new member, new farm, and looking

[IslandTractor]

Clearing your 30 acres is a one time job.

Yes, but keeping thirty acres mowed, even if just once or twice a year to control brush, is a pretty big job for a Farmall.

 

[Soundguy]

sounds like you have a good 25hp smallish CUT.. that's great. While small.. you might be able to get by with just that.. though mowing might be a chore. 50hp is a good place to look if you wanted a 2nd tractor. and might I sugest a slightly older utility/ag tractor as that second unit.. they are pennies ont he dollar for new.. even if you find a slightly 'expensive' one tht has been maintained an in mint condition.. it will be 1/2 to 1/4 the price of a new one.

perhaps something in the ford 4XXX series ( 3 cyl ).. and preferably diesel.. or the 5XXX series.

should be able to pull an 8' mower with a 4xxx and a 10' with a 5xxx. both those machines should be inthe 6000$ range.. perhaps a lil more for one already refurbished and in great condition... don't buy one with problems to say a few hundred bucks.. pay a lil more for one that's already 'good'.

soundguy

I have done a search and the things i come up with are pretty old, so i wanted some new information.

I have a new to me 30 acre farm. It hasn't been maintained in 5 years or so. I have already started bushhogging it with a 25hp Mahindra and a 5ft bushhog. Yea...its going to take forever, i have figured that out. The land was used for farming some years ago...so basically lots of grass and saplings to cut over and out right now.

Goal is to start using it for organic farming. So I will run a bushhog and a disc and I am not sure from there.

I am thinking the new tractor will need to be around 50hp, is that enough?

I really like the JD 5205 that i have found used for 14,500. I was hoping to spend under 15. I CAN spend anywhere from 10 to 20.

I am not above looking at any brand.... anyone ideas?

 

[flusher]

Yes, but keeping thirty acres mowed, even if just once or twice a year to control brush, is a pretty big job for a Farmall.

Agreed. I'd consider something like my 1964 MF135 diesel (45 hp engine, 37 hp pto) and a 6-ft brush hog for occasional field mowing. I paid $3600 for that 135 in July06.





If the OP is budgeting, this is one way to go that won't break the bank.

 

[jda1961]

kioti makes a fine tractor, they are just as capable as any of the other brands and are a heavy well made machine. here a pic of mine.

 

[Hoosier Hay Man]

And you think that farmall is going to clear 30 acres? because i dont think so

Don't underestimate that little Farmall Super A. It could drag most of those imported 4wd hobby tractors all over the barnyard.

I would like to see some of the imports go thru a Nebraska HP test like those little Farmalls did. I am sure they all would have to adust their advertised HP ratings a bit. Older Farm tractors only advertised belt, PTO and drawbar HP. I notice the imports advertise engine HP and some PTO. But none reference an independent test. Nebraska had a law in order to sell a tractor in the state Nebraska it had to certified for HP by the University of Nebraska.

Farmalls were simple to work on, parts availibity is excellent and thay don't cost alot to own. It would work excellent on a truck patch. That was a favorite tractor for the commercial tomato farmers in our area. Probaly $1500 to $2500 will get you an excellent one. The "Supers" were a bit nicer than the standard "A" Farmall.

For between $10,000 and $15,000 you can get a really nice John Deere 3020 or 4020 that would have adjustable wheels (rack and pinion axles), Independent PTO (540 or 1000), 3 point with draft control, excellent clearence for crops and it is probaly the best row crop tractor ever built.
They have held their value well. They sell for what they did new 40 years ago. I would guess they will still sell for that price 40 years from today.

Good Luck and let us know what you choose.

 

[juddmyers]

Don't underestimate that little Farmall Super A. It could drag most of those imported 4wd hobby tractors all over the barnyard.

I would like to see some of the imports go thru a Nebraska HP test like those little Farmalls did. I am sure they all would have to adust their advertised HP ratings a bit. Older Farm tractors only advertised belt, PTO and drawbar HP. I notice the imports advertise engine HP and some PTO. But none reference an independent test. Nebraska had a law in order to sell a tractor in the state Nebraska it had to certified for HP by the University of Nebraska.

Farmalls were simple to work on, parts availibity is excellent and thay don't cost alot to own. It would work excellent on a truck patch. That was a favorite tractor for the commercial tomato farmers in our area. Probaly $1500 to $2500 will get you an excellent one. The "Supers" were a bit nicer than the standard "A" Farmall.

For between $10,000 and $15,000 you can get a really nice John Deere 3020 or 4020 that would have adjustable wheels (rack and pinion axles), Independent PTO (540 or 1000), 3 point with draft control, excellent clearence for crops and it is probaly the best row crop tractor ever built.
They have held their value well. They sell for what they did new 40 years ago. I would guess they will still sell for that price 40 years from today.

Good Luck and let us know what you choose.

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.

 

[juddmyers]

I forgot to add some more facts. I know some of you have said that you can't do some things with a bigger tractor that you can with a small. Just wanted to add that I have access to a 25hp mahindra, a 50hp JD and a 95hp Kubota. My grandads farm is right next to my new one. So If i needed to borrow a smaller tractor or even one a little bigger then I could.

 

[Soundguy]

if you own a 25, and can use a 50 or 95 anytime.. then.. I don't think you need to be buying another tractor...

soundguy

 

[juddmyers]

SoundGuy, not true. One doesn't need to spend their time working on the farm with equipment that is always borrowed. Better to tear up your own equipment, not someone else's. My grandad uses his everyday, so yea i can borrow it and use it if i needed it, but i can't be getting in his way everyday.

 

[Soundguy]

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

 

[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?