Overview:

Learn how to control machinery costs, analyze strategies for replacing machinery, and determine optimum machinery capacity. Compare owning, leasing and custom hiring.

A module by module introduction to the course is available.

There are two registration options. You choose to pay online via PayPal

or via U.S. mail

Ever since humankind went from hunting and gathering to cultivating plants for a stable food supply, people have been looking for ways to make the job easier. Pointed sticks and hoes gave way to implements pulled by oxen and mules. Animal power gave way to steam, gasoline and diesel powered equipment. Successive generations of farm machinery have offered increased capacity, comfort and reliability. Today's behemoth tractors, planters and harvesters are part of an $8 billion a year industry.

Modern farm machinery allows operators to produce and harvest more bushels in less time. Breakdowns are fewer and human fatigue is less. But all these features come at a price.

Course Modules

• Estimating Farm Machinery Costs
• Leasing Farm Equipment
• Custom Hiring
• Selection and Sizing of Farm Machinery
• Replacement Decisions for Machinery
• Fuel Use and Costs
• Transportation Costs
• Joint Ownership and Machinery Cooperatives
• Transferring Ownership of Farm Machinery

Decision Aids

• Estimating Machinery Costs
• Lease versus Own
• Custom Hire versus Owning
• Machinery Sizing Worksheet
• Field Capacity and Power Requirements
• Joint Ownership Worksheet