Looking to learn about tractor with bush hog

[PaulMel]

Have 20 acres and have paid for some one to bush hog it this year. Only about an acre of it.
Looking to learn, how do you know what tractor to buy with what size bush hog?
PaulMel

 

[deerseeker001]

Re: New member ?.. Looking to learn about tractor with bush hog

Welcome from Wisconsin

 

[PaulMel]

Re: New member ?.. Looking to learn about tractor with bush hog

Thanks deer seeker!
How long you been farming?
PaulMel

 

[jeff9366]

Re: New member ?.. Looking to learn about tractor with bush hog

The smaller Bush Hogs/Rotary Cutters cut a 48" swath. You can pull a 48" Rotary Cutter with almost any small tractor that has a Category 1 Three Point Hitch. Subcompact tractors (< 20 engine horsepower) generally have 9" ground clearance which limits them somewhat. Compact tractors (20-40 engine horsepower) generally have 12"+ ground clearance which makes them more general purpose. Compact tractors can pull 60" and 72" Rotary Cutters.

Three Point Hitch LINK:

TractorData.com - Three-Point Hitch

It takes roughly five engine horsepower to power each 12" of RC width. Twenty HP = 48", Twenty-five HP = 60", Thirty HP = 72", etc.

 

[PaulMel]

Re: New member ?.. Looking to learn about tractor with bush hog

Thanks for all the details. This was very helpful and gives us a good starting point.
Have a blessed day!
PaulMel

 

[PaulMel]

Re: New member ?.. Looking to learn about tractor with bush hog

I just saw a note that newbies aren't supposed to ask about tractors right off. Man, I'm not good at finding all the rules before I start. Sorry folks.

 

[murphy1244]

Re: New member ?.. Looking to learn about tractor with bush hog

I just saw a note that newbies aren't supposed to ask about tractors right off. Man, I'm not good at finding all the rules before I start. Sorry folks.

Don't worry about it. Are you tractor shopping?

 

[jeff9366]

Re: New member ?.. Looking to learn about tractor with bush hog

Ask whatever you want. We are here to help.

 

[LD1]

Re: New member ?.. Looking to learn about tractor with bush hog

The size cutter you need will depend on the size tractor. The size tractor to get will depend on your budget and how long you want to spend mowing.

With your average 30-40 HP tractor and average 5-6 foot cutter, figure 10-15 hours of mowing. 10 if conditions are ideal, and not a ton of things to now around. And the first mowing you will probably want to go slower than that til you learn the lay of the land, where any holes are, hidden stuff, etc.

If I owned 20 acres and planned on mowing it monthly or so, I'd want 50-60 HP and an 8' twin spindle mower. Make it a 6hr job or less once you learned the property.

 

[PaulMel]

Re: New member ?.. Looking to learn about tractor with bush hog

The size cutter you need will depend on the size tractor. The size tractor to get will depend on your budget and how long you want to spend mowing.

With your average 30-40 HP tractor and average 5-6 foot cutter, 10-15 hours of mowing. 10 if conditions are ideal, and not a ton of things to now around. And the first mowing you will probably want to go slower than that til you learn the lay of the land, where any holes are, hidden stuff, etc.

If I owned 20 acres and planned on mowing it monthly or so, I'd want 50-60 HP and an 8' twin spindle mower. Make it a 6hr job or less once you learned the property.

Thanks to you all. Yes to searching for a tractor. New to our land and looking to get it farm ready so when we retire we will be able to enjoy the land and have a small farm. We have truly been blessed by our land and feel such serinity when we walk it.
We hope to have chickens and goats and about an acre or two of crop. Not alot so as not to overwhelm ourselves.
We have I the past grown green beans, jalapeño peppers and several other peppers. .. And strawberries. Just trying to see what we would like.
Thanks again! !