New member w/ questions about 100+ acres

[Hypnotk]

Myself and one other person are about to pull the trigger on some property with 100+ acres. We aren't farmers and don't really plan to be. She is a school teacher and I run a collision center. The land is going to be set up to run rally cars. There are around 100+ acres of field and I'm wondering if anyone can maintain that without hiring someone. What size tractor would I need to try to bush hog once in a while? One property already has houses, barns, etc. and may convey some equipment but one we are looking at is just land. How long would it take to cut 50 acres with a 60-72" brush cutter? How fast does an open field take to grow a foot or so with no animals? Thank you

-Lance

 

[Ed of all trades]

It am guessing that you are in Va and if you are there times it will grow that much in a month or so. Someone else can probably give you a better estimate of time but it will be about 3or 4 long days.

 

[HEC]

I mow 30 acres each year just to try and keep the pasture land that is not being used . I mow it once a year but if you want to keep it under a foot you are looking at 3 or 4 times , just not sure how long your growing season is where you are .I have a 6 ft. bush hog and it takes me about 20 hrs. , but some of my land is a little rough so that slows me down a little at certain areas . I have a 57 hp tractor so power is not an issue field conditions are .

 

[newbury]

Where is Woodbridge?
https://maps.google.com/maps?es_sm=93&q=woodbridge+usa&bav=on.2,or.r_qf.&bvm=bv.78597519,d.cGU&biw=1366&bih=681&gs_rn=57&gs_ri=psy-ab&tok=2ifPc3PeZNyaU9GECk9zAg&pq=woodbridge&cp=14&gs_id=g&xhr=t&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=X&ei=3vdPVOfnLpS1oQTzpoHIDw&sqi=2&ved=0CAYQ_AUoAQ&output=classic&dg=oo
Australia?
https://maps.google.com/maps?es_sm=93&q=woodbridge+usa&bav=on.2,or.r_qf.&bvm=bv.78597519,d.cGU&biw=1366&bih=681&gs_rn=57&gs_ri=psy-ab&tok=2ifPc3PeZNyaU9GECk9zAg&pq=woodbridge&cp=14&gs_id=g&xhr=t&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=X&ei=3vdPVOfnLpS1oQTzpoHIDw&sqi=2&ved=0CAYQ_AUoAQ&output=classic&dg=oo
NJ?
https://maps.google.com/maps?es_sm=93&q=woodbridge+usa&bav=on.2,or.r_qf.&bvm=bv.78597519,d.cGU&biw=1366&bih=681&gs_rn=57&gs_ri=psy-ab&tok=2ifPc3PeZNyaU9GECk9zAg&pq=woodbridge&cp=14&gs_id=g&xhr=t&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=X&ei=3vdPVOfnLpS1oQTzpoHIDw&sqi=2&ved=0CAYQ_AUoAQ&output=classic&dg=oo
CT?

 

[Hypnotk]

Thanks for your help. Sorry about the location. I live in Woodbridge, VA but the property would be in Catlett, Va. which is 30 mins from there. 20 hours...yikes, I guess I could let it go to 2 feet or so before it became an issue. The terrain is pretty smooth, slightly rolling. Could I make do with 35-40hp?

 

[murphy1244]

I'd get about a dozen goats or so.

 

[boggen]

i would say contact local farmers in the area of the property. and cash/rent the tillable acres out. the farmer does there thing and nothing from you beyond, rent. this puts all the crop types, spraying the crops, harvesting crops, etc.. on the local farmer.

50 acres and 72" deck = full time job for someone just mowing.
you are more likely looking at a bat wing rotatory cutter (bush hog = a brand name) in order to get a much wider width of cut. to drastically reduce amount of time to cut it all.
rotatory cutters = wind rows (clumps of weeds/grass in rows left behind the rotatory cutter), a rotatory cutter is not a finishing mower, that ya use around the house and have grass a couple inches tall.
bat wing = 2 to 3 individual decks. multi decks allows each deck to contour the land better (hills, ditches, etc...) vs scalping tops of hills with the blades.

hay/foilage, there are different types of cutters for that. but it puts ya back to most likely wanting to either round bale or square bale the area up (guessing round bale), and for that part most likely left to a local farmer that already has machinery to handle it all.

your only other option is more mowings on a weekly basis with say a commercial size zero turn or rather i should say a golf course like mower.

 

[Hypnotk]

Thank you. That gives me a good idea on what it would take. I would definitely prefer if a farmer would lease it but not sure how much in demand that is. I would have to do something to keep it in agricultural any way so as to not pay roll back taxes.

 

[deerseeker001]

Welcome from Wisconsin

 

[smstonypoint]

Thank you. That gives me a good idea on what it would take. I would definitely prefer if a farmer would lease it but not sure how much in demand that is. I would have to do something to keep it in agricultural any way so as to not pay roll back taxes.

First, the formula for calculating mowing time (acres/hour) is

[mower width (ft.) x ground speed (MPH)/8.25] x field efficiency factor.

The field efficiency factor allows for the fact that you would not be mowing uncut grass 100% of the time due to overlap, turning, bathroom breaks, etc. A field efficiency factor of 80% would be in the ballpark for mowing.

So, with a 6' cutter and a 4 MPH ground speed, you would be able to mow 2.3 acres /hour.

How much do you need in the way of average ag. income per acre to maintain ag. use assessment in VA?

Steve