Descisions, Decsions, Decisions...

[MarkV]

Brian, welcome to the forum. What struck me as I read the projects you have listed was the amount of brush mowing 15 acres of orchard are going to require. Now I have never had an orchard but I would be looking at the spacing of the trees and what size cutter would do the most with the least number of passes. A general rule of thumb is 5 PTO hp per foot of rotary mower. You might get by with less hp in areas that are cut regularly. I was also struck by the fact that you have 100 acres and most of us have found many more projects than we planned on once we got a tractor. Personally I would be looking at something a little bigger with at least 30 PTO hp for that much land.

MarkV

 

[Brian_Stephens]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Brian, welcome to the forum. What struck me as I read the projects you have listed was the amount of brush mowing 15 acres of orchard are going to require. Now I have never had an orchard but I would be looking at the spacing of the trees and what size cutter would do the most with the least number of passes. A general rule of thumb is 5 PTO hp per foot of rotary mower. You might get by with less hp in areas that are cut regularly. I was also struck by the fact that you have 100 acres and most of us have found many more projects than we planned on once we got a tractor. Personally I would be looking at something a little bigger with at least 30 PTO hp for that much land.

MarkV
)</font>

Actually I'm sorta lucky the 30 acres I'm going to put the apples into is already cleared 20 years ago it was oats... There are maybe 50 small (1-2") saplings in the entire area... The clearing I will be doing is paths in the woods to get into and out of the sugar shack which won't really be that much as there is a logging road from when they took all the softwood 5-10 years ago... Spacing of the trees is usually 10' we will be going with that for 2 varieties and 12' on 3 others... only because of they are broader trees.... I have most of the orchard marked out... just need to clear what little there is ,get the trees and dig the holes.... I don't even see a need for a brush mover as I have very little brush... Lots of trees... As for the projects that is my number one fear... I already work a 40 hours week for someone and 40 or more for myself.... we have 3 businesses either running or in start up not including the farm....

However I think the consensus is that I need to look at a larger animal which I guess I will... I still gotta love the price of that kioti.. hopefully the CK30 is as well priced I'll also look at the LK3504.. since i believe I am jumping ship on the ck20 do I get rid of the MMM and BH problem?

 

[KiotiJohn]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I still gotta love the price of that kioti.. hopefully the CK30 is as well priced I'll also look at the LK3504.. since i believe I am jumping ship on the ck20 do I get rid of the MMM and BH problem? )</font> If you go with the LK3054, yes, no MMM. But, if you go for the CK30, mid PTO is an option! Life gets tedious doesn't it? LOL /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif Seriously, try to get a dealer to bring a Kioti for you to try on your property and see what they can do. Have him bring a mower and loader or whatever you want to try out. You'd be surprised how little you can get away with. It just might take longer with a smaller implement. John