I do not normally post in the buying section as folks just post "buy what I did as its the best" or even stupider "weight is the number one consideration when buying a tractor". Here are my thoughts, you did not mention much about the lay of the land so I do not know if you have much in the way of woods / trees, or hills. Looking at Google maps it looks fairly flat (hills and flat are relative terms ask someone from Colorado what a hill is vs someone from Kansas). Also what is your experience with equipment operation and repairing? Without knowing these I am going to make some assumptions. My experience has been working part time on three farms in 3 unique geographic areas each more than 700 miles apart with very different types of equipment that ranged from 25hp to 425hp, and 1970's to 2022 models. My day job is in ag equipment so I have the opportunity to hear about what is good and what is bad equipment wise from around the country.
First always buy equipment with good dealer support unless your very confident in your repair skills. I have a coworker who is having heck with his Challenger because the local dealer has incompetent mechanics. The machine is good, but the mechanics take three to six attempts before a problem is fixed. He is looking at selling and buying something that is not a Challenger/AGCO product just so he does not have to work with the dealer any more.
Power Shuttle is great when doing a lot of loader work. It allows you to go forward and backwards without shifting. Power Shift is nice when mowing as you can easily speed up and slow down without clutching allowing you to adjust for the conditions. I am partial to a smaller frame tractor for mowing and general around the farm work as long as hills are not involved. They are more agile and responsive, however if your towing heavy loads or dealing with loader work on hills a larger machine might be nice. For example Hay Dude has good hills and is dealing with heavy balers, large bales, and heavy trailers a larger tractor makes a lot of sense for his operation. A farm I worked at for a few years was flat, and used large 5x6 round balers, we used small framed 90 hp 7,500lb tractors and moved bales with backhoes so a lighter baler tractor worked just fine and was more agile in the field. Hay Dude's photos do a great job of demonstrating similar engine hp on different sized tractors. The Challenger MT535B weighs around 14,000lbs, and the Kubota
M126X around 10,500 lbs. Something like a Farmall 120C weigh's around 7,500 lbs. When I saw one at a show I thought that the Farmall 120C was a great mowing machine, and round baler tractor but it would be scary running a large baler on steep hills with it.
A bigger tractor can pull a bigger disc / drill something like a Farmall 120C will run out of tractor before HP, whereas the Challenger MT535B will run out of HP before traction. A 10' drill can be handled by a Farmall 120C as could a 10-14' disc depending on soil type. The smaller tractors are also easier to get in and out as they have less steps, and can be transported by a smaller truck. Also an 8' mower on a larger frame tractor does not leave much overhang for trimming. A smaller frame lets you get the mower closer to trees and whatever your mowing without having to get the tractor right up next to it. I chose to use the Challenger MT 535B, Kubota
M126X, and Farmall 120C as examples, not that I was suggesting them, but they demonstrate a good cross section of the 100 hp tractor offering. I discussed haying despite knowing that your not going to bale to demonstrate capabilities of the equipment.
If you plan on running near trees the Kubota's have very thin roofs that I would be concerned about, but am not sure that others are any better. Best solution is to trim trees before going near them.
I would avoid Fent's. Not that they are not good machines, they are great. However they are full of electronics. I would be very concerned about how well they age and the availability / cost of parts in the future. But boy are they nice. Was at a farm show last year and the Fent was the nicest inside out of all the tractors. There will be lots of folks who suggest you get an older pre emissions machine. However that means buying a 2010 or earlier model. I personally would buy an older machine, but paying $100k cash for a tractor is not feasible for me, so your situation is different. If I was in your shoes I would consider new as the warranty would be worth it to me. Anything post 2010 is going to have emissions and electronics so a dealer is critical.
Massey, Kubota, JD and CNH are all good. I would look at the New Holland Workmaster 120 its not a power shift, but has power shuttle and is an economy machine, the price is darned sharp too. The New Holland Powerstar 110 and 120 are also worth looking at as they have power shift. Case IH Farmall, Vestrum, and Maxxum are all good machines as well. Whatever you do get the Skid Steer quick attach for the loader if its an option.
Remember my advice and everyone's on this board is worth what you paid for it. Also on this forum most folks experience with tractors is in the compact segment so they have a very different outlook, and some very strong opinions. Good luck on your hunt for a new tractor.
