Need fleet of equipment for new operation

[Waldershrek]

I am in the process of starting an operation and have been looking at equipment. I've been looking at all used equipment but have been wondering about if there was certain models better than others, things to look out for, known problems with certain models etc. I'm also looking for rough estimates on cost of all necessary machinery. This will be a small holstein heifer operation at first hopefully working up to a dairy operation. I already have an Allis 170 with bucket.

I will need:

tractor (would like 4020 diesel) to be used as main machine
mower (disc mower preferred)
rake
tedder
baler (with kicker)
3-4 bale wagons
manure spreader (box type small/medium size)

Obviously I'd need more for a dairy operation but this is just a start for heifers. Is there anything else I'm missing?

Also i have a barn and land but the barn has not been used for livestock in many years and needs to be outfitted. What kind of equipment am I looking at for the barn?

 

[bill in ny]

i've had good luck with new holland mowers and balers. i like kuhn for tedders and rakes.

 

[bill in ny]

go to every farm auction you can in the spring.

 

[Waldershrek]

Unfortunately I missed the spring auction in Broome County but I'm planning on going this year. I've been pricing things out on Tractorhouse as far as what everything is going for in what condition.

 

[flusher]

I am in the process of starting an operation and have been looking at equipment. I've been looking at all used equipment but have been wondering about if there was certain models better than others, things to look out for, known problems with certain models etc. I'm also looking for rough estimates on cost of all necessary machinery. This will be a small holstein heifer operation at first hopefully working up to a dairy operation. I already have an Allis 170 with bucket.

I will need:

tractor (would like 4020 diesel) to be used as main machine
mower (disc mower preferred)
rake
tedder
baler (with kicker)
3-4 bale wagons
manure spreader (box type small/medium size)

Obviously I'd need more for a dairy operation but this is just a start for heifers. Is there anything else I'm missing?

Also i have a barn and land but the barn has not been used for livestock in many years and needs to be outfitted. What kind of equipment am I looking at for the barn?

Here's what I paid recently for a few haying implements:

MF124 baler (2-twine, small squares)--$2K
JD 350 bar rake--$800
Cultipacker (10 ft wide)--$600

If you intend to plant a hay crop rather than just mowing, raking and baling native grasses, you'll need tillage equipment.

Minneapolis Moline 13-ft wheel disc--$600
JD 2-14 moldboard plow--$200

I don't have a barn, so I can't help you there.

 

[Waldershrek]

The land mom and dad have is already planted with timothy/alfalfa so I won't have to worry about re-seeding for awhile anyway.

 

[jagyzf]

You might want to consider a round baler and wrapper rather than a small square baler and wagons. I have been helping with hay since 1987 and it's hard at times in upstate to get hay dry. With a round baler if it gets dry you bale it, if not wrap it. It seems to be less labor intenstive and you can get the hay in faster. Now if you want to sell any, then you will want a small square baler. This past year the forcasts changed sometimes hours later let alone a day or so later.

As far as the machines, I like JD disk mowers, square balers depends on your land, but JD and NH both make very good machines. Deere kicker I like better in small fields, NH thower in hilly areas. Tedder and rakes, Kuhn is hard to beat, I would go with a rotary rake. NH and Kuhn both make very good spreaders.

One note on a diskbine, I would only run one behind a cab tractor. Stones once in a while come off the cutter bar and our cab get hit about once a year. I would also not buy a disk mower more than about 5 years old. If not taken care of they can cost a small fortune to repair.

JD 4020 is a very good machine, and I love JD, but it might be hard to find one in good shape that doesn't bring big money at an auction. JD 4230, 4240, 3150's I've seen go for less. IH 966, 1066, 986, 1086 would be other models to at least consider.
On an older JD powershift trans are great, but can cost more than the machine is worth to repair if it wasnt cared for.


Your barn, what style is it? Freestall, tie stall? Depending on what it is will depend what you need.

 

[Waldershrek]

I have found what appear to be some good used 4020's for 7,000-9,000. The Kuhn rakes and tedders are out of my price range I think from what I've seen lately.

The barn was equipped with stanchions originally (the old lock around the head type). Most were removed when mom and dad got rid of the animals. I don't even know where to buy the tie stalls I'm looking for. I would like just the bar with a chain to hook onto the animals collar. I know I'll need some automatic watering bowls and more lighting.

My mother has horses and uses square bales as well so I would be baling their hay for them in thanks for them letting me run my little fantasy on their land

That's the reason for the square bales over the round. Plus I know I'll have more than I'll use so I can sell some too.

 

[brin]

For what it's worth, an old time farmer warned me to never - ever buy a used hay baler - so I didn't and probably a good thing at that time...I would not have known what to look for so if you know balers maybe you will be alright.

 

[jagyzf]

If you are planning on having animals, down the road a dairy you need to have reliable equipment. It would be one thing if like my brother inlaw you were going to just play around and sell some crops. Your comment about not being able to afford Kuhn rake or tedder, these would be your least expensive purchase. I'll tell you something, 3 things I would never skimp on, disk mower, baler, and manure spreader. As I said disk mowers can be very expensive to repair, balers break when you have the most hay down with rain coming in. What sucks about spreaders is they always break when there full, usually in the middle of winter. Also you really haven't give much information to go by.

Do you want a disk mower with conditioner?
How much hay are you planning on doing?
Where are you going to store the hay?
How much are you planning on spending?
How many animals are you going to start with?
Are you able to fix you own machinery?
Do you know much about balers?
Your barn will need stalls, I assume a gutter cleaner, for a dairy some kind of milking system, milk cooler, storage etc.