John Deere 950 2WD for Food Plots?

[Olympus]

I've been looking at upgrading my LS J2023 to a larger machine since I purchased some hunting property. I recently had 2 acres of timber cleared on top of the highest ridge to be used for dedicated food plots. I know my little J2023 just doesn't have the weight to do much in the way of ground-engaging tasks for food plots, so that's why I've been looking to upgrade. But as usual, money is tight and my wife suggested that I could borrow my father in law's John Deere 950 2WD tractor any time I needed and that would be free (minus time and fuel to go get it from about an hour away).

So my question is whether a JD 950 would be able to handle breaking up ground for 2 acres of food plots or not. He has a 5ft tiller, but until I can get a lot of the rocks and root chunks cleaned up, I don't want to try using the tiller. I was planning on buying a 3pt landscape rake to use for sifting through and getting as much rock and root chunks up as possible first. The soil is fairly sandy and since it's on top of the ridge, it will not be wet or soggy for very long.

Then the second part of the question is IF the 950 is big enough to do the food plot job, what are the best implements that I should be looking for to use with this tractor? I was thinking a 6ft landscape rake, and he already has a 5ft tiller that I hope to be able to use in the future. Do I look at getting a 3pt disc? Some type of plow maybe?

 

[bspeedy]

You didn't ask this question, but:

Don't borrow equipment from your father in law. Or anyone else for that matter. Don't lend your equipment out either.

Rent something or hire it out. Save the two hour pick up and drop off trip as well as your relationship with the FIL.

 

[Olympus]

You didn't ask this question, but:

Don't borrow equipment from your father in law. Or anyone else for that matter. Don't lend your equipment out either.

Rent something or hire it out. Save the two hour pick up and drop off trip as well as your relationship with the FIL.

Maybe things are different where you're at. My family and my neighbors, we all share things. And I lend my equipment also and I don't plan to stop any time soon. I'm certainly not going to rent something or hire it out. I'd be driving to pick up and return a rental also, so that doesn't really help.

 

[airbiscuit]

If you get along well with your FIL, then go ahead and borrow it. If you are worried about breaking something on your watch, tell him that you would be more comfortable if he operated it on your property. I think a springtooth (or digger) or small chisel plow would be the first tool of choice.

 

[4get gto]

You didn't ask this question, but:

Don't borrow equipment from your father in law. Or anyone else for that matter. Don't lend your equipment out either.

Rent something or hire it out. Save the two hour pick up and drop off trip as well as your relationship with the FIL.

My father in law would lend me anything. Of course I'd have to fix it first. Maybe he was on to something.:laughing:

 

[bspeedy]

My father in law would lend me anything. Of course I'd have to fix it first. Maybe he was on to something.:laughing:

You got it.

Guys who keep their equipment in excellent ready-to-use condition won't lend or will be ticked if you bring it back dirty / scratched / damaged.

Guys with junky stuff will lend so you will fix it for them.

On the other side:

Guys to whom I'd lend my equipment have their own.

Guys who want to borrow could break an anvil so no lending to them.

If you think you've found an exception to these rules, you won't be the first. It will bite you. Don't lend it if you can't afford to give it away. Don't borrow what you can't afford to replace with brand new.

Here's the scenario - borrow tractor from FIL. While plowing your food plot, tractor loses compression, dies, oil is everywhere. Whose problem is it? Who pays or fixes? NO ONE wins in this scenario. There will be hard feelings and stern glances at Thanksgiving dinner every year from then on. WHY put yourself in that situation?

 

[Olympus]

Thanks for the unsolicited advice.

Now maybe we can get back to the actual questions I had and let me worry about "what ifs".

 

[Briar Hill Brittanys]

IMHO you could do everything you want with the 950. Might take more time/passes to get the work done, but once you get the rocks and roots cleaned up, it should be plenty of tractor. Look for smaller implements.....6' rake, the 5' tiller, a 7' Ferguson cultivator, etc. I've never had one, but lots of guys get a box blade to help the initial clean-up. Loaded tires will help with traction. I do everything you mention on our place with a JD 1020. It's 38 HP (PTO) and weighs roughly 5000#. Looking up the specs for a 950, 27 HP (PTO) and weighs roughly 3200#

I did all my plotting for the first few years with an 8N, 2-14 plow, 6' offset disc, broadcast seeder, 2 row 70 Flexi planter, 5' cutter, and 7' cultivator. The 8N is ~24 HP, about 2500#. I really think you can do it with the 950. HTH. Mark

 

[Olympus]

Thanks Mark. I brought the 950 home with me yesterday and bought a 6ft landscape rake at Rural King. I'm headed out to my place on Sunday to try the root rake out. It's pretty heavy. I used it on my gravel driveway last night just to test it and it seemed to do a great job for that.

 

[kebo]

Thanks Mark. I brought the 950 home with me yesterday and bought a 6ft landscape rake at Rural King. I'm headed out to my place on Sunday to try the root rake out. It's pretty heavy. I used it on my gravel driveway last night just to test it and it seemed to do a great job for that.

If I could give this a dozen "likes", then I would. Don't worry about what could potentially happen to it, just use it, enjoy it, and I am sure you will take excellent care of it while you have it. Let us know how it performs for you. :thumbsup:

 

[airbiscuit]

And post pics!

 

[TimberHole]

I'm lurking on this thread as I recently bought a JD 950 for food plots. I would like to find a front end loader for it. Does yours have a loader?

 

[Olympus]

No loader, no power steering, and only 2wd. I'll post pics tomorrow!

 

[TimberHole]

Exact same here. Mine is an early serial. I excited to have found it.

 

[Olympus]

I used it yesterday pretty much all day and I was beat. The landscape rake did very good with roots and rocks and the 950 had zero struggle at all. I ran it in 5th gear and about 1400rpms. There are still a lot of roots still attached to the ground so I'm going to have to dig them up with a loader when I can. Probably won't worry about it this year. I'll plant my food plots around the roots and let them start dying and break down over winter and come back in the spring and brush hog them and then till them under.