Hey from Appalachia

[old bubblehead]

yup leaning on them a lot, because when someone lists a NFD5678 for 59,000 I have NO idea what the hell that is, or if it's a good deal without resorting to Tractordata.

 

[1 Old Man]

Welcome to TBN. Ask questions, do research and comparison shop.
Find reputable dealers (if that's possible) close to you and go
take a test drive on each machine before making your final decision.
My only two suggestions are : get a cab, and buy bigger than you think
you'll need (I can't remember anyone ever saying, "omg, my tractor has
too much power, I need to trade it in asap for a less HP tractor"). Good
luck in your search!

 

[Torvy]

Maybe not, but you do have people who need a tractor small enough to go where it needs to be as well. Bigger tractors also mean bigger trailers and bigger trucks to pull them. Also tend to need bigger implements. That's all fine and dandy when it's someone else's money.

My thinking was to figure out what tools (attachments and implements) I needed to do the work on my farm. Figure out the PTO HP to run them, plus 10% for good measure. For some applications more HP just helps you get done faster. That makes sense for an income-generating business looking to maximize throughput. It may not make sense to get a bigger tractor so you can run a 12' mower to mow 3 acres a few times a year.

Get enough weight to handle the pulling and lifting you may need to do. Wide enough to be stable, but not so wide you can't get through your fence gates (or other pinch points). I need to get between rows of trees. The frames on most 75HP tractors are too big to work on my place. They may be perfect for someone else.

 

[1 Old Man]

Agree somewhat, I have both. A smaller open station and a 73HP cab.
If I had to pick one.....I'd keep the bigger cab tractor.
OP wants to be able to do a whole list of projects from hogs, root veggies,
cow/calf opration, woods, & hay on 58ac. Not 3ac. I feel relatively sure
he'll come out with a satisfactory tractor for his needs. He asked for advice.
I'm pretty sure others will continue to chime in to help a bro in his quest for the
Holy Grail of tractors.

 

[Torvy]

He split 58 acres with friends, so he has 20-30 (guess) with roughly 2/3 of it in trees. He said he going to be doing veggies, too. By the time that's all laid out, I'm seeing maybe 5-10 acres for crops/hay/etc. Don't need a big tractor for that, especially with small squares. 50 at the PTO?

The 3 acres was an example of people on here telling people to get more than they need. Even with 60 acres, you aren't likely mowing the whole thing unless it's just a hay operation.

My uncle raised hogs. Don't need much of a tractor for them. Maybe useful butchering and cleaning up, but don't need a big one. A hog maybe 300 lbs. Steer maybe 1500 lbs or so. My little CUT can lift 2700, 9 ft in the air.

 

[Mrsig]

and enjoy the forum!

 

[old bubblehead]

Agree somewhat, I have both. A smaller open station and a 73HP cab.
If I had to pick one.....I'd keep the bigger cab tractor.
OP wants to be able to do a whole list of projects from hogs, root veggies,
cow/calf opration, woods, & hay on 58ac. Not 3ac. I feel relatively sure
he'll come out with a satisfactory tractor for his needs. He asked for advice.
I'm pretty sure others will continue to chime in to help a bro in his quest for the
Holy Grail of tractors.

Thanks boss, I'm in learning mode, I have one gent that is originally from this area, now running a place in CO who's giving me a hand off line as well... I'm pretty solidly tying in to: cab, front end loader, removable backhoe, 60 HP +/- 5 Brands are still at about three or four. Price IS an issue, but only one of them

 

[old bubblehead]

He split 58 acres with friends, so he has 20-30 (guess) with roughly 2/3 of it in trees. He said he going to be doing veggies, too. By the time that's all laid out, I'm seeing maybe 5-10 acres for crops/hay/etc. Don't need a big tractor for that, especially with small squares. 50 at the PTO?

The 3 acres was an example of people on here telling people to get more than they need. Even with 60 acres, you aren't likely mowing the whole thing unless it's just a hay operation.

My uncle raised hogs. Don't need much of a tractor for them. Maybe useful butchering and cleaning up, but don't need a big one. A hog maybe 300 lbs. Steer maybe 1500 lbs or so. My little CUT can lift 2700, 9 ft in the air.

28 is our share, about 2/3 woods, some of which we're going to reclaim. The tractor will be used on both fields, so figure 15 to 18 acre total to start. Very little of that will be "Cash crop" if any. More homestead than agrobusiness. we all have other fairly large sources of income, and need to make just enough to keep it "farm" and not "hobby" for Mr. Taxman. Figure to sell some of the produce we're growing for the families, and of course for me, the big thing is selling my sausage and such. Rather proud of some of that. We'll also plant a small orchard in some of the wooded area on the friend's place, the pond gets deepened and stocked... Probably still be making improvements when I answer last muster.

 

[Torvy]

I'm pretty sure "selling your sausage" is illegal in most states, regardless of how proud you are of it.

 

[Hay Dude]

LOL…be nice Torvy….