Help with 100 Acres

[River Hill]

I would like to thank everyone for taking the time to answer my question. Boy do I have a great deal to learn. You guys have really opened my eyes.

At this point from the input I received I think it is best I just keep the grass knocked down the best I can and not rely on hay production or having someone harvest for me. I know guys who have tried to get guys in the past, but there were always issues when it when the farmer wasn't ready to harvest or the grass was too long.

So if you were going to try and maintain this property and keep the grass knocked down, what would be my options?

 

[Verticaltrx]

I would like to thank everyone for taking the time to answer my question. Boy do I have a great deal to learn. You guys have really opened my eyes.

At this point from the input I received I think it is best I just keep the grass knocked down the best I can and not rely on hay production or having someone harvest for me. I know guys who have tried to get guys in the past, but there were always issues when it when the farmer wasn't ready to harvest or the grass was too long.

So if you were going to try and maintain this property and keep the grass knocked down, what would be my options?

Your best option would be a 85-95 PTO hp tractor with a 15' Batwing bush hog. Depending on your budget 4wd, a loader and a cab are all nice things to add. As stated before, you'll be in the $60K range for all this, but you will be able to cover 7 or more acres pre hour (depending on conditions) and really get things done quick.

If you have a smaller budget, a 55-65 PTO hp tractor with a 8' or 10' bush hog would also work pretty well. For cutting larger acreage I like a pull type cutter over a 3pt hitch type. They seem to make neater corners and require less circling on the corners. You wouldn't get done as quick as with the larger setup, but this size tractor would also be more useful for general land maintenance tasks. Again, if its in your budget, definitely get 4wd, a loader and a cab (in that order of importance)


If you are looking for new equipment, you really can't go wrong with Deere or Kubota in this size tractor. Used there are many good options, again, Deere, Kubota, IH, Case-IH, Ford, Allis-Chalmers, etc. You just have to know what to look for in a good used tractor. As for a bush hog, Woods, Bush Hog, and Deere make some of the best IMO.

 

[River Hill]

Your best option would be a 85-95 PTO hp tractor with a 15' Batwing bush hog. Depending on your budget 4wd, a loader and a cab are all nice things to add. As stated before, you'll be in the $60K range for all this, but you will be able to cover 7 or more acres pre hour (depending on conditions) and really get things done quick.

If you have a smaller budget, a 55-65 PTO hp tractor with a 8' or 10' bush hog would also work pretty well. For cutting larger acreage I like a pull type cutter over a 3pt hitch type. They seem to make neater corners and require less circling on the corners. You wouldn't get done as quick as with the larger setup, but this size tractor would also be more useful for general land maintenance tasks. Again, if its in your budget, definitely get 4wd, a loader and a cab (in that order of importance)


If you are looking for new equipment, you really can't go wrong with Deere or Kubota in this size tractor. Used there are many good options, again, Deere, Kubota, IH, Case-IH, Ford, Allis-Chalmers, etc. You just have to know what to look for in a good used tractor. As for a bush hog, Woods, Bush Hog, and Deere make some of the best IMO.

Thanks for the suggestion. I am liking the idea of the 55-65 PTO HP tractor with a 10' Bush Hog. Since the fields are currently corn and soy bean, they will need some work. I will thinking about planting fescue and doing my best to keep the weeds out.

It would be good to have a tractor to do other jobs.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

River Hill, any chance that you would be willing to give us a price range that you are willing to shoot for? A lot more help can be given when we know what we have to work with.

 

[Duffster]

Some of you guys sure have short alfalfa.

 

[Verticaltrx]

Thanks for the suggestion. I am liking the idea of the 55-65 PTO HP tractor with a 10' Bush Hog. Since the fields are currently corn and soy bean, they will need some work. I will thinking about planting fescue and doing my best to keep the weeds out.

It would be good to have a tractor to do other jobs.

We have a JD 2550 (65 PTO hp) and a JD 1008 pull-type 10' bush hog, granted it's 1980's technology its still a good setup. I can do about 5.5ac per hour with it and 65hp is about enough to handle anything from hood high grass and weeds to heavy brush.

If you are looking at Kubota the M7040 would be a nice size, as would a 5075E or 5075M Deere.

 

[flusher]

I am in located in MD and in the process of purchasing approx 100 acres of farm land. Most of the land is currently soy beans and corn, but I plan on turning this into hay fields. I need to keep the fields no longer than 18" as I will be using the fields to run dogs in. Do you think cutting the fields when they hit 18" is too short for hay production? If so, I will just need to cut it and not worry about the hay.

If I can produce hay from these fields, what is the fastest equipment that can cut and bale without going overkill?

If I am just going to keep the fields cut, what do you suggest? I will have 3 ponds on the property, so they will need to be maintained as well.

This is all new to me, so I am here to learn.

I do know I want AC in the cab and I want some speed as I don't plan on spending forever doing this.

Yes I understand the importance of local dealer support, just looking for a place to start.

Haying--what's your equipment budget? Speed costs bucks--more speed = more bucks--- unless you're into pre-owned haying equipment to save $$$$ on your equipment investment.

For fast haying, you have several mower choices--disc mower, drum mower, self-propelled swather with 10-15 ft wide sicklebar head, various types of mower-conditioners. I've used small 7-ft wide sicklebars bought at auction and from neighbors that attach to the 3 pt hitch on my Mahindra 5525 (54 hp engine, 45 hp pto, 2WD, gear tranny) but they aren't considered to be very fast mowers ($150 to $550).

You'll need a hay rake to make suitable size windrows for your bale. Choices include a 10-ft wide side delivery bar rake, various types of wheel rakes. My rake is a 10-ft wide John Deere 350 bar rake, refurbished, $800.

Balers: small squares (two-twine, 50-60 lb bales; three-twine, 100-120 lb bales), round bales-various sizes from several hundred pounds to 1000+ lb. My baler is an old Massey Ferguson 124 2-twine small square baler ($2000)

You'll need some way to get the bales off the hayfield. There are various types of self-propelled bale stackers as well as bale accumulators/grapples that attach to your tractor's FEL. You can get used self-propelled bale stackers for $5-10K if you shop around. I build my own accumulator/bale squeeze that attaches to the FEL on the 5525 ($1500 materials, hydraulics, etc).

Hope this helps.

 

[TripleR]

I can't beat the advice given by Verticaltrx.

 

[jimmysisson]

Would the stubble be a problem for the dogs?
Jim

 

[rd_macgregor]

I'm not real clear on what you want the land to be like. Do you WANT grass 18" tall? Or, is 18" the max you'd want? If a shaggy-lawn type surface is good for your use, then several mowings a season with a brush cutter would probably do the trick.
About 100 ac of my 250 is hay land and a neighbouring dairy farmer cuts, bales and hauls away the hay every year. I don't charge him for it at all...my payback is that mother nature doesn't send trees into my fields and I don't have to spend time, energy and fuel to keep the fields cut.

If you could find a good, used utility tractor in the 65hp (plus or minus a bit) range and a wide, three-blade brush cutter, you'd be on your way...BUT it would still take you several full days to get all hundred acres cut.

BOB