new member, new farm, and looking

[juddmyers]

Well, you are incorrect on the either you have access to or you don't. I DO have access, it's just limited, depending on how much farming my grandad has going on.

I am not and have not argued against getting bigger. Unless you are thinking bigger than 50-55hp. The only thing I didn't agree with was getting a small tractor instead of a big one. - now, as one poster said, I might need a small one and a big one.. not sure.

Anyway, Id like to thank everyone for their input. It is greatly appreciated. I will continue to research and figure it all out. I am not looking at buying until Jan-Feb anyway, so I have plenty of time to think about it and research tractors.

 

[kenstrac]

Hoosier, I have prices the 4020's and looked at a lot of them. I do like them, my problem is paying 10K 12K for a 1960's tractor, when I can have a new tractor for 15K that is 20 to 30 years newer.

I just don't know if i can do that.

And to pay for the fuel that those guzzlers can put down.

 

[Reg]

i think maybee you need to sit down and re-think exactly what you want to do with your operastion. You asked some general questions, told us about the tractor you had, nd then were told you may want larger for some tasks.. answerd back that you had access to larger.. now that access is rather limited.....

You either have access.. or you don't... If you don't have access.. then imho.. YOU NEED THE BIGGER MACHINE ON HAND. If ya got it on hand.. then ya don't need to borrow.

soundguy

As I read it the access isn't binary.
Limited, conditional, needs to be scheduled, "free" but will count towards future favors, etc.
Can all mean it is available within a couple of days if/when needed, though not sitting there with the key in it ready in a couple of minutes to work.
How much $s (or $K) it is worth to have 3 minute vs 3 day access....... case by case. My neighbors are quite HAPPY for me to do what I can for them when I can do it.
I don't have to get crops (that will spoil in the next rain storm) in for them, so THESE tasks are not time critical.

 

[Soundguy]

Well, you are incorrect on the either you have access to or you don't. I DO have access, it's just limited, depending on how much farming my grandad has going on. .

You are missing the point..

If you have need of a larger machine that you own.. and don't want to solely rely upon borrowing, then you NEED to OWN a larger machine. Owning that larger machine pretty much negates the borrowing.

Farming on borrowed machines on someone else's time schedule is a pain. I know when i need to do a task.. it's usually a time issue... if I'm on an arbitrary time frame or limited by time, use basis.. it's not going to be a fun situation.. kinda like not owning a car.. but having daily commuting needs...

If you had 100% unfettered access to a larger machine.. you wouldn't need to also own one was my point. Since you indicate that that access has restrictions.. then you need to own one.. at that point.. the fact that you can borrow one is moot, except during extreme circumstances.. like breakdowns and such.

that was the point I'm trying to make.

good luck..

later

soundguy

 

[Zebu Fellenz]

Hello,

Our family runs a small, but widely diverse organic fruit and vegetable farm.

We own seven acres that we started the farm on, we farm about five of these acres, we also have access to ~20 acres down the road that we began using last season.

When we were using just the five acres we owned a Kubota B7200, and B8200, both 4WD with a FEL on the 8200. These served us well as they fit well in the tight spaces we were farming, and had enough horsepower to run the implements we used.

We have since sold the 8200, and have mounted a loader on the 7200, we also bought a Kubota L245H cultivating tractor as stepping up the acreage has made hand cultivation non feasible.

Working the larger fields is also impractical with the small Kubota and tiller we were using before, so we bought a Allis Chalmers 180 (~75 horsepower 2WD) to pull a four bottom plow, a 10' transport disc, and a 12' cultimulcher for field preparation. This tractor weighs upwards of 10,000# and when pulling the plow we need every bit of this weight even with brand new tires.

A few days ago we also bought an Allis Chalmers 160 as we needed a tractor with a short wheelbase that would go slow enough to pull our transplanter, the 160 will go close to .2 miles an hour in low gear at idle, this is something you may also want to keep in mind if you plan on using a transplanter in your operation.

We also do work in hoophouses, and have tight rows of brambles, this necessitates keeping the 7200 around as the other tractors won't work in these situations, we also have a BCS walk behind tractor for situations like this where the space is tight.

You really need to think through what exactly you will be doing as this can impact what should be recommended. We have less acreage than you have, but we have four tractors, they all have their place, and we would be in trouble if any of them were missing.

Can you give us a little better idea of what you're planning on doing?

With all that said I would recommend something in the 50-70 horsepower range with 4WD, a creeper gear, and a front end loader. I would also recommend looking into loaded tires so you have the weight to pull tillage equipment.

Let me know if you have any questions.

Erik Fellenz

Fellenz Family Farm

Welcome to the Fellenz Family Farm

 

[juddmyers]

Hello,

Our family runs a small, but widely diverse organic fruit and vegetable farm.

We own seven acres that we started the farm on, we farm about five of these acres, we also have access to ~20 acres down the road that we began using last season.

When we were using just the five acres we owned a Kubota B7200, and B8200, both 4WD with a FEL on the 8200. These served us well as they fit well in the tight spaces we were farming, and had enough horsepower to run the implements we used.

We have since sold the 8200, and have mounted a loader on the 7200, we also bought a Kubota L245H cultivating tractor as stepping up the acreage has made hand cultivation non feasible.

Working the larger fields is also impractical with the small Kubota and tiller we were using before, so we bought a Allis Chalmers 180 (~75 horsepower 2WD) to pull a four bottom plow, a 10' transport disc, and a 12' cultimulcher for field preparation. This tractor weighs upwards of 10,000# and when pulling the plow we need every bit of this weight even with brand new tires.

A few days ago we also bought an Allis Chalmers 160 as we needed a tractor with a short wheelbase that would go slow enough to pull our transplanter, the 160 will go close to .2 miles an hour in low gear at idle, this is something you may also want to keep in mind if you plan on using a transplanter in your operation.

We also do work in hoophouses, and have tight rows of brambles, this necessitates keeping the 7200 around as the other tractors won't work in these situations, we also have a BCS walk behind tractor for situations like this where the space is tight.

You really need to think through what exactly you will be doing as this can impact what should be recommended. We have less acreage than you have, but we have four tractors, they all have their place, and we would be in trouble if any of them were missing.

Can you give us a little better idea of what you're planning on doing?

With all that said I would recommend something in the 50-70 horsepower range with 4WD, a creeper gear, and a front end loader. I would also recommend looking into loaded tires so you have the weight to pull tillage equipment.

Let me know if you have any questions.

Erik Fellenz

Fellenz Family Farm

Welcome to the Fellenz Family Farm

Thanks to all of you for the awesome advice! SoundGuy, I am with you and on the same page now too. Curious to if you think 50-55HP is big enough.

Erik, I will be glad to provide more answers, when I figure them out. I am hoping very soon to go visit a organic farm close to home. With the 25hp tractor and a new 55hp, I hope that could get me by to get started. I would love to talk to you more about your organic farm sometime.

Currently I am talking to everyone that I can to see what is going to grow the best in my area. I also think this will have multiple facets to it. Like chickens.. maybe beef cows.

Just thinking out loud here.

Once again, thanks to everyone for their responses. they are ALL appreciated.

 

[Soundguy]

30ac.. 55hp should do plenty of work.. will have a real strong loader for that size of machine too.

capable of pulling a 10' mower if needed as well.

soundguy

 

[Uncle Doug]

................. I have not been planning on a FEL.

A FEL will be a huge asset no matter what type of farming you end up with. My first 5 years I worked without a FEL, the last 6 years with a FEL. No way would I go back to working even a small place without a FEL.

 

[JoeinTX]

judd, you asked about smaller utility tractors with FWA having adjustable axles and to my knowledge I don't believe any of them do. Larger, 100hp+ rigs with FWA I don't know. If anyone knows differently I hope they can chime in.

You're talking small acreage here so 50hp or thereabouts is sounding fine. What kind of primary tillage will you be doing?

Agree about FEL. You will find yourself using them for more things than you ever imagined and while they will add several thousand to the price of new tractor they are worth their weight.

What are planning on growing? Is 30 acres of specialty organics enough to support the place?