CesumPec
Member
- Joined
- Jun 28, 2011
- Messages
- 37
- Location
- Ocala National Forest, FL
- Tractor
- JCB 214 Loader BackHoe, Farm Tractor TBD
After years of dreaming and searching, I've bought some land, 168 acres of terribly infertile sand in Florida痴 Ocala National Forest, Zone 9. There is lots of composting and soil amending in my future. If my only criteria had been great farmland, I would have looked elsewhere, but several other factors make this a happy choice for both my wife and me. I would greatly appreciate tractor and attachment recommendations from those with experience.
The property is currently 40 - 45 acres in natural Florida jungle in need of taming, 90 - 100 acres of Long-Leaf pines ready to be thinned for pulp wood, and the balance is in low value oaks and other hardwoods. The pines will be thinned to create pastures with the best trees allowed to grow another 10 years for saw timber.
Future plans (maybe dreams which will change as the land talks to me) include up to 80 large livestock, cows and horses, a few pigs and goats to help in clearing that jungle, up to 8 or 10 acres of row crops that due to root-knot nematodes will need to be in a 5 year rotation covering 40 50 acres, a couple of ponds that will have to be dug and will consume a total of 4 to 8 acres, a 6 horse stable, an equipment storage barn, some fruit trees, and a new planting of pines on what ever acreage I decide I can set aside for the next 25 years.
All I致e decided from my tractor research is that I need 4WD and diesel (I want to keep all the big engines on the farm on the same fuel). Looking for your HP and attachment recommendations. I think I need:
Fence post driver I at least want to have a tractor capable of mounting a rented driver. All 3+ miles of perimeter fencing needs to be replaced and I値l eventually need 2 or more miles of cross fencing for pastures. I plan to use movable electric to break up pastures for rotational cattle grazing.
Front end loader
Back hoe to dig ponds and trench water lines
Bush hog the property really needs a good cutting soon
Fork lift
what ever equipment you would recommend for preparing soil, planting, and nurturing row crops and pastures
and what ever is needed to maintain .5 mile of limerock road and another 1.5 miles of sand roads.
Two items I知 fairly sure to get for the truck (a beater F-350 diesel flatbed, dual rear wheels): A trailer large enough to tote the tractor when needed, with removable stake sides for hauling bulk materials; and a chipper/shredder. I think I prefer a diesel powered chipper that I can tow with the truck vs one on the PTO of the tractor so that I can more easily gather composting materials from off the farm.
All comments, opinions, suggestions invited and highly appreciated. I realize I have lots to learn from you folks who have already made this your life.
The property is currently 40 - 45 acres in natural Florida jungle in need of taming, 90 - 100 acres of Long-Leaf pines ready to be thinned for pulp wood, and the balance is in low value oaks and other hardwoods. The pines will be thinned to create pastures with the best trees allowed to grow another 10 years for saw timber.
Future plans (maybe dreams which will change as the land talks to me) include up to 80 large livestock, cows and horses, a few pigs and goats to help in clearing that jungle, up to 8 or 10 acres of row crops that due to root-knot nematodes will need to be in a 5 year rotation covering 40 50 acres, a couple of ponds that will have to be dug and will consume a total of 4 to 8 acres, a 6 horse stable, an equipment storage barn, some fruit trees, and a new planting of pines on what ever acreage I decide I can set aside for the next 25 years.
All I致e decided from my tractor research is that I need 4WD and diesel (I want to keep all the big engines on the farm on the same fuel). Looking for your HP and attachment recommendations. I think I need:
Fence post driver I at least want to have a tractor capable of mounting a rented driver. All 3+ miles of perimeter fencing needs to be replaced and I値l eventually need 2 or more miles of cross fencing for pastures. I plan to use movable electric to break up pastures for rotational cattle grazing.
Front end loader
Back hoe to dig ponds and trench water lines
Bush hog the property really needs a good cutting soon
Fork lift
what ever equipment you would recommend for preparing soil, planting, and nurturing row crops and pastures
and what ever is needed to maintain .5 mile of limerock road and another 1.5 miles of sand roads.
Two items I知 fairly sure to get for the truck (a beater F-350 diesel flatbed, dual rear wheels): A trailer large enough to tote the tractor when needed, with removable stake sides for hauling bulk materials; and a chipper/shredder. I think I prefer a diesel powered chipper that I can tow with the truck vs one on the PTO of the tractor so that I can more easily gather composting materials from off the farm.
All comments, opinions, suggestions invited and highly appreciated. I realize I have lots to learn from you folks who have already made this your life.