Help 3 ac orchard which one? l3400 b3030

[markanth]

I am planting 3 acres of trees in an orchard on my 5 acre property. I have some tight corners, some really short rows and some hillside.etc

I have spacing of 12 feet in the row and 15.9 or so between rows.

I will have to bushhog, spray, pull a trailer. I also need to move rocks around and maybe even get a bh to further dig in my irrigation pond.....lifting will be important and so will manuverabilty

I would love to use that 7 foot squeeler that requires 25 hp or more hp. This is the unit with the smaller width.

The l3400 would be my call, 34hp bigger, heavier duty, etc. However, it presents a problem
Turning radius poses the problem-

l3400-with brake 8.2= 16.4 for the u turn w brake
b3030 b 3200 with brake 6.9 =13.8 for the u turn w brake

However, my spacing is 15.9, thus will the 3400 present a problem now and in the future. Should I be going with a b3200 or b3030? that would have a shorter turning radius and not have to brake to do a u turn.

Finally what is the real engine difference between the b3030 and b3200 as the displacement and pto remain the same. Are they the same engine with a small tweak?
Why not do that tweak to the 3030/7800 as well.

Thanks, Mark

 

[ChuckinNH]

I expect that it's the same engine tweaked to meet new emission standards, but I could be wrong.

 

[medicshawn]

If you're looking at an L series I don't know why you wouldn"t look at the Grand L series. Much more value for the money. Could you get around the tight turning radius by cutting every other row 1,3,5 and then coming back and doing the even ones?

 

[johan3400]

I would also put the B2920 on your list. I have 2.5 acres of new trees on about the same spacing as you. I think you should look at what you will pull for the mower. I put buffalo grass under my trees and mow it every three weeks. I now mow with a 6 foot finish mower and the extra space beyond the four foot width of my new b should be better on the trees. The big advantage I saw in the 2920 is the narrow engine housing a bit lower tractor frame over the L3400. I have had the 2920 in the hills and the 3400 in the hills and they are both stable. Maybe the choice is one of each like I did. I would lean to the smaller tractor for just 3 acres. I have both on 65 acres and we farm 25 of it.

 

[rbargeron]

If the spacing is 12 ft in the row and 16 ft the other way, then when the trees are grown there will be a 4' aisle to drive in. Sounds pretty tight unless absolutely necessary.

I grew apples over 14 years with 100 full-size restored McIntosh trees which I considered about 3 acres at normal spacing. We picked around 2500 bushels in the biggest years. Tractor choice is more tied to the spraying equipment than the mowers. You'll spray 12-15 times per season but only mow a few times. Go to some grower meetings in your area or you local extension service to get some ideas about row spacing, sprayers and their hp needs. If you have lots of water and time, then full dilute may be the way to go, if not then aim at some concentration and pick a sprayer that does that well. The spray program means everything to the quality of the crop. Mowing is about 7th on the list behind spraying, pruning, fertilizing, harvesting, storage and marketing.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

If the spacing is 12 ft in the row and 16 ft the other way, then when the trees are grown there will be a 4' aisle to drive in. Sounds pretty tight unless absolutely necessary.

I grew apples over 14 years with 100 full-size restored McIntosh trees which I considered about 3 acres at normal spacing. We picked around 2500 bushels in the biggest years. Tractor choice is more tied to the spraying equipment than the mowers. You'll spray 12-15 times per season but only mow a few times. Go to some grower meetings in your area or you local extension service to get some ideas about row spacing, sprayers and their hp needs. If you have lots of water and time, then full dilute may be the way to go, if not then aim at some concentration and pick a sprayer that does that well. The spray program means everything to the quality of the crop. Mowing is about 7th on the list behind spraying, pruning, fertilizing, harvesting, storage and marketing.

I agree 100%. Figure out what sprayer you will need and fit the proper tractor to that.

As for turning, you can turn into every other row and it will be easier on your ground and equipment.

 

[johan3400]

In today's world you can find the sprayer to fit your tractor. Buy the tractor you want and purchase the sprayer to fit!

 

[Robert_in_NY]

In today's world you can find the sprayer to fit your tractor. Buy the tractor you want and purchase the sprayer to fit!

You should have a good idea what type and size sprayer you are going to use and buy the appropriate tractor to handle the hp requirement as well as any weight requirement if it is a 3pt unit. And since the OP is working on some hilly ground the weight of a full sprayer may be a huge issue if he has too small of a tractor.

 

[johan3400]

As I have said you can purchase spray equipment for any size tractor you wish to drive. The advisor I have uses a small 20 hp tractor to spray his 450 tree orchard. He has been doing this since the mid 1960's I think he knows what he is doing since he supported his family with the operation and put two children through college. The 12 x 16 spacing is widely accepted these days with the better root stock and semi-dwarf trees. Purchase the tractor you wish and then purchase the equipment to go with it. I did see that he is on hills just as I am. I have run machinery all my life and am not leading him down an ill advised road.

 

[skipperbrown]

I'd go w/ the L series in HST. Even if you have to backup to make a turn, it's no big deal w/ hst. And I'd also consider the grand if you can swing it. Those bells and whistles sure do make things more comfortable and e z. Weight is your friend w/ a tractor unless you will be transporting it often.