believe.  There are a few legitimate wineries/vineyards
>> operating in NC and Virginia.  What I mean by that is where the folks
>> are hard working and really believe in trying to make a living off the land
>> by growing grapes and making wine.  However, the fancy ones, I believe, are
>> owned and operated by wealthy folks who are taking advantage of the tax code
>> to have a fancy showplace that they can write off of their taxes.  They
>> don't really
>> care what things cost.  They don't even really care about the bottom line.
>> What they
>> care about is having a good time and looking good doing it.
>>
>> I mean no offense to them by saying that and I'm not trying to be political.
>> I just think it's fact.
>> Again that is my opinion but it's based on 40 years of experience as a
>> construction estimator/project
>> manager and real estate appraiser.  Add to that the cost of a bottle of wine
>> and it's real easy to figure
>> out they aren't making any money.
>>
>> I actually know one winery owner and he's a dedicated pro and works hard at
>> it.  He is helped along
>> by his wife who is very accomplished in her profession.  Still the winery
>> seems to struggle.  He is one
>> of the ones that uses older equipment and doesn't have a fancy wine tasting
>> villa with a 10 million dollar
>> view.
>>
>> As for the tractors,  the newer small diesel tractors are incredibly
>> reliable and economical to operate and
>> for the most part start when you hit the switch.
>>
>> Charlie
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: David Bruce
>> Sent: Saturday, February 25, 2017 4:32 AM
>> To: Antique tractor email discussion group
>> Subject: Re: [AT] Potebtial tractors for the East Bend, NC area
>>
>> And given hired help does a large part of the work ease of use does make
>> a difference. Then you get into the tax write off thing.  I was chatting
>> with my lawnmower people yesterday and we discussed the point of diesel
>> vs gas for tractors. To me nothing sounds better that an older Allis gas
>> engine when running right but for every day use I find a smaller diesel
>> tractor much more efficient with my time.
>>
>> David
>>
>> NW NC
>>
>>
>> On 2/24/2017 10:35 PM, Al Jones wrote:
>>> Spencer I think there are a couple reasons why.  A lot of these folks
>>> are former yuppies that are getting into "farming."  They're used to
>>> a/c, satellite radio, and a backup camera in their vehicle, so they
>>> want the same features in their tractors.  The other reason is a lot
>>> of people are not that mechanically inclined and can't keep an older
>>> one running, or they just want to climb in/on, turn the key and go.
>>>
>>> Al
>>>
>>> On Fri, Feb 24, 2017 at 9:30 PM, Spencer Yost <yostsw at atis.net> wrote:
>>>> In the 1990s I really thought that some of the smaller agricultural
>>>> operations that were popping up, like vineyards with wineries, that are
>>>> small acreage, would be able to find a use for some of these older
>>>> tractors. But they don't seem too interested. They'd rather buy the
>>>> $30,000 Kubotas.
>>>>
>>>> If anyone is wondering, David and I live along the Yadkin River valley.
>>>> The river valley is home to about 30 really high-quality vineyards and
>>>> wineries.  Flint hill is fairly close to both of us.  It's one of the
>>>> smaller vineyards but produces a pretty nice chambourcin(spelling??)
>>>> grape and some nice wine.   They have other varietals too. I can't
>>>> remember if they produce the wine themselves or hire it out to the
>>>> vintners at some of the larger wineries in the area.
>>>>
>>>> http://www.flinthillvineyards.com/
>>>> http://yadkinvalleywinetrail.com/
>>>>
>>>> Spencer Yost
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Spencer Yost
>>>>> On Feb 24, 2017, at 8:26 PM, David Bruce <tractor57 at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>> Not today but I have been.
>>>>>
>>>>> I was in EB make a bank deposit. I have seen these reactors working for
>>>>> years - I guess times have changed.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> David
>>>>>
>>>>> NW NC
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> On 2/24/2017 7:42 PM, Spencer Yost wrote:
>>>>>> Were you at the Flint Hill winery drinking wine?  (-;
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Seriously though, if the price is right and the tires are really good I
>>>>>> might be interested in one of them.  Flint Hill Road is not on my way
>>>>>> to anywhere this weekend, or I'd go take a look myself. So if you get
>>>>>> by there on Monday that would be great to get some more information.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Thanks!
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Spencer Yost
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Spencer Yost
>>>>>>> On Feb 24, 2017, at 3:47 PM, David Bruce <tractor57 at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> I was on Flynt Hill Road near the town boundary today and saw what I
>>>>>>> think were 2 Ford 8xx tractors with for sale signs. One a wide front
>>>>>>> and
>>>>>>> the other a tricycle front. I did not stop to look as I don't need
>>>>>>> more
>>>>>>> puppies following me home at this time.I didn't see phone number but
>>>>>>> if
>>>>>>> someone is interested I'll be back by there Monday.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> David
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> NW NC
>>>>>>>
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