Harvest Crews

[rockpile]

Just curious what people are paying for hired help these days? Around here, for $18/hr you can get some old retired guy, no farming background, to pull a set of heavy harrows or grain cart at most. Younger, capable and ambitious guys and gals who can be left in charge of a combine, sprayer or seeder and who you want to keep around will set you back $30 or more bucks an hr plus benefits. Very hot economy east of Calgary.

[JDGreen]

20 gets you a pulse. 27-35 for someone you can trust and has a brain.

[Ronski]

I pay my boys 10/hr dicking around with me training/moving equipment/servicing stuff or $20/hr when they are running a piece of equipment by themselves. My time is worth a lot more than $20 so if they replace me its all good.
They are 14&16 and my 13 yr old daughter is waiting for her turn to help.
A lot of the time its make work on the $10 but its learning for later.

[farmaholic]

Blackpowder:
"It's not easy but watch the poison of negativity doesn't get to be a habit. Good luck."

Advice worth heeding. Also, I have to be careful that my crusty attitude, at times, doesnt affect the next generation. This is a topic I would like discussed but think would get little response. A little too personal and mushy for some. Am i doing my kid a
diservice by not being honest with him about how i feel about this?



I was given a wonderful opportunity from a very unselfish and gracious set of parents. I feel I need to give my kid the same opportunity but at a total cost, "of various kinds", to me? .

[tman]

When I was back "home" in MB, it was my dad, oldest bro who has taken the farm (mostly) and me since it worked out well with my consulting business. Mom made the meals and delivered out to farm. My other bro would come out every once in a while in evenings or on weekends. Now I'm gone so my 80 year old dad put in a lot more stressful hours last year and probably will again.

Where I'm at now, I have the city boss's son, my semi retired co worker and another semi retired guy for full time workers this harvest. Then another guy to come in evenings and weekends. So I have enough men my boss doesn't need to be here!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I might actually enjoy harvest once again. Honestly don't remember the last time that happened.