Plowing Prices

[Canada]

Just curious....

What is the cost of hiring a tractor to plow 3 times?

I have 2 parcels. 32 rai and 48 rai. We just hired out the 32 rai and it cost 1200 baht per rai. This was for three times. Just because I paid 1200 doesn't mean that that is what it is worth. This is Thailand. The 48 rai is next, but have been evaluating buying a tractor.

If you compare the price to hire out against the apparent price of a used Ford, it may be worth it to buy. If you compare against a new Kubota 85 hp, way cheaper to hire out. At a quick glance anyways.

Thanks for your help.

[WatersEdge]

At B1,200 per Rai, three passes, it's B400 per pass.

I'm going to guess the first pass was to disk plow deep as possible

then the second and third passes were disking in two directions,

Is that correct?

Did the final direction run generally with the contour or aligned with the slope?

If it runs down the slope have him come back for one more pass.

It's important that the contour direction is final

because it minimizes erosion, and maximizes water retention.

Using my local Tractor rate of B600 per hour,

it allows 40 minutes average to make a pass over a rai.

Deep Plow busting out dry hard ground goes slower than disking

It sounds reasonable if he did a good job

There was another thread not so long ago where the man paid B1,700,

but figured he was subsidizing his father in law.

Did you make note of the hours to complete the entire job?

For the tractor purchase,

32 + 48 rai => 80 rai => 12.8 ha => 31.6 acre isn't justification to buy,

but the big boy's toy factor may yet be the clincher.

I love toys as much as the next guy, and have never been happier than on a tractor.

If you have the means, buy the tractor

just don't let it out of your personal control

unless you have additional means

with bottomless good will to overlook destructive abuse.

[Canada]

At B1,200 per Rai, three passes, it's B400 per pass.

I'm going to guess the first pass was to disk plow deep as possible

then the second and third passes were disking in two directions,

Is that correct?

Did the final direction run generally with the contour or aligned with the slope?

If it runs down the slope have him come back for one more pass.

It's important that the contour direction is final

because it minimizes erosion, and maximizes water retention.

Using my local Tractor rate of B600 per hour,

it allows 40 minutes average to make a pass over a rai.

Deep Plow busting out dry hard ground goes slower than disking

It sounds reasonable if he did a good job

There was another thread not so long ago where the man paid B1,700,

but figured he was subsidizing his father in law.

Did you make note of the hours to complete the entire job?

For the tractor purchase,

32 + 48 rai => 80 rai => 12.8 ha => 31.6 acre isn't justification to buy,

but the big boy's toy factor may yet be the clincher.

I love toys as much as the next guy, and have never been happier than on a tractor.

If you have the means, buy the tractor

just don't let it out of your personal control

unless you have additional means

with bottomless good will to overlook destructive abuse.

What size of tractor would you recommend? I was looking at a Kubota M series 85 hp. They are expensive, and then you throw in 4 or 5 attachments. Can you get by with smaller without it being too small?

Yeah...I wannna play too.

[Canada]

Did the final direction run generally with the contour or aligned with the slope?

If it runs down the slope have him come back for one more pass.

It's important that the contour direction is final

because it minimizes erosion, and maximizes water retention.

He did the last pass aligned with the slope. It's a slow slope....and we started to plant already....the lower portion....we could get him to pass the top 2/3 again, but we'd have to pay......

[Lickey]

If the tractor driver is not the owner, you might be suprised how much more he could do for a few bottles of beer and a packet of cigs..

[WatersEdge]

Hi Canada,

Contour furrows catch water and thereby prevent erosion.

Slope furrows are small ditches to get rid of water and carry soil with it.

The difference between the two is illustrated in the first big rain, before the crop roots hold the soil.

Disking a random surface isn't as pronounced an effect as furrows,

but the result is still there.

Two neighbors to my farm are a clear contrast,

as one understands and the other doesn't.

The one guy plows aligned with the slope even though the long direction of the field is with the contour.

He has to work more to do himself harm

Every season more silt winds up in the rice paddy,

flashing across the road making a mucky mess in the process.

It's such a simple difference, very seldom requiring a lot more effort.

Hi Lickey,

So you propose to cheat the tractor owner by arranging corruption with the operator?

Remind me not to send my tractor to your field.

[IsaanAussie]

How can that be cheating? The word doesnt exist in Thailand as there is no need because everyone does it. The tractor owner pays little because he knows the driver will be "using" his fuel for other things. From there on its only a matter of not getting mad, just getting even. It's us silly buggers that have the stupid idea that fair play should be the norm. Take what you can, before someone else does!

[WatersEdge]

Hi IsaanAussie,

Hi Lickey,

I know it's a vicious cycle,

and I'm told the way things are is the way things are,

it just seems there's something unfixable broken,

when an Outsider plays the game.

I should admit that I'm not immune to attack.

As I did a little introspection after having at Lickey,

I remember that others have criticized me

for not paying higher wages than the local norm.

Perhaps that's taking advantage of the local system,

I just never actually realized the wealth that it should accumulate.

I still pay B100 per day and a handful of them are worth a good bit more,

so I figure out small ways to slip added benefit in from the side.

Mainly that the good ones work when the lousy ones aren't necessary.

The fact that they flock to me in the dry season,

and leave me hanging in the planting season,

tells me I must be doing it about right.

The local norm remains a pretty decent standard.

Give one of them authority over the others,

and he will figure out a way to skin them in your absence,

so I've actually had to check that the right amount is reaching the correct fingers.

This introspection thing can't be taken too far,

so let's delve a little deeper.

The other place that I'm guilty would reveal a significant trade secret.

Sorry, that's going to remain behind smoked glass.

It's all conducted in bright sun openly among sober adults with all parties pleased.

but at the end of the year I'm more pleased than he is.

None would construe it dishonest, but there's an advantage to having a technically astute spreadsheet.

May the best organized win, at the end of the game it's about whose numbers look better.

He's the one who will still be standing to pay wages in five years.

[soundman]

Last time I hired out a plough it was 400B per rai.

[Lickey]

So Watersedge, 100bht a day, that must exclude you buying them a miday meal and taking a big cooler of icey water for them, which would bring things up to 135bht a day, but you didnt mention any of this, so thats it? 100bht a day? suprised you have any labour atall.

This is what we pay, and it includes free food and icey water,

General labour, fruit picking,planting ect 150bht

Post hole digging and fencing, 200bht

Spraying, 300bht [danger money]

Strimming, grass cutting, 300bht, they suply there own fuel.

I dont know what tractor drivers are paid, Perhaps Soundman could tell us?

Also if you have all this cheap labour, get in touch with JamesCollister, hes crying out for labour, you can find a post or 2 of his in the Sob Stories,

[Canada]

Last time I hired out a plough it was 400B per rai.

one pass?

[Canada]

Hi, still looking for the answer....will less than 85 hp do the job?

Uncle in law who hires out a Ford 6610 says if we stick to our 80 rai....50 hp will be fine....any thoughts.????no hills, very very slight slope, 32 rai already ploughed for this year, and 48 to go which was planted with rubber last year, so is still pretty soft. No hard ground to break. If I stick to my 85 rai of sugar, will 50 hp 4wd do???

Thanks

[WatersEdge]

Hi Canada,

Yes, 50 hp will do the job.

In my Grandfather's day they used one Ford Ferguson tractor for everything.

http://www.iol.ie/~m...e/history2.html

That is about a 40 hp gasoline machine

which now is a highly sought after hobby farm collector's item.

It was two wheel drive, heavy cast iron construction

They farmed 40 acres Alfalfa, then 40 more.

No cab, No shade, but it sure beat mules

Edited April 15, 2011 by WatersEdge

[Canada]

Thank you for that.

In terms of "value" I am sure there is more value in hiring out if the job is done right.....Me learning on my field is not necessarily going to get the job done right either. Even working it out over ten years.....more value in hiring out.....but I wouldn't get to play....

[Canada]

Think I will wait for the right tractor at the right price.....

[humblefalang]

a kubota 3408 4wd, 8 days, 80 rai, 30-32 litres of diease a day, thats is me, over the last two years, no frinds no stress just me the kubota the wife and the kids, oh and a good hidraulic seat on the tractor, not the standard,

[Canada]

a 3408....how many hp???

[joker7]

Ive just finished plowing three times total for 72 Rai:

7 blade - 350 baht/rai

3 blade - 243 baht/rai

plant sweetcorn - 125 baht/rai

Works out to be 718 baht/rai. I never get involved even get the father in law to try to strike a deal for himself in the process which he usually manages to do.

[kwonitoy]

a kubota 3408 4wd, 8 days, 80 rai, 30-32 litres of diease a day, thats is me, over the last two years, no frinds no stress just me the kubota the wife and the kids, oh and a good hidraulic seat on the tractor, not the standard,

Where did you get the hydraulic seat from?

My butt hurts after a day in the standard saddle

[rideswings]

humblefalang - thats a big difference in diesel, sounds like you burn around 4 liters an hour, I thought they burn around 2 liters an hour. I believe you since you have 2 years experience with it.

[Canada]

trying to find the right tractor guy.....they lie.....

I have decided that a couple of years down the road is better, if I still want to buy a tractor, but it is interesting , trying to find the right guy. Father in law is on it, but I get the reports.