Everyone agrees the cost of a late model combine is enough to pucker anybody’s checkbook. On one hand that price helps pay for some pretty astonishing productivity related to bushels and acres per hour. On the other hand, some of the cost is self-inflicted.
Just out of curiosity, I looked up the replacement cost of some optional items on a new combine. These numbers are somewhat inflated on one side because they’re the retail cost of those individual components, but on the other side the prices I’ve noted may be somewhat deflated because they don’t reflect the total cost of wiring, accessories and the labor to install them. For example:
-A cloth-covered, computer-designed orthopedic seat, including the seat cushion, back and arms: $2000.
-The deluxe, leather-covered version of the same seat, with electric this and that: $6000.
-A basic “air ride” seat suspension (separate from the seat itself), including air compressor and associated accessories: $2300.
-A plain old seat bolted to the base of the cab like all combines used to have 20 years ago: No longer an option.
-A basic AM/FM/weatherband radio: $360.
-A deluxe radio including satellite and bluetooth, along with four regular speakers and a subwoofer housing incorporated into the floor of the cab (trust me, it’s there even if you can’t see it): $1200.
-A built-in refrigerator: $1200.
I’m not saying I wouldn’t order some comfort if I was buying a combine. I admit I’ve grown fond of the heated seats in my wife’s SUV. But comfort comes at a cost. There are things that help a machine perform better, and there are things that make the operator more comfortable. I guess if I’m willing to pay to have a warm fanny while driving my wife’s vehicle, I don’t have much room to talk.
