I NEED ADVICE HELP

[scottf92]

What is an AG tractor? And Pennies on the dollar? And unless I am going to make use of the hay myself for livestock etc, is there enough money to make it worth while to make hay? It goes for about 25 a roll around here, at some of the costs I have seen on baling machines etc, that would take a lot of hay balin to make any money

 

[Diamondpilot]

Not to speak for anyone but, I think when he is talking AG tractor he is talking the 75 to 100HP units. In my area they are worthless to a real farmer, just not big enough. Too big for most guys on this site. Because of this they sell cheap. My friend bought a 100ish HP Case with a cab and duals for something like $5500. He also got a older 70's Farmall Diesel in the 70 HP range for $3000. A lot of tractor for the money, hence the pennies on the dollar comment.

Chris

 

[Soundguy]

diamondpilot nailed it. big older hp is usually cheap because the hobby farmers with 10-20 ac don't want a 70-100 hp machine.. thus you see them going inthe 3000-7000$ range.. which.. compaired to a new unit of the same hp.. is pennies on the dollar.

as for hay.. it's a big investment.. unless you need it or plan on doing it for quite a few years to recoup expenses.. I'd let someone ELSE bail it.. then take some hay or money in trade.. that or just MOW it.. etc.


soundguy

 

[Diamondpilot]

Sound Guy is right about the hay work. We have a guy down the road, a retired farmer, Old Man Timmins. He will cut, rake, and bale your field for $.75 per bale dropped on the ground. Our 8 acre field yields about 275 bale per cut and sale depending on the year between $2.50-$3.00 per bale.

I always laugh at how cheap he does it. I guess it keeps him away from the wife and on the tractor.

Chris

 

[scottf92]

All good points!! especially the staying away from the wife LOL, Are the AG tractor dependable/reliable just dont wanna spend a boat load on repairs maintenance too but I like the 10k or less range alot better! And as far as the hay I dont need it and dont have time to mess with it now until after retirement which is still a good ten years away

 

[MarkV]

Scott a used AG tractor is a good way to buy inexpensive hp for your mowing projects and future hay work. What you will find though is not many of them are going to come with a loader.

MarkV

 

[Soundguy]

All good points!! especially the staying away from the wife LOL, Are the AG tractor dependable/reliable just dont wanna spend a boat load on repairs maintenance too but I like the 10k or less range alot better! And as far as the hay I dont need it and dont have time to mess with it now until after retirement which is still a good ten years away

as with any machine.. do your research.. find one in good condition and with good parts support.. don't buy an orphan. MF and ford have great parts support as well as many older JD's.

something like a ford 5000 or 7000 , both with with an 8spd ( no DP ) is a good strong basic tractor .

soundguy

 

[GPintheMitten]

Here's my advice. Continue the arrangement with the neighbor farmer for the hay. You don't have the time now. Ten years from now when you retire, you'll be much more familiar with tractors, your desire or need for hay etc. Don't buy a tractor today for haying in ten years. Hay bailers are complicated machines. Who's going to fix it when it breaks down and you have 50 acres mowed and windrowed and the rain is about to come and you have to go to your real job?

With 3 cuttings of hay, you might produce close to 100 bales an acre. That would be 5000 bales. Then you need to store them or sell them out of the field. That's a lot of work and a big storage barn. You'll kill you self trying to get that done on weekends and the weather does not necessarily match your work schedule.

At least, that's what I would do.

Then consider, you need to build/maintain a driveway, so a heavy duty back blade and front end loader. Are you going to make a garden area with the tractor? Are you going to grade the land or your build site. Are you going to use the tractor for mowing lawn around the house or have a separate riding mower?

Depends on your budget, but I would look at 30-45 Hp compact utility tractor, with a front end loader, heavy duty back blade and a rear mounted finish mower and a brush hog type mower. Then trim with a walk behind mower... get the wife to agree to the trimming. A mid mounted mower would be more convenient for the mowing task but it depends on how much other work you will need to do in the mowing season. A midmount mower while using your fel in the woods is likely going to wreck the mower.

Of course the mowing situation depends on how much real lawn you plan on having compared to rougher field mowing. And you could buy a small riding mower for the lawn and not use your tractor for that.

 

[scottf92]

I got about 60 acres to cut, grass or hay, I already got a 26 HP rider with a 54 inch cut, but that would take me a month to cut goin 24/7with that so what ever I get I need a loader for sure, and something to run a good sized pull behind cutter bush hog etc. I been looking at a 2006 kubota 50 hp with loader and 6ft bush hog, but it is 20k with the accessories and will I need more HP if I decide to do hay later, will it run a bigger cutter behind it? Or is the AG one the way to go but then I gotta find a loader and cutter and may be pushing the same price range by the time I buy the add ons. I cant find any dealers close to me that have anything to even look at. PLUS If I dont move there for a few years I will have to haul it back and forth (which is only 18 miles each way so not too bad) but I would imagine an AG tractor is pretty heavy and difficult to move back and forth, the Kubota seems to be the middle ground and already has what I need to get started, but the question is what will the Kubota not do that a AG will??? what are it's limitations. Thanks to all who are giving advice!!!!

 

[Soundguy]

yep.. you done figued out this land ownership thing ain't cheap..

soundguy