Ok Guys I'm really confused. I have been waffling on the size tractor to buy now for a long time. I have a 30 Acre Farm in West PA (Also part owner of aprox 50 more like it). About 1/2 is flat hill top and the other half is hilly. Most has been under cultivation in the past. It is mostly overgrown with small/med trees - The fields have not been mowed in 40+ years. About 1/2 mile private road (near impassable in some places due to neglect). House needs torn down and new drainage around stone footers.
My Plan is to build a house and move there in a few years (retirement). Clear the land and "gentlman" farm. Grew up (when I was pretty young) on a dairy farm where we had a number of ford tractors so I know a little about them but not much about modern equipment.
I have Gun Dogs and Horses. SO I wouild like to be able to make hay (square bales) and maybe some corn. I have thought about sub compacts (20-30hp) with loaders and backhoes with HST. I've thought about compacts (30-55hp) and full size Ag tractors (65-85hp). The former would be good for the cleanup and clearing but not much for Hay etc. They also cost about as much as an Ag tractor. The Ag tractor seems to the best long term but is big and maybe clumsy in the woods. JD, NH and Kubota dealers are all close. Mahindra is also an option the 8560 seems like a good value priced ag machine. Looking for a Machine with a loader and Backhoe for now. Would be nice if I could trailer the unit behing my 1 ton truck so I did not have to leave it at the farm when I am not there. I live 500 miles away and it is very remote. Also I could use it for some work here on my 3 acres.
Open to all the advice I can get.
My Plan is to build a house and move there in a few years (retirement). Clear the land and "gentlman" farm. Grew up (when I was pretty young) on a dairy farm where we had a number of ford tractors so I know a little about them but not much about modern equipment.
I have Gun Dogs and Horses. SO I wouild like to be able to make hay (square bales) and maybe some corn. I have thought about sub compacts (20-30hp) with loaders and backhoes with HST. I've thought about compacts (30-55hp) and full size Ag tractors (65-85hp). The former would be good for the cleanup and clearing but not much for Hay etc. They also cost about as much as an Ag tractor. The Ag tractor seems to the best long term but is big and maybe clumsy in the woods. JD, NH and Kubota dealers are all close. Mahindra is also an option the 8560 seems like a good value priced ag machine. Looking for a Machine with a loader and Backhoe for now. Would be nice if I could trailer the unit behing my 1 ton truck so I did not have to leave it at the farm when I am not there. I live 500 miles away and it is very remote. Also I could use it for some work here on my 3 acres.
Open to all the advice I can get.