Tractor 101 for 40 acre farm owner

[rd_macgregor]

If I follow your description, it sounds like you are mostly mowing grass. Also, you seem to prefer a "finish" mown look to your pastures.
I'd say you have plenty of tractors to do that. For hilly ground (and mine is quite steep, too) the 4WD is handy; loaded tires are a good idea, too (for traction and stability). For the number of acres of pasture that you are mowing, I'd want at least a 6-ft mower.
In our horse pastures, I use a 6-ft brush mower, but only mow to keep the weed from going to seed (ie, not for appearances sake). Even the 6-ft mower seems to take a long time in the field.
I realize that everybody's situation is different, but I couldn't imagine NOT having an FEL. Having three tractors, none with FEL, boggles my mind!

But, if it works for your needs, so be it!

BOB

 

[Belhaven]

Thank you all VERY much for the thoughts and tips!

Regarding the FEL...ok I am ears and open to thoughts.

Can you give me some ideas on how I might use an FEL that is not obvious to me...kind of the ole I don't know what I don't?

Also could you recommend what kind of 6ft mower would work (if any) with the tractors I have?

 

[bigbull338]

your tractors suit your mowing needs just fine.any of them will pull the bushhog or flaiil mower.

 

[sikboater]

I also think an FEL is very important.... So other uses:

Turn the compost pile
Scrap out the stalls
Move implements around w/out hooking them up
Move firewood around
Lift heavy stuff (out of the truck or in the truck)
Carry fence post and supplies out in the field to fence repair
Balast for any rear implements
Snow removal (not really in your case)


I grew up on a small farm and for a long time we did not have a tractor with an FEL. Once we got one with, I don't know how we got by..

Just my 2 cents..

 

[TripleR]

It appears as though you have two tractors so similar in size as to almost render one superfluous. Of course all I know about these models is what I can find on the Internet, but the Mahindra and JD4300 look pretty much the same on paper.

What do you use the 850 for? Do you have a dedicated lawn mower?

How long have you operated the full 40 acres.

Is this your occupation or do you work elsewhere with time constraints on how much time you can work on your farm?

As to the cutter, a flail mower may be a good choice to get the widest cut with the available horsepower.

If I was starting from scratch on property of that size, I would want a 40-50 HP like a Kubota L or Grand L or its equivalent in another brand.

Our land is hilly, but there are some guys on here with much steeper land than mine, so maybe they will stop by. There is a very large knowledge base here and I got really good information to use in my last two purchases.

Good luck and if I think of anything else I will drop back by.

 

[Belhaven]

It appears as though you have two tractors so similar in size as to almost render one superfluous. Of course all I know about these models is what I can find on the Internet, but the Mahindra and JD4300 look pretty much the same on paper.

[Yes the are except the JD is a 'designated belly mower' and the Mahindra is not-also the JD has better stick on hills-for some reason the Mahindra is not as good on steeper hills]

What do you use the 850 for? Do you have a dedicated lawn mower?

[The 850 is used on the big 10 acre field. The person most familiar with the property and machines told me the 850 does the best over there-the other two can bog down. He said the 850 is not as good on the other land as it has more fence corners and trees-the two HSTs do better]

How long have you operated the full 40 acres.

[I have had the 20 acres for 14 years, the last 20 only 2. Of the newest 20, 10 is woods so only 10 matters. In other words, 30 of the 40 is at issue.]

Is this your occupation or do you work elsewhere with time constraints on how much time you can work on your farm?

[I actually have a young man that does the mowing. He has the time but I am also looking for efficiency! LOL]

As to the cutter, a flail mower may be a good choice to get the widest cut with the available horsepower.

[I will google that to learn more. I am not familiar with the equipment]

If I was starting from scratch on property of that size, I would want a 40-50 HP like a Kubota L or Grand L or its equivalent in another brand.

Our land is hilly, but there are some guys on here with much steeper land than mine, so maybe they will stop by. There is a very large knowledge base here and I got really good information to use in my last two purchases.

Good luck and if I think of anything else I will drop back by.

Thank you.

To help explain....I have owned my farm for 14 years. My dad was my 'tractor man' He made the choices and new the equipment. We first bought the 4300 when we only had the 20 acres of finished pasture, then bought the Mahindra as a back up tractor.....

When we bought the final 20 acres it included the 850 in the sale...so that is how it all developed.

Anyway...I raised and ride the horses and dad knew the equipment. Now I am responsible for everything and never had a reason to know...now I do.

I was hoping to consolidate (if possible) so there was less to maintain, etc...but don't want to 'give away' a good machine if it is needed...don't want to buy new if I am ok with what I have...and don't want and unneeded machine to sit.

Hopefully this makes my questions less random.

And thank you for the information so far.

Now if I only knew what to do with the old blowers that won't start and the silly DR Trimmer/Mower that works but sits in the shed. :laughing:

 

[Belhaven]

Maybe this will help-a page of some random photos of my farm:

My Fields

 

[TripleR]

Thank you.

To help explain....I have owned my farm for 14 years. My dad was my 'tractor man' He made the choices and new the equipment. We first bought the 4300 when we only had the 20 acres of finished pasture, then bought the Mahindra as a back up tractor.....

When we bought the final 20 acres it included the 850 in the sale...so that is how it all developed.

Anyway...I raised and ride the horses and dad knew the equipment. Now I am responsible for everything and never had a reason to know...now I do.

I was hoping to consolidate (if possible) so there was less to maintain, etc...but don't want to 'give away' a good machine if it is needed...don't want to buy new if I am ok with what I have...and don't want and unneeded machine to sit.

Hopefully this makes my questions less random.

And thank you for the information so far.

Now if I only knew what to do with the old blowers that won't start and the silly DR Trimmer/Mower that works but sits in the shed. :laughing:

You seem to have enough tractor in your Mahindra or John Deere to take care of your chores and I can identify with trying to keep too many machines running. You can probably sell a couple without any regrets.

You appear to be a pragmatic person looking at the equipment purely from a work oriented perspective while many of us really do a lot more than necessary and aren't happy if we don't have something to do with our tractors.

We also have a DR trimmer and self propelled sickle mower that haven't moved since my father in law passed. We are going to sell them this year if I don't forget again, and there is that JD 425 in the barn and...:laughing:

 

[Jerry/MT]

A little background. I currently own a 40 acre farm...10 acres are woods and not of issue.

The remaining 30 acres is my concern. I have a horse farm so about 20-25 acres of this land are pasture.

All of this land is VERY hilly...

10 acres is one large field not currently used for grazing but I like it mowed 'tidy.' I will try to post a couple of photos to see.

The remaining 10 is grazing pasture for horses, VERY hilly again...I want to keep this very short as well.

I have 3 tractors and would like to understand if these are suitable for my needs or if I am better to sell, swap, consolidate, etc

The farm has grown from 9 acres to the current 40 so needs have changed and equipment has not.

Is there some place I can learn about tractors in simple language? For example, the hp needed to use a certain attachment...or what is HST and when is it suitable?

I have so many questions I dont know where to begin.

I am happy to post the tractors I own (and equipment) if that would be suitable.

What are your overall goals for this land? What do you want this place to be? Without knowing that, it's hard to provide good advice. On the face of it, you have too many tractors, because you seem to only need a big lawn mower. But as I said, what are your goals for the land?

Why are't you using the 10 acres for grazing or hay? I raise cattle and mowing grass pasture for appearance sakes seems wasteful to me. You say that it's very hilly and that's another good reason to "hire" some livestock to graze it for you. It's safer and easier then mowing and if the stock belongs to someone else, there's no additional labor for you. Are there neighbors who might lease pasture from you? Have you considered increasing your stocking rates and thereby reducing or eliminating the cost and time to mow? There are several ways to manage this land to generate some income.

That machinery sitting there is costing you money in terms of depreciation and deterioration. It's not good to let equipment sit unused. Figure out what you want to do with the land and then you'll know what to keep, sell, and/or replace.

 

[Jerry/MT]

Maybe this will help-a page of some random photos of my farm:

My Fields

Very nice! Lots of potential to do several things.