Need tractor for vegetable farm

[farmermama]

We are looking to purchase a used tractor for our 11-acre vegetable farm. We already have a MF1540 that we love, a Ford 850 and 2 Farmall SuperAs. We'd like a tractor that can do some of the work we currently do with our MF -- rototilling, transplanting, laying plastic mulch, possibly disking or plowing,cultivating, possibly running our spader, and spraying.

We've been looking around and it's hard to find exactly what we need in our price range (about $12,000). We were hoping to find something around 35 hp with 4WD. The tractor needs to be about 48" on center, but not too small, and needs to be beefy enough to carry some implements.

We're considering a MF231 -- anyone have any experience with these? Would they be too limiting because they don't have 4WD? Do they go slowly enough to transplant (less than 1 mph)? Any other 2WD tractors people like? Or more affordable 4WD ones? Seems like JD and Kubota are a little pricey, unless we get into models with alot of hours on them. We do have dealers of JD and Kubota nearby, but I haven't had great luck getting service from them. Thanks for any help you can provide.

 

[Farmwithjunk]

In my years of farming, I found that if it was muddy enough to "need" 4wd, I wasn't in the field anyway. For general utility work around the farm, I never really needed 4wd much. I had one bigger MFWD tractor for a while. It was my primary tillage tractor. The 4wd got used SOME, but not enough that I missed it when I sold that tractor.

My #1 choice for most of what I did was a tractor I still own. A 1971 MF150. It is essentially the same drive train as that 231 you speak of. I pulled a 4-row planter, cut, raked, and baled hay with it, as well as the occasional plowing. I still use it to till gardens ect. As far as slow enough for a transplanter, in low gear/low range and a lower throttle setting (Don't need to be WFO with a setter) They'll go along at a snails pace. Very good tractors for that job. Those little Perkins diesels will plug along barely above idle with no ill effects.

There's a 231 and a 231S. The 231S is the preferred choice, but both are decent tractors. Make certain the steering is in decent shape. Some 231's had power steering issues (cylinders)

Take a look at the NEW Massey Ferguson 500 series tractors. In particular the 533. It's the new version of the classic 135. A LOT of bang for the buck.

I own 3 MFWD tractors now. I'm in the commercial mowing business. We get into muddy conditions where 4wd is a must. When I was farming, working in conditions like that would destroy the fields or crops. 4wd just wasn't all that important.

All things equal, if I have the choice between 4wd OR a little bigger tractor with more available power, I'd go with the 2wd and more tractor. But that's me.

 

[Harold_J]

I think for all the tasks you mentioned you don't need the fwd. An older Massey like a 135 or better yet the 150 that farmswithjunk mentions would do those jobs on an 11 acre farm. Fords in the 3000-3610 series to 4000-4610 series are excellent also. I have done a lot of transplanting with an MF 35 gas and it will definitely run under 1 mph. We were transplanting as close as 12" with only one person on each row. If you transplanter has two operators on each row it should definitely not be a problem. Another nice tractor if you can find one in good condition is an IH Hydro like a Hydro 84 or older. These are a little larger, but can run REALLY slow.

You will probably need to increase your bed/row spacing to at least 52" maybe 56". That is as narrow as you can go with tractors of this size unless it is an orchard/vineyard model.

 

[Soundguy]

That 850 he has trumphs the ford 3xxx series on hp. Also.. the 850 will be in the same size / weight range as that MF 150 / 231.. and in the upper end on hp.

It will plow, cultivate, disc, and with the 5spd and near 50 hp.. even has a decent chance with the rototiller.

I have an 850 and 660 and do those tasks plus more on my 13 ac. just plowed, disc's and cultivated my garden plot up over this last month with the 660.

I agree the mf 150 would be a good tractor.. but getting one.. or the 231 seems like he will be 'duplicating' the 850 ford.. and thus.. perhaps.. wasting money???

soundguy

 

[Harold_J]

That 850 he has trumphs the ford 3xxx series on hp. Also.. the 850 will be in the same size / weight range as that MF 150 / 231.. and in the upper end on hp.

It will plow, cultivate, disc, and with the 5spd and near 50 hp.. even has a decent chance with the rototiller.

I have an 850 and 660 and do those tasks plus more on my 13 ac. just plowed, disc's and cultivated my garden plot up over this last month with the 660.

I agree the mf 150 would be a good tractor.. but getting one.. or the 231 seems like he will be 'duplicating' the 850 ford.. and thus.. perhaps.. wasting money???

soundguy

They're all good tractors if you can find one not beat to death. In my experience the MF's will run a little slower for delicate work like the transplanter.

 

[Farmwithjunk]

They're all good tractors if you can find one not beat to death. In my experience the MF's will run a little slower for delicate work like the transplanter.

That's one of the reasons why the "X" series (35's 50's) the DX (100) series, 200 series and on into the 500 series of todays Masseys have been so extremely popular in this area. We used to raise a LOT of tobacco. Those tractors provided the slow speeds needed to run a setter better than most of their competition of the day. Especially so with the 8-speed gearbox. By the time hydro's became common, small scale tobacco farming had become obsolete for the most part.

Talk about an exciting way to spend a day...... Plugging along at 1/2 mph for hours on end......

There was absolutely NOTHING about raising tobacco that was much fun. ('cept picking up the check after it made it to the auction barn)

 

[Farmwithjunk]

That 850 he has trumphs the ford 3xxx series on hp. Also.. the 850 will be in the same size / weight range as that MF 150 / 231.. and in the upper end on hp.

It will plow, cultivate, disc, and with the 5spd and near 50 hp.. even has a decent chance with the rototiller.

I have an 850 and 660 and do those tasks plus more on my 13 ac. just plowed, disc's and cultivated my garden plot up over this last month with the 660.

I agree the mf 150 would be a good tractor.. but getting one.. or the 231 seems like he will be 'duplicating' the 850 ford.. and thus.. perhaps.. wasting money???

soundguy

I think in this case, the OP is looking for something newer. A 231 will typically be about 30 years fresher than his 850. I brought up the 150 as a comparison strictly because the 231 has essentially the same power train.

 

[Egon]

With 11 acres it would appear you have lots of Tractor available.

What is the specific reason for a new tractor?

 

[farmermama]

Good question. We have "bottlenecks" where our MF is tied up for hours at a time transplanting and it would be helpful to have a tractor that could be doing something else simultaneously. Our Ford 850 does not fit on our beds, and it cannot lift our disk, so its uses are limited. Our hope is to get a tractor that can complement the MF by doing bed prep or tine weeding while we're transplanting with the Massey; or transplanting while the Massey does something else. In other words, we need some redundancy in order to increase efficiency.

 

[farmboy12]

With 11 acres it would appear you have lots of Tractor available.

What is the specific reason for a new tractor?

Also, we're on TBN! No such thing as too many tractors! We've had up to 13 on our 30 acres, and were still borrowing friend's tractors!


Kyle

 

[Egon]

Good question. We have "bottlenecks"

Lots of Tractors but non suitable for the occasion!

It would sound like "look and search" among the local available equipment till the tractor that fills yours needs will be found.

Is there a supply of used equipment in your area?

 

[Harold_J]

Good question. We have "bottlenecks" where our MF is tied up for hours at a time transplanting and it would be helpful to have a tractor that could be doing something else simultaneously. Our Ford 850 does not fit on our beds, and it cannot lift our disk, so its uses are limited. Our hope is to get a tractor that can complement the MF by doing bed prep or tine weeding while we're transplanting with the Massey; or transplanting while the Massey does something else. In other words, we need some redundancy in order to increase efficiency.

I've observed that people growing vegetables like to have multiple tractors for efficiency, doing simultaneous tasks, not hooking and unhooking implements and even a backup if one breaks down, etc, and that is OK.

Do you really have the MF set at 48"? The Ford should be able to be set down to at least 52". If you can't work with that you will always have a problem in choosing a later model tractor and will be limited to small Kubota's and CUT's, not really what you want and need. If the Ford won't lift up the same 3-pt disk as the MF, then it probably has some problem with its hydraulic system which should be fixed.

 

[Soundguy]

I think in this case, the OP is looking for something newer. A 231 will typically be about 30 years fresher than his 850. I brought up the 150 as a comparison strictly because the 231 has essentially the same power train.

Ahh. ok.. I gotcha now.

I guess if he has the money to burn, new is always nicer.

soundguy

 

[tractorman99]

Branson 3510


Branson Tractors

 

[Soundguy]

Good question. We have "bottlenecks" where our MF is tied up for hours at a time transplanting and it would be helpful to have a tractor that could be doing something else simultaneously. Our Ford 850 does not fit on our beds, and it cannot lift our disk, so its uses are limited. Our hope is to get a tractor that can complement the MF by doing bed prep or tine weeding while we're transplanting with the Massey; or transplanting while the Massey does something else. In other words, we need some redundancy in order to increase efficiency.

I'm curious... the 850 has adjustable front and rear wheel spacing.. what fit problems are you having?

as for lifting the disc... I doubt you can get a compact in the same size / weight rating that will have substantially more lifting power on the 3pt. Perhaps your 3pt lift just needs a 3$ oring and backup washer replacement? A 10$ hyd repair kit is available from CNH.. has all the orings and gaskets to pop the top cover.. if you have a helper, you can pop the cover and re-oring and be back together in a couple hours.. easy..

with my 850 I pick up 6.5' disc's with no problem ( could do 8' lift style .. borrowed one once..), and my hyds will cary round bales of hay with no squeals from the relief valve..

soundguy

 

[farmermama]

What do folks think about a narrow Ford 4630? It has lots of power but not lots of clearance; it's a 4WD diesel that could be 51inches on center (which is what our Massey is). But would we really just be re-creating the 850? or would the 4630 be more flexible?

 

[MFRED]

For a 2wd tractor, the new MF2605 tractor would do. They are right around that $12k price range. Plus it's new. But a 231, 240, 241 would do the job well to. the 2605 is just a newer version.

 

[farmermama]

I'm curious... the 850 has adjustable front and rear wheel spacing.. what fit problems are you having?

as for lifting the disc... I doubt you can get a compact in the same size / weight rating that will have substantially more lifting power on the 3pt. Perhaps your 3pt lift just needs a 3$ oring and backup washer replacement? A 10$ hyd repair kit is available from CNH.. has all the orings and gaskets to pop the top cover.. if you have a helper, you can pop the cover and re-oring and be back together in a couple hours.. easy..

with my 850 I pick up 6.5' disc's with no problem ( could do 8' lift style .. borrowed one once..), and my hyds will cary round bales of hay with no squeals from the relief valve..

soundguy

Maybe our 850 does need a hydraulic overhaul. Actually, not maybe.

 

[Harold_J]

What do folks think about a narrow Ford 4630? It has lots of power but not lots of clearance; it's a 4WD diesel that could be 51inches on center (which is what our Massey is). But would we really just be re-creating the 850? or would the 4630 be more flexible?

I'm not familiar with all the variations of a 4630, but it was basically a very good tractor with the 201 3-cyl diesel engine, probably 10 to close to 20 years old now. As long as it's not a special low-profile or industrial model it should work well in your operation. I would stay away from anything other than the standard utility or row crop versions.

Like Soundguy asked, I'm curious about the 850; can't those wheels be set to 52in? It's not an 800 series industrial model, is it?

 

[kthompson]

Farmermama, If your current Massey does all you want and is the desired tractor, I would try to find a tractor as much like it as possible. Why, so setting it up and operating is about the same. It can just make life a little easier.


Farmingwithjunk, had missed where you are located. Had to look when you mentioed tobacco. You did not raise the flue cured one did you? I only spent little time in tobacco growing up but my wife grew up on small tobacco farm. It really was a social crop before all the machines hit it and you could not talk as you worked.