Just purchased a farm

[IronHog]

I'm going to give some advice that may not be popular on here, but here it goes.


To make money farming, you do not need all the big equipment everyone is suggesting. In fact, that is a good way to not make money farming.

This.


On a working cattle farm a tractor actually gets very little use....... move some hay, baling, etc.


A decent paid for hill farm will make you about $90 per acre per year......... it will lose money if you spend all that on tractors..... and it will work out to be less than minimum wage.

 

[tngamecockfan]

Reading every comment. Lots of information to digest and sort out. But I know that I am getting good advice from everone. Some almost 180 degrees different but makes sense from their vantage point.

Hope to get more suggestions.

I also know where I can come in the future for advice from people that are friendly, genuine, and have a desire to help others.

So far, my main need for a tractor was to do some moving of rocks and bush hogging the fields. I don't plan on trying to harvest any hay. If anything, I may rent the fields out for hay.

I do plan on planting a fair amount of saplings (tulip poplars, bee bee trees, vitex) for bees. If I rent the land for grazing I will have to find out just how much cows fancy tree saplings. Back home in SC I know that new peach orchards catch the dickens from deer and there are deer on this property.

 

[strum456]

It sounds like you have some fairly heavy loader work to do to get your roads the way you want. If you are looking at tractors in the 30 to 40 hp range maybe you should hire out some of that work. If you arent going to hay either 40 or 45 hp should do the job. If you get
Into hay later get a older bigger ag tractor then.

 

[nwngunner]

Well if your not going to make hay, then you dont need a big machine. How ever if you need a machine to maintain your land fix fences ect ect. Your going to want a skid steer. Your going to want a compact track loader. A tractor can be used to clean barns and to put up hay ect ect. How ever unless your running crops a skid steer can do everything better and faster.

I just recently in the last week actually purchased a bobcat t250. The work i have gotten done in the last week is down right surprising. For the work that you need to do, i would look at getting a skid steer.

 

[Kytractor]

Reading every comment. Lots of information to digest and sort out. But I know that I am getting good advice from everone. Some almost 180 degrees different but makes sense from their vantage point.

Hope to get more suggestions.

I also know where I can come in the future for advice from people that are friendly, genuine, and have a desire to help others.

So far, my main need for a tractor was to do some moving of rocks and bush hogging the fields. I don't plan on trying to harvest any hay. If anything, I may rent the fields out for hay.

I do plan on planting a fair amount of saplings (tulip poplars, bee bee trees, vitex) for bees. If I rent the land for grazing I will have to find out just how much cows fancy tree saplings. Back home in SC I know that new peach orchards catch the dickens from deer and there are deer on this property.

Congratulations on your new farm. Murfreesboro is a growing area. I have 59 acres there I may be selling shortly. A lot of great advice on here for you. I have an L45 Tlb Kubota that I use a lot.

 

[Piston]

Only suggestion I will give is think long and hard about the size and accessories prior to purchasing. Once you decide move up to the next machine size.

Good luck and enjoy.

I think this is by far the best advice given. So many people (including myself) make the mistake of buying a tractor and THEN figuring out what size implements they need. Think long and hard about what you will be doing, what implements you will need to get those things done, and what some of those implements weigh. THEN, figure out what size tractor you need to do the job :thumbsup:

You don't need a nice new tractor, they sure are nice though (I imagine)

Welcome to the forum! Keep asking questions!

Who is this Dave Ramsey fellow you are all talking about?

You mentioned you don't want to spend an arm and a leg on a tractor. What do you consider an arm and a leg to be worth these days?

I look forward to following your progress. :thumbsup:

 

[tngamecockfan]

IWho is this Dave Ramsey fellow you are all talking about?

:thumbsup:

Go to his website. Dave Ramsey Homepage - daveramsey.com

From there you can find a radio station in your area that carries his show. Ramsey teaches being smart with your money. As he says "Live like no one else now so you can live like no one else later". He believes in getting out of debt and has a great plan on how to do it.

Took his course. Great course and advice.

 

[Groo]

I think one of these would be an ideal machine;
Telehandler Agri Tech 32.9 VS (PTO + 3-point hitch)
but I'm guessing they are probably much closer to the neighborhood of $100k than my finances would allow, and they haven't been around long enough that I might actually find one used for a decent price.

 

[schmism]

Perhaps the most important thing to consider when buying a tractor, is what money you have left over to buy implements.

After all if you spend the entire (or most of it) on a nice big tractor with FEL, you can mostly move dirt/rock with it and thats it.

Basic farm upkeep will require.

Box blade
Brush hog
FEL

If you want food plots for hunting or to be able to revitalize your own pastures youll need a disc.

I find i use my rear blade as much as my box blade especially as i do much more road maintenance as i do land grading.

youll need to learn to build/mend fences. a Post hold digger is nice for this.

youll find a full size backhoe or mini/small excavator to be invaluable. put one or the other on the need to have list early.

Youll want to learn to bale hay. Its perhaps one of the most basic farm actions a "real" farm will do. its a (mostly) dependable source of income and will likely be needed for livestock.

that means a baler, rake, and mower. regardless of how quick you aquire your hay makeing tools, youll still need a bale spear for the FEL to move large rounds with for the cows.

livestock (cows. horses, lamas, sheep etc) make poo, so an oldschool manure spreader is a good option for small time operation.

seriously consider having 2 or 3 diffrent working "tractors"
many farms these days have a skid steer that work the barn, with a bale spear, and loader forks.

-a ZTR mower for cutting grass
- a skid steer for working the barns
-a class 3 CUT (perhaps cabbed) that can do light field work, mowing, pulling the rake etc
- a large 80-100hp AG tractor that you do the field work with.

could you do all that with one tractor.. maybee but not well. A 40/50hp large CUT/small AG isnt going to be very maneuverable for stall/barn cleaning, but isnt big enough to pull a decent sized disc.

Could you get away with a large 80-100hp field tractor and just a skidsteer, perhaps, but the second CUT tractor is invaluable when the big boy goes down and you got hay to get raked/baled in the next 2 days.

 

[Groo]

Actually, I think the piece of equipment I linked to could do it all. 100hp PTO and as maneuverable as a CUT, but for the price you could get a few used pieces of equipment to do all the jobs that 1 would do

and aren't most bale spears on the 3 point these days?

 

[PossumHound]

Renting your land to a farmer with a going concern is a great idea. It takes away all the time pressure to figure out what you want to do. You'll keep your tax status, you can learn a lot about what your land is good for, and you're making a few bucks while you do it.

Excellent advice!:thumbsup:

 

[Mistyridgefarm]

I'm in Giles county just south of you. I too bought the farm two years ago but do have a lot of past experience in various farm activities. My heifers just dropped their first calfs, sure are pretty.

That being said, they do take a fair bit of time. However, I know other farmers that get away with little effort and seem to do okay.

I had a JD 5300 before I moved here. First, a FEL will be the most used part of a tractor. Not a day goes by I don't use it for something. I'm an equipment junkie and would like to own all the toys mentioned above, but the wallet won't support that habit. SSL are nice, but a good heavy tractor and loader will do you fine. You said you didn't have any tractor experience so I heartily recommend getting a new or almost new one through a local dealer you can depend on. Farming is tough on equipment and unless you are a pretty good mechanic, service and repairs are something you will need to get help with.

My farm has pretty good slopes. The 5300 is 2WD and they are not forgiving to novice operators. For both safety and performance, I recommend a utility size with 4wd. The added weight and stability will give you much better performance for dirt work, and just about every other chore. The compacts are okay, wish I could add one for mowing and raking hay, but if you are going to do with just one machine, I think you will find the compacts lacking. (no offense to those that have one, like I said, sure wish I could add one!).

The horsepower you select will depend on how much time you have to get everything done. I'm getting by with 55 hp for haying, Bushhogging, grading, plowing, and just about everything else. However, I can barely keep up with all the chores and make the improvements the farm needs. Yes, you can Bushhog a 100 acres with 40 hp and a 5' cutter, but it will take you over twice as long as a 10' cutter on 80 horses. If you are maintaining a full time job, you better revise your farming plans using low horsepower.

I totally agree hay making is expensive and poor return for small acreage. BUT - the first time you can't get your hay in when it needs to be done - you will probably change your mind. Start out small with going halfs on the hay, add some equipment a little at a time and gain experience too, without a huge initial outlay.

Make friends and be a good neighbor. Most of the farmers around you will help and give you good advice. They know what works in your area, where to get deals on equipment, and will be invaluable in case you need another pair of hands. Renting out the pastures the first year might be good way for you to develop a good relationship and many free lessons!

Sorry for the long post. Since I bleed green, my recommendation is a JD 5000 series, 75 to 100 hp. If you plan on doing hay, I'd err towards the 100 side, but no less than 65 if you are going to round bale. I pull a 4x5 and I have to be really cautious of down slopes.

For the bigger jobs, either hire heavy equipment or at least rent. You can get a 650 dozer for a week from Columbia for $1600. That would cleanup a lot in short order.

Good luck and please be careful.

 

[greasemonkeyok]

Lots of good advice above, and I will summarize it by the old adage:
"Want to know how to make a small fortune? Take a large fortune and start farming."

In the 1960's Winthrop Rockefeller had a place in Oklahoma called Winrock Farms. Common knowledge that it was not a good investment. Lots of risk: cost of feed, fertilizer, fuel, and the price of your products (hay, cattle, chickens, or whatever).

 

[Bartcephus]

GreaseMonkey, I was about to say: To make a small fortune farming, you start with a large fortune. You beat me to the punch there. I hate to be negative but I also heard a lottery winner say "Well I guess I'll keep farming until the money runs out" in response to "What are you planing to do with the money."

Truth is, if your good at what you do, you will always be in demand. I wish you the best of luck and good fortune.

I also feel that sometimes a farm would be profitable with some young (read new) blood. The "same ol'" "same ol'" sometimes weare one down and a "new set of problems" (or even just location) is enough to get things really going and back on track. Motivation of one's self can be a constant battle, however it is much easier when your mind is refreshed with a new setting.

 

[Groo]

I hate to say it, but it seams like the only way to get real money out of farming is by playing the government subsidies game.

for a small farm like that, you almost have to go with high priced organic crops to make a go of it.

 

[IronHog]

Lots of good advice above, and I will summarize it by the old adage:
"Want to know how to make a small fortune? Take a large fortune and start farming."

In the 1960's Winthrop Rockefeller had a place in Oklahoma called Winrock Farms. Common knowledge that it was not a good investment. Lots of risk: cost of feed, fertilizer, fuel, and the price of your products (hay, cattle, chickens, or whatever).

WinRock farms is on Petite Jean Mountain in Arkansas........

 

[greasemonkeyok]

Part of Winrock Farms is in Arkansas and possibly other states, but the portion he lost his ***** on was the land he bought in Murray and Johnston Counties, Oklahoma.

 

[Sawdustsmb]

What ever color tractor you decide find one that is low and can be wide. Stability for a novice is important. Find a good dealership to help. Older tractors are not bad if in good condition. Finding a loader with a quick attach bucket is a must.
Bob

 

[Johndeere3720]

Consider a skid steer and a smaller tractor instead of a big tractor with a loader.You will have a lot more versatility with the implements you can rent for the skid steer
I have found that my skid steer is my go to machine more often than the tractor on my similar ,but smaller 42 acres.A 45hp tractor with a loader is really just a 45hp wheelbarrow and I sold my newer big one to get the skidsteer and small tractor,also you can have some extra income potential doing skid steer work .Congratulations on your new lifestyle choice you will have no regrets.
John

I second that, I have a skid steer myself and it is so versatile yet powerful i cant see how i went so long without one. We have had a set up with both a skid steer and a tractor and IMHO it was the best set up you can have for your property. The skid steer can do all the heavy work and the tractor can come along and do the finish work. You can get a decent used skid steer for around $10k-$15k, a tractor will be around $10k-$30k depending on whether it is a used machine, new, attachments, etc. To be sure it all would work out, I would rent both a compact tractor and a skid steer and see how the pair would work out on your land. It could be better suited for a larger 75-100 hp tractor, im not sure as I have never seen the land myself. Just my :2cents:

 

[tngamecockfan]

Still reading. Again, I don't make decisions very quickly when it involves money and knowledge. I am short on money but knowledge is abundant and can be found in a lot of places.

Just have to sort through it all and decide what is best. There is a lot of rock in Rutherford County. Walked some of the property yesterday evening. THere are some nice straight hardwoods that can be harvested. There is some nice land that should make good pasture in those woods.

THere are places with nothing but scrub cedar that is full of rocks. Will probably cut into those cedars to get to the rocks. They would be easy pickens to fill in low spots in the roads.

The pastures have a lot of grass but it appears to be a lot of the broom straw variety. So I know I will have to sow out some fescue. Will find out if I should also seed or overseed with clover.

I am pretty sure it will need fertilizer. But I will find out soon enough how much that stuff costs. Maybe I can get a big tank and put in a lot of cow patties to get a good mixture and spray it on the grass. THere is one barn that has a side of it that is open to the elements which must be 2-4" full of dried manure from goats.

The land is hilly and that does concern me as I don't want to end up with a tractor on top of me.