Dads farms are starting to get harvested. He has always loved John Deere equipment....but man....the beast that is harvesting as I type this is humongous! It is not the largest combine that John Deere makes...but the 2nd largest.
Just kidding dad! Dad never buys new equipment. This combine costs more than an R44 new.....Once it leaves the dealers lot....it takes a $100,000 hit in value.....and after one year of running....another $100,000. Dad waits till several more years depreciate it...then he moves in and buys. This is a 2008 model. It has GPS guided steering.....a computer monitors yields across the farm and the data is used to control the fertilizer applicator to put on heavier where the yields were lower....and lighter where they are higher.This combine is the Cadillac of combines....you would not believe how plush it is inside. The controls are in the pistol grip.......looks harder to run than my helicopter!
It has a 35 foot wide grain head on it.......a monster I tell you! The sickle hydraulically floats across the ground getting every soybean pod possible. Farming sure has changed since I left the farm in 1986! But.....I was independent like my dad.....and after 15 years of farming...it was not in my blood....and still isn't. I walked away from a silver spoon operation....but have no regrets. You have to do what you love!
Dad is 93 years old and this is the largest crop he has ever had.
What speed does it cruise at? 
Enjoy life as we know it while you can 
