And new-equipment warranties can save major repair expense. Pride of ownership also is a significant motivation to buy new. Shopping for used is more of a hassle than buying new. But local dealers are tied to national networks now that can find just the right piece of equipment. Or a farmer can do his own searching on the Internet.
Smaller operations can avoid large capital outlays by sharing equipment.
But the logistics can be tricky. When you hire custom work, you're not merely hiring machinery-you're replacing your labor. Figure out what your time is worth, and then decide whether to hire custom work. . Terry Giese bought two expensive new combines. But they calculate it's an investment that will pay dividends as it replaces custom harvesting costs.