Tractor Sizing New Farmer

[Tractor Fever]

I need advice and have been told to take two asprin for my Tractor Fever. I have 80 acres with many pecan trees that shed a lot of limbs. Looking for a good first time tractor that will be mowing, moving limbs, box blading our road, moving dirt and dragging downed trees. I want to make sure I buy up as much as I can in HP to do and lift all that will be out there to challenge me. I have looked at a 1982 JD 2040 with a 2060 ez loader, a JD 2555 w/175 loader and a couple Kubotas in the 50-60 HP range. What should look for in a used tractor and does it sound like that kind of HP and loader size will do the trick? Would like to add a grapple to the loader some day as I am sure it will make the limb moving much easier. THanks!

 

[jenkinsph]

Just me but in an orchard I would want a high hp compact tractor, nice chipper, good saws and pruning tools. I would be leary of dragging trees which might damage the good standing trees, I would prefer to cut them up and process them on site. A couple of foot soldiers walking behind the tractor throwing the limbs in the self feeding chipper can cleanup a lot of ground in a short time going up and down the rows of trees. Pick up the firewood with a low side trailer in a separate trip. The grapple would be handy at times but wouldn't be the "last word" as some might think.

Depending on the amount and size of the branches you can choose either a pto or larger engine driven chipper but this would be less handling and better for the ground too compared to hauling and stacking the limbs. With an engine driven chipper you could get by with a lower hp tractor, just a matter of choice.

Do you have a good spray rig? If not that is something else you will need.

 

[Tractor Fever]

Thanks Steve, good advice. Just bought the property in January, got myself a good Stihl chainsaw and a 16 foot pole saw so I and did a lot with it early till February so I became experienced with picking up limbs. There are trees that need to come out due to overcrowding and so far my Polaris 700 has been my work machine. Burn piles have been my solution to discarding the limbs. You are right regarding a sprayer and this will come next but for now, I intend to share crop to get some help with the spraying and harvesting and for now, I intend to do most of the maintenance which includes mowing, moving limbs and improving the roads and trails around there. I am assuming the items you have listed above is what you have for your operation? I am very new to this so any comments are helpful. Thanks Steve!

 

[jenkinsph]

I use Homelite chain saws and Stihl chainsaws,trimmers and backpack blowers. For my commercial work I sub out the spraying to a licensed pest control company. I do my share of thinning to open up new lawn areas and being surrounded by the Lincoln National Forest burning isn't an option. I have found that having a tractor mounted chipper that can be driven to the tree limbs seems to be the most efficient way to clean up. When you add up the time to transport the branches and time to burn them, add the fire risk clean up the leftover mess you will have more time than chipping the branches in place.

When you get all the branches picked up and disposed of I would consider a wide cutter such as an MX8 which would allow you to mow closer to the trees but not bump them. If it is clean enough you might go with a rear finish mower too which would be alot cheaper to buy.

Recognize that you likely have bought an orchard which has not been kept up as well as it should be and has an abundance of clean up to do. Once you get it caught up it should be alot easier to manage and maintain. I really suspect in your case the chipper is just as important as the tractor. Think about this, you pick up a branch and toss it in the chipper and you are done with it.

About my signature line, I have most of my equipment listed but not all of it will fit due to the text being a limited space. I have another 10 implements or so I have added since I filled out my signature. I get several PM's a week from various members inquiring about one implement or another so it does help lots of new members get some feedback before purchasing.