Equipment Sizing - Harvester/Tractor

[Chiriqui]

I am trying to figure out what will work best for my needs without being too danged expensive.

I have about 7.5 acres of tall grass (similar to king grass) planted in rows, and about 20 acres of corn for silage. I would like to use a single row forage harvester on a 3pt. hitch and blow into a towed wagon that would hold 3-5 tons. I don't need to cut it all at once, 3-5 acres/day (max) would be fine.

I'm in the tropics so we get lots of rain, but I can grow 3 corn crops a year, and the grass would be harvested every 60 days; cut, chopped and ensiled like the corn.

I would like to use the same tractor with a front end loader for loading out silage twice daily. Possibly in the future to use a small TMR mixer. The tractor and implements will get daily use, 6-8 hrs/day.

Cost is a serious consideration, so I'd like to keep the equipment to the smallest possible to meet my needs without overworking it too much. Can someone help me with sizing? I've seen 1 row harvesters that they claim only need 40hp, but I've had farmers tell me I need at least 100hp. Obviously there is a huge difference in price. I cannot afford the 100hp option. If I can find used equipment in good condition, all the better. Does anyone have suggestions for what equipment will work?

 

[vtsnowedin]

If you need it 6 to 8 hours a day 300 plus days a year then there is little to any savings in buying used equipment and a lot more risk. Buy new and it will be used soon enough and you will know where it's been and how it was maintained. As to the right tractor for your operation you might look at JD's 5065E as a starting point then go up or down a size or two and compare competing brands of similar abilities. ( The JD people will say there are none with similar abilities but others disagree)

 

[MoMike]

You might look for a NH 707 chopper, they were a 3pt 1row chopper that could be fitted with a hay pickup head as well. I don't know how much difficulty you will have finding one though as they were very regional in the sales when they were new. I think a lot were sold in the northeast US and upper midwest and in eastern Canada. A buddy of mine in PA had one with both heads.

 

[Chiriqui]

Thanks MoMike.

Anyone out there got a line on where to get specs on the NH707, or where to purchase?

 

[rdbigfarmboy]

Ive seen those SIP brand mounted corn choppers and it probably will chop that grass well, I thought it was a Fella or Vicon or some Italian brand.
I probably would go with searching on tractor house and fastline. But you need a good source of parts and probably finding a local rep for the new one row choppers is a good idea. Most of the US silage equipment is in areas of dairy production and not nationwide.
I would go with a bigger tractor, a good big full size farm tractor, NEW or USED. Probably 100 HP. I know several are made in central America both Deere and AGCO make some. A compact even with 100 HP is a mistake if you pull a chopper. The compacts that are popular here in the US will NOT survive (not repecting brands).
What does it cost to ship a 10,000 tractor from the US to you?