One thing about being a farmer is that you're always looking for ways to improve your income stream. This time of year is perfect for cleaning up around the property and hauling old machinery to the junk yard for some extra cash. Right now, the price of steel is rather good. Sometimes we've hauled iron in and hardly received what it cost in gas. But this year is different. Prices are good. We often see trucks with their pickup boxes full of scrap iron, pulling a trailer piled high with iron also. It's a good way to recycle old, unusuable equipment too.
When we moved on this farm, there was quite a bit of old machinery pulled down in the woods. Each spring we haul some up and torch it up. Most of the time we can get a better price if it's been cut into "ready" lengths. Farmer Rick also has a pile that he keeps at the end of our machinery line that is nothing but "stuff to take to the dump" iron that has fulfilled its purpose for farming and can be hauled off. He has quite an ability to keep machinery in good shape and running long after most farmers have passed it over, but when it has finally worn out beyond Farmer Rick's desire to keep it going, it's time to haul it out too.
He has announced, though, that this is the last week he's going to haul steel. After that, it's time to get the rest of the tractors ready. Time to change filters and oil. Check tires, repair and weld. Seed corn is being delivered next week and there needs to be a place cleared out in the shed to stack it. So many things! If only this snow would melt and the mud would dry up!
I sure could use some "Spring" right now!
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