Right tractor for organic farm

[gmcarlmrnet]

We have an community organic farm that is expanding. Last year about 2-3 acres. This year about 5 acres will be in vegetables, herbs, etc. Connected is about 45 acres of haying potential.

We have a John Deere 955 with a 5 foot rotatiller, 70A loader (incidental 59 inch snow blower). We need a tractor with a wider wheel base to work the rows. Specifically need 48 inches (or 60 inches on center). (the 955 is 1999 and has about 700 hours on it though we don't know for sure as the hour meter quit at 37--a long story). The farm may continue to expand to more acres, haying, etc, but not sure for now.

Two options have arisen. One is to trade in the above tractor (can get about $11,000) and buy a new one. Looking at the JD 5045 or 5055 probably the E rather then D but does add quite a bit more to cost. Land is flat, not a lot of loader work but would probably get a loader.

The other option was given to us by the JD dealer. Apparently a shop near us can "widen" the wheels by making some part that attaches to the axel then directly to the wheel hub (this per my brother who isn't too mechanical). A cost of $3000 was thrown out to do this.

Any thoughts.

 

[Martian]

If your current tractor does all that you need it to do though the foreseeable future, I wouldn't see the sense in paying for a new machine.

If you do plan to expand and may have the use for a bigger machine in the foreseeable future it will be a saved expense down the road as not as many people will want your "widened" 955.

If it were me I'd save the later expense and get the new machine that will best suit your operation.

 

[bp fick]

My mind is swirling with questions.

What is the current center to center span of the JD955?

What row width do you use in setting up the community garden?

What is that you do exactly when you say "working the rows"?

 

[zzvyb6]

Not sure what wheels and tires you have, but my book indicates that with 28" tires, you should be able to get 59" of tread spacing. That's PFC, eh? With the 2 part wheel, inner spider maxed 'out' and on the rim's innermost lugs it might be configuration 'H' in your book.

Results may vary, don't try this near a tomatoe plant. Remember that formaldehyde is organic, too.

 

[houstonscott]

One that runs on B100. LOL

HS

 

[gmcarlmrnet]

So, I am not too sophisticated regarding tires. But we have the 25x8.50x14 turfs on the front and 36x13.50-15 turfs on the back. Both are worn so always could go to a larger 28x8.50-14 on the front. However, my book says the largest wide position inside width would be 38 inches with the biggest front tire and 35 inches with the largest rear tire (assuming we switch to Bar type tread, 32 inches if we stay with the turf). So about about 13-16 inches short.

My brother is the farmer and I know the most about the tractors (which does not say a lot). I asked him about the 4 foot rows. The crops are put in 48 inch wide rows with about 12+ inches between rows. So the widely spaced tires allows you to pull a one or two person planter. When it comes in to weeding you pull behind a cultivator which only digs up the 12-18 inches on either side of the row.

He bought a very old IH I believe this winter for <$3000 that has an undercarriage cultivator that has the proper wheel spacing but its reliability is uncertain. This is a small and more maneuverable tractor too but if we do longer rows a bigger set up makes sense.

If it sounds like we are beginners we are as this will only be the third year. The goal is to break even and provide organic produce and education to the community. Here is the website
SEEDS Farm

 

[bp fick]

First, if you can forgive me a little background info. I've been truck farming, ie. market gardening since the mid 1950's.

Our rows were 44" with this Massey, which was an IDEAL truck farm tractor in it's day, and still would be. That's me on lower left. We had 8 acres of garden.

Our tractor now is a Kubota B2320 which is not horribly different than what you are using now in the Deere. I can "close" plant sweet corn at 38" and still squeak thru with the cultivator. For virtually everything else, a 42" or 44' row works better. You cannot disturb the roots or get too close. BTW, using a rear cultivator stinks compared to cultivating by looking down at your feet with a belly mounted cultivator such as the old Massey or Farmall Cub had.

My point is this. A market garden tractor is about being nimble, capable, light weight so as to avoid compaction, and have as much ground clearance as possible. Thus, my B2320. It isn't about horsepower, that's for sure.

You mentioned hay next door. That, sir, is an entirely different animal. A haying tractor needs to be of a certain size and hp. That size and hp would make it as useless as boobs on a boar for gardening. Just sayin'. These are two extremely different tractors, in my world view. I baled hay as a young man, for a decade, for my neighbor, as he milked 1500 head.

Now, you sure could use your haying tractor to make quick work of tilling the vegetable ground. But after that? You'd be done with that beast. Hope some of this gets your mental wheels turning. Love the website!!!!

 

[bp fick]

So, I am not too sophisticated regarding tires. But we have the 25x8.50x14 turfs on the front and 36x13.50-15 turfs on the back. Both are worn so always could go to a larger 28x8.50-14 on the front. However, my book says the largest wide position inside width would be 38 inches with the biggest front tire and 35 inches with the largest rear tire (assuming we switch to Bar type tread, 32 inches if we stay with the turf). So about about 13-16 inches short.

Ag tires are more narrow and ideal for gardening and farming in general. There's absolutely no doubt that Ag (R1) are the way to go. I have R4 Industrials, which was a compromise because I do other work, but the R1-Ags would be far better for your purpose.

My brother is the farmer and I know the most about the tractors (which does not say a lot). I asked him about the 4 foot rows. The crops are put in 48 inch wide rows with about 12+ inches between rows. So the widely spaced tires allows you to pull a one or two person planter. When it comes in to weeding you pull behind a cultivator which only digs up the 12-18 inches on either side of the row.

OK, here's where you need to clarify. Can you re-state that in a way I can understand? A picture, even from another website or something?

He bought a very old IH I believe this winter for <$3000 that has an undercarriage cultivator that has the proper wheel spacing but its reliability is uncertain. This is a small and more maneuverable tractor too but if we do longer rows a bigger set up makes sense.

If it sounds like we are beginners we are as this will only be the third year. The goal is to break even and provide organic produce and education to the community. Here is the website
SEEDS Farm

Thanks

 

[B E Lewis Farms]

The absolute best tractor for a farm like yours for row crop work is a farmall 140.

 

[Combustix]

I would imagine an organic tractor for an organic farm