Buying Advice Sizing and Buying Advice

[normanbobo]

My family is new to farming. We have a 35 acre farm, about 20 acres wooded. We are just getting into light farming and are making our first (and hopefully only) major equipment purchase -- our first farm tractor. Any advice on the size of the tractor as well as the implements we should consider would be much appreciated (and hopefully helpful to others as well!)

Here are the tractor requirements we have identified:

1) Bush hogging
a) 5 -10 acres of open, flat field.
b) 5 acres of hilly fields (up to 15 degrees with a couple of deep [3 foot] ditches). This area also has trees in it, so maneuverability is important. This area is currently bush hogged by a neighbor using what I think is a 50-75 HP tractor, so it can be done. The neighbors bush hog has a large wheel on the back which makes the bush hog "float" rather than dragging low across the ditches.

2) Plowing/preparing
a) 1 to 3 acre vegetable garden on flat field.
b) 3 acre field for lavender. To get to this field requires crossing rocky, steep trails (15 degree climbs) so the tractor needs to be able to lift the implements high. This field has been bush hogged by that same neighbor.

4) Light to medium duty grading:
a) Maintaining ditches by side of road. Will need a backhoe for this.
b) filling holes in fields/moving dirt piles. Considering using a bucket for this.

5) General farm use:
a) Moving heavy items such as gravel, dirt in a bucket.
b) Possibly moving round hay bales, but at least square bales.
c) Considering using the tractor for pulling stumps.
d) Occasional "winch work" to pull objects.

6) Possibly post hole digger for fencing.

7) We are not experienced in running/operating tractors and won't use the tractor every day so "ease of use" on the controls as well as attaching/detaching implements will be important.

THANKS!!

 

[jenkinsph]

First thing I would say is consider this to be for recreation and not for profit. Land ownership and being a good steward of it is something that most of us on TBN enjoy doing. I don't consider it farming by any stretch of the imagination, it is a costly hobby. Most of us look upon tractors as a recreation vehicle of sorts. Living on a 35 acre homeplace can be a very satisfying experience for the whole family but don't give up the day job.


A 30 to 60 hp tractor with hydro transmission would be a reasonable size range. Your budget will determine how much tractor and implements you can start out with initially. Equipment that is well cared for seems to last alot longer than holds its value better than trucks and auto's. Just be aware that it is difficult to make it pay for itself.

 

[art]

Not knowing any money cap I'd say to get a 60 horsepower or close to it.

 

[normanbobo]

jenkinsph,

Thanks for the reply. I am originally from Texas and used to go skiing with my family in Ruidoso. It's great to hear from someone there!

We are not doing the farming for profit. We are operating a Bed and Breakfast on the farm -- that's the main income. The farm operations are more to help draw in guests and to allow us to use farm-raised produce in our kitchen. We also hope to start raising fiber animals (cashmere goats, alpacas, etc.), which tie in with the theme of quilting retreats and other retreats. We are really hoping that the farm operations just break even. The moving of hay will be mostly for feeding the animals in the winter. We are hoping the goats will also help cut down some on the amount of bush hogging we have to do.

30 to 60 horsepower is quite a range. Would you put us on the upper or lower end of that range?

 

[normanbobo]

Art,

Thanks for the reply.

Any reasoning on this sizing? Would we go this large because of the grading or for other reasons?

Should we go with four wheel drive?

Any thoughts on brands that are particularly easy to use, especially when it comes to attaching/detaching implements?

 

[normanbobo]

Oh, one other thing ... regarding cost...we will be buying used to keep the cost down as much as possible.

 

[jenkinsph]

Oh, one other thing ... regarding cost...we will be buying used to keep the cost down as much as possible.

I would leave myself open to most popular brands and would lean towards the higher hp end. An important consideration is getting a good deal more than the brand you buy. Let us know what you find and are considering to purchase and others can chime in with opinions. Pictures can help with this process too.



FWIW, I have a 60 hp tractor now and have had many different sizes, this seems to be a good match for the Category I implements I use the most.

Come visit up in Ruidoso sometime.

 

[Grandad4]

Welcome to TBN, normanbobo. Don't have much to add to the good advice so far, but wanted to suggest you plan a gradual lead in to your tractoring experience. You've got a lot of work scoped out, some hilly property, a new piece of machinery pending and you are neophyte operators. It's possible for situations to get out of control very quickly with this kind of equipment and tractor mishaps can be very unforgiving. So, please be safe and work your way into the more complex or difficult tasks as you gain skill and familiarity with your equipment. This is, after all, meant mostly to be a means of enjoyment, as Steve says.

To paraphrase an old aviation saying, there are old tractor operators and bold tractor operators, but there aren't any old, bold tractor operators. All the best with your plans.

 

[normanbobo]

Grandad4 ... very funny!! And also well said and well taken.

We are definitlely going to go at this slowly ... learning one implement at a time. I'm trying to get the "big picture" now so that we buy the right tractor not only for our immediate needs but also for down the road some. We will be getting advice from local dealers. I hope I can convince one or two of them to visit the farm to see what the tractor will be doing.

Regarding enjoyment ... yes, I probably will enjoy using the machine, but I would not buy the tractor just for that purpose. It is intended to save time and labor for tasks we are already performing by hand and/or are paying others to perform for us. I see it mostly as a "tool" -- albeit it a large and expensive one!

 

[bigbull338]

ok heres my take on the tractor that will do what you want it to.you want a tractor with a loader,on your place 4wd drive would be needed in my eyes.a MX5100 HST or gear 4x4 w/LA844 loader will fit you nicely.itll handle the shredder the tiller an the backhoe as well as maintaining the roads.a backhoe is a big ticket item.

 

[art]

Art,

Thanks for the reply.

Any reasoning on this sizing? Would we go this large because of the grading or for other reasons?

Should we go with four wheel drive?

Any thoughts on brands that are particularly easy to use, especially when it comes to attaching/detaching implements?

Your main purpose is to assist with chores to make your primary business work, or show better. I would feel that this is an extra to enhance your bed and breakfast so why would you want to spend so much time doing this when you might need to spend more time with your core operation.

You could get away with a smaller tractor but how much time do you have to put to the chores? Mowing normally works out for time with this formula width in foot x MPH divided by ten will tell you how long it will take to mow. 5'x5mph=25 divided by 10 =2.5 acres an hour.

Four wheel drive is important to you for the hills and easier operation with a loader.
Could you get by with a smaller tractor? Sure but I'd still stay around the 40 horsepower for a minumum and a hydro for the flexibility of speeds.

For brand stick with the ones with the most dealers for better representation anywhere.
We could get into quite a bit here as far as that! Kubota is number one, here the longest, most copied.

 

[Farmwithjunk]

45hp as a minimum, 60 as a maximum. (Speaking in terms of PTO hp too..) That lets you use CAT I implements, which are more common and less expensive than bigger stuff as a rule of thumb. I'm more of a gear drive fan than hydro's. Good brand choices would be (new) Deere, Massey Ferguson, Kubota, NH, and a few others. Make certain you're comfortable with the dealer in your area for whatever brand you select, even if it's a USED tractor. I'm also a big fan of SIMPLE, BASIC tractors. Initial cost is less, and maintenance cost seems to stay lower through the life of the tractor. I also lean more towards a smaller general purpose utility tractor than a compact. But that's a minor point.

45hp tractors will run 6' mowers with relative ease, pull 2, and sometimes a 3 bottom plow, 6' tiller, and is adequate power for hayin' with a small square baler.

Start by setting a budget. (Including implements) Work backwards from there to determine what you can afford.

 

[normanbobo]

what does everyone think about this tractor for our needs?

Big Blue Tractor

It might be too small .... 43 HP I believe.

 

[art]

It might just be the picture but it looks like the loader boom is not square to the tractor.
Nothing about hours and those are good for about 4500 normally.

 

[Grandad4]

Hard to tell from a photo. Tractors see rough conditions, and the "cosmetic", or appearance factors are less important than the mechanical ones. So some weathering and/or rust isn't a problem, although a tractor that is all dented and beat up has probably been used pretty hard and may not have been cared for well. Keep in mind that real working farmers generally don't have time to wash and wax their tractors after every use. But, since the tractor is a vital tool in their work, a wise farmer maintains his equipment as if his life and livelihood depended on its reliable operation. So, the main thing is if it has been maintained well and not overused and worn out.

Number of hours, how maintained, type of work done, wear on moving parts, any leaks, engine operation, gearbox and drivetrain operation, 3 pt lift, pto, brakes, steering, tires, clutch, electrical, loader, etc. Test drive in actual field condition, not just up and down the driveway. Attach the tiller, dig a strip with it, and remove it, for example.

If you don't feel confident you can evaluate the mechanical condition, maybe you can kidnap a friend who has some experience with farm equipment when you check it out.

That Ford is maybe a bit smaller than ideal, but if it's in good condition, it should be able to get you going with your place, and the price is certainly right. I would expect you'd be looking for an upgrade at some point in the future.

 

[normanbobo]

Willy, Please start another thread rather than jumping into the middle of this thread. I'm sure people will be willing to help and it will keep the conversations less confusing. thanks.

 

[flusher]

Oh, one other thing ... regarding cost...we will be buying used to keep the cost down as much as possible.

How much used--2-5 years, 5-10 years, older? Generally, the older the used tractor, the handier you have to be for servicing and repair to keep operating costs down.

For example, my big tractor is a 2008 Mahindra 5525 (54 hp engine, 45 hp pto, 2WD, gear tranny 8F/2F, power steering, triple rear hydraulic remotes) with the ML250 FEL (6-ft wide bucket, skid steer quick attach option, 2950 lb lift to 10.5 ft height). Cost about $19K new. This 3-year old tractor probably has lost $5K or so in value.

The little tractor is a 2005 Kubota B7510 HST (21 hp engine, 17 hp pto, 4WD, hydrostatic tranny, power steering) with a 4-ft wide FEL bucket.



If you want to get into older tractors, you could find a 1980s John Deere like my neighbor's JD 2640 (a 60 hp pto tractor) with FEL for under $10K.

Good luck

Good luck.

 

[jenkinsph]

If you want to get into older tractors, you could find a 1980s John Deere like my neighbor's JD 2640 (a 60 hp pto tractor) with FEL for under $10K.


Good luck.

Just to clarify, a 2640 is 70 pto hp the 2440 was 60 pto hp.

 

[Farmwithjunk]

How much used--2-5 years, 5-10 years, older? Generally, the older the used tractor, the handier you have to be for servicing and repair to keep operating costs down.

For example, my big tractor is a 2008 Mahindra 5525 (54 hp engine, 45 hp pto, 2WD, gear tranny 8F/2F, power steering, triple rear hydraulic remotes) with the ML250 FEL (6-ft wide bucket, skid steer quick attach option, 2950 lb lift to 10.5 ft height). Cost about $19K new. This 3-year old tractor probably has lost $5K or so in value.

The little tractor is a 2005 Kubota B7510 HST (21 hp engine, 17 hp pto, 4WD, hydrostatic tranny, power steering) with a 4-ft wide FEL bucket.

View attachment 225633View attachment 225634View attachment 225635View attachment 225636

If you want to get into older tractors, you could find a 1980s John Deere like my neighbor's JD 2640 (a 60 hp pto tractor) with FEL for under $10K.

Good luck

Good luck.

As mentioned in a later post, 2640's are 70hp (pto), and not too many with loaders under 10 grand, at least not around here unless it's a wreck. They sell near 10 grand w/o loaders here. I've got a 2440 and a 2640 w/Deere 148 loader. They're VERY popular tractors. They were built from 1977 until 1982.