Tractor size for 80 acre corn and bean farm

[vzyfch]

Hi want to start farming 80 acres of corn and bean ground. It is clay soil so will pull a little harder. Plan to start with conventional farming. I need to buy a used tractor probaby 15 - 25 years old since I don't have any equipment and need to buy all my equipment. Can anyone recommend a good tractor. My farm is in SW Michigan so I'd want a manufacturer with a good parts and service presense in my area. Thanks.

 

[strum456]

I would be looking in the 100 hp range. The rest is personal preference.

 

[rambler]

Yup, 100 pto hp will get you into good used equipment to work that size operation. I'd not go much smaller, a little bigger doesn't hurt.

Back in the day dad ran over 200 acres with several 30-50 hp tractors, but he didn't have a real job besides, and farming was a little different back then, small grains with th corn & beans to spread te work load around.

--->Paul

 

[RollingsFarms]

John Deere 4240/4440 would be my choice if it were me.

 

[RickB]

I'd say we are all thinking along the same lines.

 

[JasG]

I'd look for something 85+HP 4wd or 100Hp + 2wd. Deere 40 series was brought up, very good choice. I would look for a tractor with the quad transmission. Only due to the power shifts (which I love) if they were abused can cost more to repair than the tractor is worth in that age.

I would look for the 4240/4440 already brought up, or 3150,3155, 4050, 4250,4450.
Keep in mind the 4x40 series Deeres are not 4wd but have a front wheel assist. The front wheels are hydraulic powered and do not work as well as a mechanical front wheel drive, which the 50 series are.
These would be my 1st choice.

2nd choice would be IH.

966, 986, 1066, 1086, 5088, 5288, 5488.
With these tractors the 66 series 4wd had 3 different front ends. The 1st ones had a regular axle and broke a lot, the other 2 axles had planetary front axle. These were much better, but don't turn as well as newer tractors. Hydraulics seem slower to me than a Deere of the same age. Also the IH use a torque amplifier for hi/low shifting. These were known to be a weak link when used for heavy tillage.


One tractor that has made a come back around here is the IH "two plus two" series, 3588, 3788. These tractors articulate to steer. I say make a come back because when it 1st came out farmers would put dual wheels all the way around the tractor and turn the engine up. Many broke due to not being made for this. This was from what I have read and my own experience working around the machines. Now I know several farmers with these machines and only put duals on the back. They have been able to buy them "cheap" and run them the same as they would a Deere 4450 or a IH 1086. One friend of mine picked a 3588 up about 6-8 years ago for around $9500.00. He has run it and last I asked him he was very happy with it. Another friend does custom work as a hobby and he has one that was his dads. He pulls a 5 btm plow and chops corn with a 3 row chopper.

The last year or so of the 2+2 IH did beef them up, these were 7000 series machines. They were suppose to be able to handle duals on all 4 corners of the tractor. I've never come across one of these, I don't think they made very many.

This shows the 2+2.
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZwpWTJ3rpg]IH 2+2 tractors - YouTube[/ame]

 

[Oleozz]

If you are doing conventional tillage you will need a larger tractor to pull your plow and disk, no-till you can get away with a smaller tractor, one needed with enough muscle to pull a 6 row no-till planter. I would look in the 85 to 100 hp range and 4wd would be a definite.
I would stay away from any IH that has a TA, nothing but trouble and I speak from experience.

 

[Renze]

80 acre is 32 hectare... A typical tractor for that size of operation here in Holland would be 100hp i guess..
Deere 40 and 50 series are notorious for their fuel consumption here. The 55 series was more efficient, and the 6400 in the early 90's broke records: The newer the Deere, the lower the fuel costs: With todays fuel prices a much bigger issue than at the time these tractors were built.

If you change over from conventional to no-till, i would keep a ripper or subsoiler at hand to assist in the conversion, it takes a while before the worms start finding the organic material on top, to pull it down, eating drainage and aeration channels through the soil while coming for the organics on top.

 

[vzyfch]

Thank you all for your replies. I too was thinking 100 HP size but was thinking about 2wd so I should rethink that since you all were thinking 4wd. Any advice on where to begin searching? Web? Dealers? Farm auctions? Any recommendations for the SW Michigan area? Thanks.

 

[pjbci]

2wd will do everything you need it to. I have planted thousands of acres of corn beans and wheat. All of my row crop tractors are 2wd. I agree that 4wd is helpful on a compact loader tractor but really not a necessity for what you plan to do.