BLOG ENTRIES
Monday, February 08, 2010 - 11:06 PM by: Jim Ashmore
early 80's Case 1480, had swamp cooler on top, so i can cut wheat and take a shower all at once:) had alot a riding hours on 750 massey, how things have changed.
Monday, February 08, 2010 - 9:30 PM by: Kent Braathen
Been gone for three days and look what I missed! Good discussions going on!
I thought I would ask a question? What was the first combine or chopper you ever drove on a harvest run and how big was the header?
I'll answer first: I drove a 1972 JD 7700 gas machine with a 20' head. Thought it was great even when the A/C didn't work! No AM radios or 2 ways! I was living the dream! The year was 1974.
Monday, February 08, 2010 - 6:26 PM by: AA
Why yes TZ, I do believe I am repeating much of what you've told me! :) and yes you helped me out a lot and the customer was just as happy as I was which was the best way to leave it. Thanks again!, say have y'all decided on a southern stop this summer??
Monday, February 08, 2010 - 6:11 PM by: KP
JB, You are right. As You said in your earlier post "We can all learn from one another. Everyone shouldn't be afraid to post their opipions." It seemed that Annonymous guy was simply trying to get his point across and it was like he was falsely acused of being angry and bitter. I thought he did a good job explaining how some people are able to undercut and still stay in business and it's good that USCHI is kept abreast of the undercutting problems that do seem to p-lague some harvesters. If it wasn't a problem, it wouldn't keep coming up right? I sure hope annonymous will still consider becoming a member of USCHI even after what happened to him on these posts. Hey, what did you guys think of the super bowl yesterday? Did it turn out the way you wanted?
Monday, February 08, 2010 - 5:27 PM by: Anonymous
I will be at the convention this year, I hope I can meet some of you guys. Right now I have no acres lined up to cut. What if I am not able to have any acres lined up before I am to leave? Will I find enough along the way? Are there any other good harvesting sites or forums to go to? Thanks Guys
Monday, February 08, 2010 - 1:47 PM by: TZ
AA - You've learned a lot since I first "ran" into you! Even though we've never met, I feel like I know ya! I remember a time I think I may have told you the very same things you're now passing along! Integrity,honesty and good character will get you where you need to be (and a lot of sacrifices)! I appreciate the kudos in your first posting but all I was doing was helping and knew the harvester you got to help you out would do you and your customer a great job! Now....pay it forward!
Monday, February 08, 2010 - 1:00 PM by: Anonymous
OOPS
TYPE O
HASHED
Monday, February 08, 2010 - 12:59 PM by: JB
This sure has been what a discussion board is all about. We can all learn from one another. Everyone shouldn't be afraid to post their opipions. That is what a group is about. What other topics need to be hassed out to better our industry. ?
Monday, February 08, 2010 - 7:39 AM by: AA
Well, I hate to say it because I always hated hearing it, but now having lived it,.. don't get too big too fast. I'm starting to feel the aftershocks of that, but I'm not trying to say to not grow at all. If you see oppurtunity take it. Just keep your head up, keep at it and get to know as many people as you can. Remember that anyone you meet, might not be an immediate help when your struggling, but might be something that will pay off the next year or the next or the next. Become and stay a member of this organization, get to know as many people here as you can. Keep your reputation in mind on the road, treat other cutters, elavator personell, anybody you meet like your customers. Expansion or just finding a base in this business can come from anyone, anywhere and anytime. And when you have all you need, its then time to remember everyone who helped you along the way. Sometimes you might have to pass along something that you need, but trust me the people you pass that along too will remember you too! If you believe you can do it, Don't let anybody else change your mind. Keep up the good work and the good work will keep coming to you.
Sunday, February 07, 2010 - 10:19 PM by: JD1
Very inspiring AA seeing how this will be my first year cutting. I hope I can be as fortunate as you. Since you have been in this spot not too long ago, any advice?
Sunday, February 07, 2010 - 5:27 PM by: AA
Wow, I've been keeping up on this board for the past couple of days, and I have to say that in my first year as being a member, I haven't seen so much activity on here. I'm not going to get into too much detail as to anything, rather just comment on JB's last entry here.
I myself am a new harvester, well ok, fifth year this year. But, what you might find a surprise is I started at 17. Nobody helped me get started. At age 16 I helped a custom cutter that was cutting on the farm my dad worked at. Rather than working another summer away for someone else, I took what little money I saved and put it towards my first combine, rented a truck from my Dad and got to cutting. The following year I added another machine, and rented a third my third year. This past year I ran four machines here at home and traveled all the way to Wyoming. (while not so fascinating to all, when it’s your first time going that far away from home and shelling out all the money to get two combines, a cart, two trucks and five guys that far, well I guess it was a big deal to me)
All of this was done on my own with the help of some great and not so great employees and my brother and father. Yea, I’ve had some great customers, some have felt they stuck their neck out allowing a 19-22 year old into their field, trusting them to complete the last stage of their hard work. I’ve almost been pushed off a job because a guy thought I was a joke. I told him if he wanted to find somebody else to get em there right then, because his wheat was ready and little did he know my first combine was already making its way around the field, he stomped into his house and after a while came right back out and asked how it was going. Two days later after we’d flew across his place and gladly moved onto our next customer, he paid me, and the next night took my crew out to dinner after a hail storm came across his place the previous night..hours after he paid me. Ya know my first time to Wyoming this past summer, I never had met the customers I have until we pulled into town with the machines, only talked to them over the phone, never told my age or anything nor was I asked how many years in business. I guess you could say that some people buy into a crew, or have somebody that helped them get into the business or that that’s the only way they got into the business. But I proudly have to say that’s not true in all instances.
To go further, being a member of this organization paid off well for me this year, while some see the only benefit or greatest benefit of being a member is getting to land a job that somebody has posted, I had the opposite happen to me. I had a central Oklahoma job this past year that was worth cutting and had been ready to cut it, but the timing of the situation went wrong and I had to scramble home. But rather than leaving that farmer behind in a worry of how to get his acres cut, I made one phone call, to the well known “TZ” and just a couple hours later, I was able to leave the job in great hands. Not only did being a member help me!, it helped the farmer too! The network of contacts with this organization is by far the greatest benefit of all. There’s still many members that I don’t know and have never met, but I will say that the few I do know I have a lot of respect for and they have changed my views on competition and my views on the custom harvesting industry.
Sunday, February 07, 2010 - 3:23 PM by: TZ
JB - We didn't have any help with our one machine. What we did have help with was experience because of my grandparents. When we ventured out with our one combine, we've basically relied on the network of harvest friends that we've gained through this organization to get us where we are today. My grandpa was a harvester with three combines. When he finally quit, the customers he had would never wait for a single combine to complete. If it weren't for our harvest friends, we wouldn't be doing what we're doing now. I'd like to think our reputation and the job we do has something to say for why we're still able to make it work! (And a lot of sacrifices)
Sunday, February 07, 2010 - 3:16 PM by: JB
Seems like nobody ever started out on there own they either they took over the family business, or bought out a retiring cutter. Someone has helped to get a person started. It might have been a famer just given a young man a chance. I pray that everyone has a nice day and week to come Enjoy the superbowl.
Sunday, February 07, 2010 - 3:05 PM by: TZ
This post was the beginning of the discussion:
"Replying to JB:..In the 80's when USCHI was first started there was a need to organize not only to support each other, but also to try to get a handle on the cut throats that seem to enjoy taking jobs away from honest harvesters. Unfortunately that is one area that has never been addressed with diligence through USCHI. There were many years where some of the more prominent members, and some of these members are now in the USCHI harvest hall of fame, were cut throating and still cut throating, but that was never addressed either. We live in a greedy world, so continue to expect other harvesters to bid jobs under cost for as long as you harvest."
I viewed this as the BEGINNING of your tearing down of USCHI for not policing everyone and their business practices. You said you "WAS a member of USCHI for 20 years" which means you have quit within the past six years - Why? You MUST have some interest in what we're doing and hoping that it will benefit you in some way. I see this by your use of this website and the discussion board. Are you looking for information on the fuel tank issue, or the people who are looking for a job, or is it information on the convention? What? If you feel so badly about the way this organization has treated you or how hypocritical we are, why do you still come to the website? If you're STILL a member and feel as strongly about these things, why don't YOU try to make the changes? Step up and talk at the annual meeting or run for a board position - just something! Maybe just support it with your membership so we can keep this website here for you to look at.
Speaking of becoming a member. If you'd like to be a member of this organization - the one that is attempting to support the custom harvesting industry - please get your membership application and dues to the office by March 1st - if you want your name in the 2010 membership directory. Once the convention is over, the directory will go into production.
Mr. Anonymous - we'd love to have you a part of the organization again! Maybe you would see the GOOD people who ARE trying to make a difference!
Sunday, February 07, 2010 - 9:39 AM by: Anonymous
I never once said USCHI shoould be a "price police" as you put it. JB was asking how people can bid jobs under cost. I answered JB's question. I haven't seen you answer his question yet. In your earlier post you said " Anonymous, you can just go away, all of your comments about policing cut throats and not letting them in the organization are far beyond stupid." It wasn't too many years ago that USCHI was actually addressing the problem of cut throating and trying to come up with ways to curtail the problem because it is a problem for some. I know this because I was part of the discussion. The very same ideas I suggested in an earlier post that USCHI could try, are the very same ideas that had been discussed in the past. Then you come along and call them "stupid?" I continue to be hopeful that the general memebrship of USCHI considers the next man's ideas worthy of discussion, and not cut them off as you seem to be trying to do. Like I said, there is no greater joy in this life than to give a struggling man a step up, rather than underbid his jobs.
Sunday, February 07, 2010 - 6:31 AM by: ohiocutter
I work with all but one of my surronding cutters. He is just not a honest person, so I morrally chose to leave him alone. I no longer cut any silage in my home home county because of smaller, start up cutters, now harvest for the local dairies. I harbor no ill will towards the dairyman or cutter at all. I run trucks with them, I have mowed in front of them, raked in front of them, and spent countless hours in phone conversations and lunch meetings dicusssing ideas, dreams and even pricing with many of them. I pride myself in knowing that I am in no way near a "cut throat" , actully usually more like the other end of the price catogory. My problem with you is your attempt to criminalize the larger cutter for being large. The state of Wisconsin is one of the worst price areas of the country, and not because of large cutters. It is because of small cutters wanting a little extra money to help make the chopper payment for their own dairy. Upper New York is very similiar. I am not a large cutter, but I know many of them quite well and they are not the problem in the silage harvesting business at all. Your ideas of a perfect cutter seem to involve size, and I do not think size matters. A cut throat can own just one combine or chopper. If you read my last post again you will see my problem with you has to do with USCHI being some sort of a price police. There are great cutters out there that just need a bit of help understanding their costs. USCHI is trying to help with that in many ways. Shoving them out of the orginization, making them bitter and angry, will accomplish nothing.
Saturday, February 06, 2010 - 9:56 PM by: JB
IT has been great to visit(read) with all the opinions the last few days. It has given me some ideas found some new info to research. That is what makes this a great country freedom.
Saturday, February 06, 2010 - 9:31 PM by: Brad Heil
JB,
Remember that your costs may or may not be equal to your competition. They may be higher or lower than mine or anyone else posting here. If you can't make money at it, that does not mean the next guy can't.
From an economic standpoint one should work at any rate greater than their variable costs (in other words those costs that stop when the combines stop).
That is a business standpoint, from a personal standpoint I, like others have stated, want to be neither cheapest nor the most expensive. But what it all comes down to in the end is what puts food on my table.
We have all lost work. We have all been under-bid. It is a part of the life we all love and lead. It SUCKS. But it happens. There is another job out there. Go find it. Good luck.
Brad
Saturday, February 06, 2010 - 9:21 PM by: Anonymous
Reply to ohio cutter: It is unfortunate that you resort to having to use condemnation in your response to me. Your judgement of my ideas shows you are not open to other peoples opinions that don't fit into your category of what a perfect custom cutter is. I am sorry that you think this way. Maybe this is unfortunate for you but I won't be going away any time soon. I will continue to sacrifice for the betterment of the custom harvesting industry by helping the smaller less unfortunate custom cutter build a harvest run that they can survuve on. With that being said, may I ask you this question Ohio Cutter: Would you give up your most cherished customer to a young and up coming harvester that needs a jump start to get going?
Saturday, February 06, 2010 - 9:09 PM by: JB
I am just trying to get people to think before they go on the road this year. Some might even learn a little if they keep an open mind.
Saturday, February 06, 2010 - 9:01 PM by: ohiocutter
JB keep stirring!! This is the most action this site has had in a while. Anonymous, you can just go away, all of your comments about policing cut throats and not letting them in the organization are far beyond stupid. Good luck with your next line of work. PS I hear Walmart is laying people off so you probally wont be able to get a job there right now, Sorry.
Saturday, February 06, 2010 - 7:37 PM by: JB
You will never know until you try. A man that tries and fails is better than a man that never tries. It is a tough business, but if you love it do it. If you are doing it for " i am going to make a lot of easy money then you had better pro/con . Can you risk losing the money when things don't go well. Last year Oklahoma south was a freeze, lots of guys started out behind(acres cut) once that happens you never get them back. It seems like something happens between TX and the Canada Border each year, summer to fall. That what makes it interesting never a dull year always a new
challange.
Saturday, February 06, 2010 - 3:57 PM by: JD1
I agree with CB. The 2010 harvest is suppose to be our first year on the run, but I must ask, do I even have a chance or is it worth it? Will I find enough acres? This is not very encouraging. Any suggestions or help?
Saturday, February 06, 2010 - 1:39 PM by: JD
Im not trying to quote prices but the problem I see is the cost for a farmer to raise most crops especially wheat has increased and at todays commodity prices the margin is break even at best with a above avg yield. the farmer if there good buesness men will shave a dollar or two from every where they can and the difference is red or black to them. Our job a custom harvesters is to find ways to save money, be competitive, "MAKE A PROFFIT" and keep working at it. Just charging more isnt always the best answer its just easy, sounds like our govt. I would hope my fellow members we are better than that!!!!!!!!
Saturday, February 06, 2010 - 11:39 AM by: JB
OK I found the input rates for 2008. I am in line with my numbers. I look at my tax reurns and monthly quikbooks to check. I quess it just blows my mind when guys cut below cost JUST to get to run a combine. I love to harvest and God willing will for a long time. The bottom line is still where it is all about. Robbing peter to pay paul is not good business. I will stop stirrin the pot for a while.
Saturday, February 06, 2010 - 11:20 AM by: JB
not to beat a dead horse here,but I was looking over the champs program numbers for 2008 $34-35 per acre is good flat rate or 3 mumbers doesn't matter how you get there just get there. I could not find input rates
Saturday, February 06, 2010 - 10:51 AM by: JB
Thanks TZ I am goning to try to make the convention this year. It seems like it is when we are always get the planter ready and harvest equipment. This year with newer equipment I hope to have time.I have my cost as low as others that i talk with.Fuel, quaility labor,insurace , taxes other cost you are still not talking 3-5 dollars an acre diffence.You might save 1 or 2.
I was bidding 21s or comparable to that Black Falcon
Saturday, February 06, 2010 - 10:51 AM by: Anonymous
Replying to JB: Ok for some reason you guys think I am angry and bitter, and it is quite the opposite. There is no greater joy in my life than to help those less fortunate. I was a member of USCHI for 20 years, and I have probably been harvesting longer than some of you have been alive. JB asked a question: Here my question How can you bid the job at cost or below cost?
I actually answered that question in an earlier post and I will try to answer it again. Lets just say you inherited a custom harvest outfit from your father, and along with that inheritance you inherit a large irrigated farm, maybe some feed lots, maybe even a couple million in cash. The harvest outfit you inherited consisted of lets just say 14 combines. You need to keep these machines busy,so since you CAN afford at the moment to undercut the smaller guys to get jobs and stay busy, that's what you do. You have enough cushion to be able to do this, because maybe your drawing in several million elsewhere. And maybe, just for the sake of saying maybe, you need a tax write off as well. For a couple years you keep your price down below cost in an area, then after you have stalked all the little guys and ran them all out, you raise your rates, and for the most part you raise them higher than the average. There is no anger, or bitterness or animosity whatsoever on my part. I simply pointed out to you guys that there will always be cut throats, but then there will always be people like me who spends my whole life helping the smaller guy and building great relationships with those who are less fortunate and with those who are honest, and loyal and have the belief as I do that the mom and pop stores are so much more important than the wal mart mentality.
Saturday, February 06, 2010 - 10:28 AM by: Black Falcon
While we are on the topic of prices anyone have any ideas on the price for 2010 wheat harvest. We were at 3 21's last year. I was thinking it would probably be around the same for this year. Anyone have any thoughts on this?
Saturday, February 06, 2010 - 10:26 AM by: TZ
JB - Do you participate in the CHAMPS program? If not, I REALLY think it would be worth the investment!! This would be very helpful to you right now. You can compare all your input costs and income with others in the industry and see where you could make the necessary changes.
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