How far is too far? Long Post!

I have been keeping an eye out for some ground to rent for corn/bean rotation with a little wheat occasionally.  I am trying to keep it close to my other ground 25 acres, but I haven't found anything that close it seems.  One patch I have a good chance at is 5 miles away south of our place (3 acres,)  We will call this customer #1.  While this is not many acres it is between my ground I already have and 17 acres I talked to another fellow about (cust #2).  His father is getting ready to retire from farming and has the 17 acre patch (about 6 miles away south), a 5-6 acre patch (across the road from our house), and a 26 acre patch about 6 miles away to the east.  There is probably 40-50 more acres surrounding the 26 as well, but it is in grass right now.  Then there is also a lady north of us that has 70 acres (40 acre square field, with 20 acre square on the side and 10 acres .5 miles up the road)  Problem with this patch is it is 12 miles away, but to make it a little better my Father in Law has 15 acres 2 miles south of it I could pick up as well.  How far do you all travel for your fields.  Any opinions?  I also work a full time job on side, but my dad has offered to run the tractors if needed. 

Edited by Sandknob - 17 Aug 2010 at 4:09pm

it's hard for me to picture from your description, but the way i always look at is the drive worth the time?  70 acres 12 miles away might be a stretch but if you've got a farm or two in between and you can keep working as you go than it might be a different story.  what kind of ground speed do your tractors have?

190 is main tractor, D17 & 960 ford for smaller stuff.  Would like to move up to 200 or 7030-7040 but cash is limiting factor there.  Gleaner F for combine (also have an A2), but thinking of moving up to a nice late model (gulp, don't shoot me) 6600 deere with 20ft platform and 6 row head.  I know the history of it and its a good combine.  Also considered a 1440 or 1460 IH, but once again the cash factor gets in the way.

12 miles might seem far, but if you have a decent chunk of ground, it would be worth it.  70 acres and 15 acres would make the 45 minute trip each way OK.  I would set it up so when I was nearly finished tillage, someone (your father) would have the planter there.  He could transport with the 45, do the tillage and planting with the 190, if you need the size.  There wouldn't be valuable time wasted driving.  As soon as disking is done, you start planting.  BTW I farm all over, up to 7 miles in any direction from farm.  We take field size, soil type, and rent to determine if it's worth the drive.

Have you sat down with a note pad, and figured up your inputs and revenues, based on each plot of ground?

We are spread out a bit, covering about 400 acres, none of it is more than three miles from the two places but the two places are three miles apart.  We took some really decent ground this year and it is really paying off.  I got a different 6 row planter this year for better placement and for next years crops am starting some no-till (beans and wheat).  I finally figured out that my time IS worth something and I am going to farm profitably with the least amount of time input.  I like it alot but it can't run my life.  I also am going to be very selective on my custom jobs, spraying has been profitable but my combine work is typically too cheap....

I suppose I'd better give a little more info here as it sounds I may need it.  I am looking to move this past the hobby stage over time.  This won't all be this year or next by the way.  I may have a chance at the 70 for next year as well as the 3 acres for next year.  The other fellow may or may not retire in next couple of years.  His son just brought it up with me, and I told him I would be interested.  I work as a LP salesman for a Coop.  So come spring is my downtime, but we are still busy at the plant.  I am able to take off if needed though.  I run a late model #56 IH 6 row planter with double disc openers (won't find a nicer one) and have a #333 Allis no till planter with 10 units for beans.  I do have a smaller model disc 10ft though and would really like to move to a larger disc.  Also run a Glencoe 13ft field cultivator and a Dunham Lehr 13ft cultimulcher.  I have access to NH3 application equipment and fertilizer equipment since I work at the Coop.  Also can get employee discounts on inputs as well which helps some.  I do have a nice computer program thru the Coop that I can figure inputs/costs/yields/grain pricing into and it will give breakeven figures, production cost pie chart, return per acre, % of return on investment, etc.  Its really a nice program.

Thanks

Adam