Turning 100+acres of grassland into farmland?

[flusher]

I'll probably spend more days/weeks/months looking on which tractor to get but definitely above 100 hp since I don't want to be out there and not get much accomplished. My bottleneck on this project also is my carrying capacity. With my chevy 2500HD I can tow at max around 12,000 lbs. My dad (also an engineer) always tells me that 10,000lbs should be the max I should do. So my tractor will have to weigh in around 7-8k lbs (1-2k for the attachment I use for the day, and 2k for trailer). So I guess that puts me around a 100-125hp shopping list?

Also I've been always an avid auction buyer and always find great deals on them (I use proxibid.com). To tell a few short stories, I bought 3 stainless steel tanks mixing tanks (1000 gal each) totaling 6k lbs for 1200$. Some 500 gal ones went for 4k but I waited for the great deals after they blew off their money on the initial merchandise (patience is key!). Went from Humble, TX to Des Moines, Iowa with a 1986 custom gmc van (now rip) and hauled it back 2 summers ago. Second I bought pumps/other equipment for bio-diesel for 30$ each brand new from florida and etc. I've been everywhere to squeeze the dollars and I guess I will do the same for this. I always call ahead and ask them about it, there is always risk involved but that's life.

As far as attachments, I'm guessing for that size, they will cost a lot? Time to keep on reading Thanks again for your advice! I definitely want to have this all ready by mid/late-december and be diligent in it!

A 100 hp tractor is going to weigh in the 9000 lb range without loaded rear tires which will add another 500-1000 lb depending on whether you have duallies. Add the weight of a gooseneck trailer (4000-5000 lb) and you're towing quite a load with your 3/4 ton pickup. Check out the "Trailers and Transportation" forum here on TBN to get an idea of the equipment and loads that folks tow with 3/4 and 1 ton pickups.

Attachments need not be too expensive if you shop around. For example I paid $600 for this 13-ft tandem wheel disc (you'll need one of these for sure).









I removed some of the outer pans so my 54 hp Mahindra 5525 can tow it. A 100 hp tractor should handle it without a problem.

 

[texasjohn]

Given your ambitious plans for equipment and tractor, I believe you will need to move to a 1 ton tow vehicle....

 

[Egon]

It's easiest to get it hauled by someone else.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

Is there a reason you don't want to leave the equipment in the field? I can see bringing the tractor home after you are done with the major work but the implements will be fine out there and should be big and heavy enough so that no one will want to steal them.

 

[MarkV]

Mike welcome to the forum. You are looking at quite an undertaking there. Visit your ag extension agent. They will have a good amount of information and advice available for you and your taxes are paying for it already.

The equipment you are going to require is going to be a large investment for a start up business. Another option you have that is used in many agricultural areas is to see if you can contract out the initial tilling to an established farmer in the area. That could buy you a few years to get your program going with out the 10's of thousands it is going to cost to be properly equipped.

Good luck and keep us updated.

MarkV

 

[mikeyee]

I could contract the initial tilling out and shell out a couple thousand but comes harvest time and I still don't have the equipment would probably be a financial disaster since I would pay more in costs than in profit from this startup. It might be hard to justify paying for equipment now but its worth it I think since I'll gain insightful experience and know how to do it for future stretches of land. If I buy stuff used, then I don't think it'll break the bank (unless I'm really undershooting on what my needs are). Its true that buying bigger tractors are cheaper than the conventional size ones (less than 50 hp) so I just should just keep looking and modify my plans. I guess I could get a dually but those things are so hard to park! Plus I use this truck as a personal vehicle haha. After all, it is winter time so I have sometime to find what I need at rock bottom prices and start the work. Though how many hours is decent for a used tractor to have (or aka the limits)? Thanks for your advice!

 

[jenkinsph]

I really like the "can do" attitude and my hat is off to you.

Reading through this thread I know this will be a learning experience for you, I would heed some of the advice already given here. Farmers do not make strategy and equipment decisions based on the size of pickup trucks. Most of the farmers I have dealt with have a very tight grip on accounting with cost projections, cost per acre for planting, weed control, tillage and harvesting. All with good reasons because they have to in order to survive.

I think you would have a better chance finding out what you need to know about this if you were to make a test run with a much smaller plot. The associated costs of doing this and learning the ropes would be much easier to afford on a smaller scale, then the following year you could start with a lot better idea of what to expect without being bankrupt. It should be obvious that you need to know as much about what other farmers are doing and what costs, profits and methods they are implementing.

That is a great quote by Theodore Roosevelt, but let me temper this with "devotion doesn't pay my food bills".



Steve

 

[mikeyee]

Yeah this is all really great advice and its really helping me making my plans more concrete and flexible. As far as economics, my breakeven point is at 25 acres (give or take some percentages) and starts to really profit after 50 because of the initial cost and the additional time/effort increases profit margins.

I always look at the margins and the risk so hopefully things will turn out for the better. I also have a few friends that want to help so thats always a good thing. Although I rather not let them use my equipment in fear that they don't know what they're doing or I am liable.

I'm probably going to buy a ~90hp around tractor in december to help a lot with time (plus its the max my truck can tow) and perhaps later a 125 hp one to handle more leases that I hope to startup (over that is overkill since eventually the plants won't need annual rotation/replowing). I don't want to overload my equipment on my needs on the field otherwise it'll probably break down prematurely. I guess what I need to do next is just trial and error and gain experience on dealing/solving problems I'll have in the field

True, dedication/perseverance doesn't help bring food to the table but it gives motivation to try harder and be better next time Take care folks!

 

[Uncle Doug]

Welcome neighbor, you certainly have your work cut out for you. You might also consider this bio-diesel crop.

Kinetic Study of Biodiesel Production from Chinese Tallow Tree Oil

I don't know if anyone in the US has grown the Chinese tallow tree for bio-diesel but I know here in east Texas they will not die.

 

[EddieWalker]

Given your ambitious plans for equipment and tractor, I believe you will need to move to a 1 ton tow vehicle....

This is what I was thinking. One ton with duel rear tires. Those extra tires make a HUGE difference in stability. I personally want a one ton, duelly flatbed with an extra cab. I see them all over the place and it's almost like buying electronics. The longer I wait, the more deals there are to choose from. Then I wait even longer, and even more deals become available. I've waited so long now that I'm coming across 12 tonne excavators now that are very reasonable. Tractor and truck prices are coming down and there are more and more of them to choose from. It's almost overwhelming, and if it wasn't for the non stop rains that we're getting, I might do something stupid.

Eddie