I think it's a waste of money to pay interest and depreciation on an asset that I'd maybe use 50 hours a year. It works out good-my neighbor doesn't like A'I'ing cows and I hate tractors. If you like owning and running equipment or it doesn't work to rent it by all means do so. Rod has a very good point about how hard it is to run tractors in the cold-minus 40 puts a whole new slant on things. Really the most economical way to feed is with a draft team of mares-they lay down every May and replace themselves-the more you use them the more they are worth-if you aren't spread out to far you can feed just as fast as with a tractor. Pretty easy to double the value of a young team from fall to spring.