which tractor should i get for blueberry fields??

[hobbyfarmer2]

I should have my blueberry field ready this year, i hope, after the stumps come out, so I`m thinking about a tractor to run a blueberry harvester, needs to be at least 50-60 hp to run it, a flail mower, a tractor for snow blowing, plowing snow in the winter, bush hogging, and tree and brush removal from the 120 acres, 20 blueberries, the rest cutover woodland and wood yet to be cut. I already have a small hardy log loader 1150 and trailer. Won`t be plowing the sod over. I`m thinking in the 75-85 hp range, cab, loader, blower, mower. I can probably do other peoples blueberry fields after i harvest my own first. There is JD, MF, Landini, dealers 10 miles away, kubota, McCormick, MF dealers 35 miles away. Which is the better tractor for the money? Also what is the best transmission to get, HST, shuttle, not sure on these ttransmissions. Sorry for the long post. Any opinions? I want to buy just 1 tractor once to do everything. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[JerryG]

Massey Ferguson 3400 series

 

[Glenn9643]

Is the 3400 series new, or something I've overlooked Jerry?
I have been chewing on the economy factor, both for bush-hogging and possible PTO powered generators and this model offers an "E" (economy) PTO and the Perkins engine maxes out at a lower RPM than the CUT's.
There's also the benefit of lower overall height for both cabs and ROPS...
Everything I've seen looks just like what I want, but I wasn't able to find anything about weight. I'm thinking 3425, "F" or "GE" models for the width. Do you have any ideas of weight?
Also didn't see anything regarding available attachments, such as a FEL. Hydraulics looked good and I'm sure they have anything you want... Thanks for the post. I'll have to go bug James at the MF place for more information.

Glenn

 

[JerryG]

It has been out for a few years now. My dealer has sold few of them. The only thing that I don't really like, but could learn to live with is the seat area is kind of tight. If you take an 85-horse tractor and shrink it to compact size and keep the heavy-duty part, then you have a 3400 series. The housings, tranny, three point and everything are huge. If I remember right the weight is around 6000 pounds. It is amazing how you can order them except for a dry clutch. Unless it has changed, MF doesn't have a loader for it but ALO Quicke does.

On Edit: I should have said a couple of years or something like that instead of several years.

 

[ddivinia]

The ePTO is really cool. I have it on my John Deere 5525 and it can really be handy (and save money).

D.

 

[Glenn9643]

I went down to the MF place and talked to James for a while today about the 3425 "F". $39,400 + 2600 or so list for the cab model with wheels/tires, or pretty close to those prices. So we're at 42K list without the FEL. ALO Q FEL will probably run 4-5K? Dead presidents will probably keep me out of this ballgame!
Still looking I guess.

 

[HOGAN]

Landini Rex 85F 4wd cab. There is some good pricing available on these tractors now . Most of these units are on the west coast, but a few are at dealers on the east coast. These tractors use a Perkins 1104C-44 75pto-hp. Even though they are low and narrow in size the weight is still around 6500 lbs. Where are you located??

J.M.H.

 

[hobbyfarmer2]

I`m located on the east coast, Nova Scotia. Apparently there was some good programs on Oct, Nov, and Dec. End of year specials I guess. An m9000 Kubota for around $60,000, cab, loader, air, for this month. Last month was cheaper I think. $58,000 for a M8200. JD was $60,000 self levelling loader, cab, 5420. Hogan, Landini Vision95 was $59,800, cab, loader. That price and the JD price was last years before any good programs were on. I have to check on these prices again when I get a chance. These prices are Canadian funds. I`m trying to do a few home renovations for a couple of days. Also, a neighbor has a Landini Blizzard that`s around 90 hp, cab, loader, 2001 I think it was, with about 1100 hours, for $30,000. He used it for snow plowing about 50 driveways. It`s in a little rough shape I thought, but the price is reasonable. He has a bad leg and says his leg gets sore from clutching so much. I assume it doesn`t have HST tranny where you don`t have to clutch. Also he said, the less weighting tractors will spin when pushing snow uphill so thats why he got the heavier Landini this time. I may wait until the programs return next fall, as I am in no rush to purchase. Want to make sure I get the right tractor for the right price. Maybe a good low hour used will come up also in the meantime. I still have lots of reading on here yet too. Good site. Thank`s all for the posts.

 

[hobbyfarmer2]

Jerry,I will check on prices when I get a chance on the 3400 series. The local dealer here usually has a couple 400 series tractors kicking around. Been awhile since I checked prices with him. There are so many series, and models, options, prices, etc, of tractors, takes awhile to do the homework on them all.

 

[pekabu]

I've spent some time on the McCormick CX105. I wish I needed to buy one! Maybe someday. They have a vineyard series F running up to 98 HP. In the USA it's a VF. There also appears to be a CX-L (lightweight) in Canada.

Here's a link to the PDF Brochure files.
McCormick Canada Brochures Online