I think you are very wise to be pondering this now, instead of having the decision thrust on you all at once. I like the idea of ramping down, but staying reasonably active as age and ability begin to wear,
We are an itsy operation compared to you and we are only doing small square bales of horse quality hay. What we are finding is that a 3 tractor plan appears ideal. Seems like my JD and MF always have an implement on them that I want to leave on for the next day. It would be handy to have a 3rd for hitching to a wagon, rake, Tedder or bush hog as necessary.
Nice thing about hay (had cattle for generations) is you can walk away from it for weeks or even months at a time. It seemed like we were always committed to dealing with the cattle on one level or another, even if it was patching a section of fence. I've got a day job and the hay - maintaining the fields, reopening new fields, adding appropriate shelters, cutting/baking, marketing, networking and selling the hay keeps me hoppin'. I think once free of the day job, this workload will probably be enough to keep me busy as I would want in retirement.
Unlike me, you've got your infrastructure intact. My guess your fields and equipment are where you need them too. We're trying and will get there as well and some of that race will diminish. I'd like to have drop dead reliable equipment when I retire to minimize standing on my head fixing junk in my retirement years. I'd also like a nice foundation of land and equipment for my kids to utilize without a dime coming out of their pockets when I'm slowing or done - if they choose.
In addition, it's exciting to drive the hay operation from an "it's a nice optional chunk of $$$'s" and one that in my retirement that can keep me reasonably busy. I'm looking forward to using the hay funds as to help whomever as I see fit, i.e. giving my kids an assist, maybe a kitchen remodel or family vacation - the kind where the hay $$$'s pay for everything for my kids, their spouses, and children.
Mostly I want to run as long as I can. Hay farming scratches that itch and I think it can keep me as busy as I want in retirement.
I think you are steaming towards a similar goal/balance between workload and abilities and continue to run as long as possible.
As for your 3 tractor plan......
Oliver 550, Oliver 77 and Oliver 1550...... That's my story and I'm stickin' to it!
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Today's Featured Article - Tuning-Up Your Tractor: Plugs & Compression Testing - by Curtis Von Fange. The engine seems to run rough. In the exhaust you can hear an occasion 'poofing' sound like somethings not firing on all cylinders. Under loaded conditions the tractor seems to lack power and it belches black smoke out of the exhaust. For some reason it just doesn't want to start up without cranking and cranking the starter. All these conditions can be signals that your unit is in need of a tune up. Ok, so what is involved in a tune up? You say, swap plugs and file the points....now tha
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