Tractor Sizing Right size tractor for small square baler

[3boys865]

Am looking for input and recommendations on the right sized tractor for a small hay operation. I have approx 20 acres of pasture that I would like to start working for hay. I don't currently own a tractor and I want to make sure I purchase enough engine and PTO power to handle the job. I will also be doing some FEL work and some ground work including tilling and plowing. I have been looking at the 45 - 60 hp range in the JD 4x20 series and the MF 1600 series. How much engine and PTO hp do I need to look for. Any other factors I need to consider?

 

[rambler]

Square bales or round bales?

You need 35 hp and a heavy tractor for small square bales. More hp for a modern faster baler, this is for a NH model 69 through 271 baler. A compact class tractor might be too light to control the baler, and too light a pto to handle the shock loads of a baler flywheel.

You need 60 hp for a medium sized round baler. 80-100+ is good for a bigger round baler.

In either case more gears, to select differnt speeds is welcome. A live or independent pto makes it almost fun - really needed.

Yes, folks have gotten by with less. But why would a person plan to?

Plowing it's good to have adjustable wheels to set up the plow furrow, and traction is important - right tires, good weight. Takes about 25-35 hp per bottom depending on your soil, how big you wanna go....

(Oh, I speak in pto-horsepower...)

--->Paul

 

[Groo]

I am sort of in the same category. I'd like to do some farming, but the 20something PTO hp on the lightweight CUT just wont cut it. It has sort of fallen short in several areas over the years, but its what we have and all the current attachments are sized for it. Were I shopping for a new tractor, I'd say at least 50hp, but since There is what there already, a larger replacement tractor and re-upping all the attachments we use all the time would never pay for itself.
I have been giving some thought to turning 4x4 pickup into a tractor. I figure I could do some sort of slide-in that might lock into the trailer hitch with a dedicated engine for PTO and maybe hydraulics. I could probably get a big old used tractor for less (just a 38hp Kohler goes for about $2500), but I am thinking about it.

 

[3boys865]

I would like to plan for either square or small round bales. I definitely don't want to undersize my tractor purchase. I would prefer to have some power to spare when sizing it without getting way more than I need for my 20 acres.

Looks like I will have to move my search up to the Utility class of tractors like the JD (5 series) or MF (2600 series) to approach 60 hp for the PTO.

Any recommendations from anyone on a specific mfg / model in this class that is suited for small hay operations and occasional light tiling / plowing?

Thank you, I appreciate your response.

 

[hosspuller]

I have a JD 5200 (45 hp pto), a NH 310 baler (squares) and a hay wagon. My fields are level. The tractor is just adequate to run the baler and pull the full wagon hitched to the baler. Wagon saves a lot of work by stacking on the fly. I suggest hp alone is not the end all specification. Tractor weight is important to the operation. A 4 series is too light for my operation mode.

 

[aczlan]

We have a Kubota L3830 that we use to cut hay (with a 9' NH mower conditioner), tedd it (18' 4 basket Enrossi tedder), rake it into windrows (NH 256 rake) and bale it/kick it into the wagon (NH 269 baler with a belt style kicker).
We have also used it to plow (Oliver 4340 3 bottom plow), disc (old 9' flex disc) and harrow (12' 4 section harrow).
Once we loaded the rear tires, it does all of that well, but it feels a little light when going downhill with a full haywagon for the "last pass".

Aaron Z

 

[tessiers]

I keep waiting to see a round baler out in a field with a little tractor spinning around on the front of the driveshaft. The 4720 is 60 pto hp tested and weighs a whopping 3860 lbs. My Farmall H weighs more than that with 26 hp pto.

 

[Verticaltrx]

I would like to plan for either square or small round bales. I definitely don't want to undersize my tractor purchase. I would prefer to have some power to spare when sizing it without getting way more than I need for my 20 acres.

Looks like I will have to move my search up to the Utility class of tractors like the JD (5 series) or MF (2600 series) to approach 60 hp for the PTO.

Any recommendations from anyone on a specific mfg / model in this class that is suited for small hay operations and occasional light tiling / plowing?

Thank you, I appreciate your response.

40 PTO hp is good for most small square balers, 60 PTO hp is good for most small round balers. In either case, you need to be looking at utility size tractors, I wouldn't trust the drive line of a compact tractor for much baling.

 

[octavio]

i want a horse power trator and the size is 35

 

[mkreitler]

I used a 4000 FORD DIESEL(52HP)for 10 years on a 271 NEW HOLLAND and pulled a wagon behind also had 0 issues with both and baled in the neighborhood of 10,000 bales per year.And yes I have baled against the other brands J D, CASE , IH, ALLIS,in my day and my money was always go NEW HOLLAND HAY EQUIPMENT,after all it's hard to beat the BEST, FORD and NEW HOLLAND!!!!

 

[vtsnowedin]

I have a JD 5045E . With loaded tires and loader on it goes about 7000 lbs which is enough to control a square baler and kick wagon combo but the 37 PTO Hp is a bit light. For ease and speed of production when you need it I'd order a 5065E with loader and loaded rear tires and have a very capable set up.

 

[wcampbell47]

I am sort of in the same category. I'd like to do some farming, but the 20something PTO hp on the lightweight CUT just wont cut it. It has sort of fallen short in several areas over the years, but its what we have and all the current attachments are sized for it. Were I shopping for a new tractor, I'd say at least 50hp, but since There is what there already, a larger replacement tractor and re-upping all the attachments we use all the time would never pay for itself.
I have been giving some thought to turning 4x4 pickup into a tractor. I figure I could do some sort of slide-in that might lock into the trailer hitch with a dedicated engine for PTO and maybe hydraulics. I could probably get a big old used tractor for less (just a 38hp Kohler goes for about $2500), but I am thinking about it.

When hay was going for $100 a round bale during the Texas drought (well we are not over that yet) I investigated balers for my CUT.
Mini Hay Balers and Compact Hay Balers | Small Farm Innovators

Right outside of Caldwell, TX a gentleman has a good array of haying equipment for CUT equipment.

 

[flusher]

My Massey Ferguson 124 baler (small squares, two twine) requires 35 hp (pto) minimum according to the operator manual. I've seen balers this size run with much smaller tractors like the Farmall Super A that has only about 15 hp (pto) -- the really low cost approach.

FARMALL Super A - YouTube
(the baler part is about 6 minutes into this video).


Good luck.

 

[oleman]

You could easily[?] plow 20 acres with a pair of good MULEs, yea 2 HP, if you work at it, now we are told we require 60 HP and $$$$$$ spent for the 20 acres.
Where is the payback for investing 30K into USED equipment for 20 acres of HAY?
From a practical standpoint most of the farmers in the south east US plowed 40 acres family farms with 420, 430 JD 25HP of 600 Fords at about the same HP, and Super A farmalls when folks in the south east made their income from family farming.
A big heavy machine was farmall M at 45 HP or so.
Another issue is spending revenue on a bailer for only 20 acres, no payback there.
Start with a barn for storage because the equipment will rust away before you wear it out.

 

[kevin37b]

i want a horse power trator and the size is 35

DO WHAT?

 

[Heywood Jannockitov]

Another issue is spending revenue on a bailer for only 20 acres, no payback there.

I bought a NH 273 baler last spring for $1100 at auction, to replace an MF 124 that gave me 25 years of virtually trouble-free service. I had bought the MF 124 for $600 at auction. I only have about 10 acres in hay. The NH 273 basically paid for itself after the first cut last summer. I got about 900 small squares from 2 cuts last year. That's 900 square bales I didn't have to buy.

 

[Heywood Jannockitov]

Start with a barn for storage because the equipment will rust away before you wear it out.

My NH 273 was obviously stored inside by the previous owner. It is in mint condition and I intend to keep it that way! My 124 had to live outside and corrosion is part of the reason it needed replacing.