Machinery should be my most important investment

Labor almost always trumps machinery. Yes, every farm needs new equipment, but it shouldn’t be the focus. Instead, equipment should allow you to use your labor efficiently. We did a combine trade that allowed us to reduce two machines from our combine fleet. While these are bigger combines, it’s actually less machinery, and they free up our staff to do other jobs. Also, consider the costs. A new employee might cost $60,000 to $100,000, while a new combine can run from $250,000 to $1 million.