An 82-year-old Alberta farmer who was trapped for more than 20 hours in his combine harvester says he's giving up working the land, saying it's "time to quit farming anyhow."

Ray Como is recovering in an Edmonton hospital from hypothermia after getting stuck upside-down in the piece of machinery on his farm near Morinville.

Como says he became trapped in the machine while checking for specific figures so he could change the combine's oil.

At first, Como tried reading the information by sliding feet first into the combine, but couldn't get his head inside. So when he tried to stick his head down to read the numbers, he slid right in and couldn't get himself out. That was Friday afternoon. His son-in-law discovered him Saturday morning.

"I'll never do that again," a spirited Como told CTV News Channel in a telephone interview Tuesday afternoon. "I'm going to quit farming. I'm 82 years old, time to quit farming anyhow."

Como said he's feeling "not too bad," considering he was trapped overnight. He believes he survived hanging upside down in the cold because he went into shock.

"I asked God to help me, either that or let me die, because I couldn't take all that pain," Como said. "He must have put me into shock…. I prayed to him all afternoon while I was waiting for my son-in-law to come."

Como's advice to farmers is to ensure there are always two people working on machinery. "I was all alone there," he said. "If I'd have had a helper he didn't have to save me, all he had to do was report me."

And while he'll continue to socialize with and offer advice to local farmers, Como said in retirement he plans to "tell stories and laugh. And have fun."