Tractor advise for 90 acre farm

[CincyFlyer]

The one thing that I will add is to make certain that there is not a lien on the tractor! Search for "lien" and you'll find a nice thread about it. There's a lien on mine, as I owe money on it, so I couldn't sell it without arranging to pay that off-unless I was a crook. And, evidently, there are a lot of crooks.

 

[woolyAcres]

Just my $0.02 but I'd be looking for ~45HP, open-station, 4x4 with loader. That should pull a 6' or 7' rotary cutter for the fields (1 or 2x per year until another farmer starts making hay on it again), fit in your budget, and it will give you something to work with on the rest of the land including the woods. It's a compromise but any single tractor solution will be. That's something we all have to deal with when it comes time to put actual money into things. If, in a few years you have a need for a larger tractor perhaps the budget will be there to get one. In the meantime that machine should be large enough to do all the jobs (though may take a bit longer than a larger machine), but small enough to work in the woods and do stuff around the house, and, if you take good care of it, be worth most of what you paid for it if you want to sell it.

 

[LouNY]

I'll agree with the posters recommending two tractors, I don't know about central VA. but around here if you they and mow once a year with a bush hog the material buildup can smother out you grasses and allow the broadleafs and brush to get started as well as providing lots of nesting sites for stinging and biting insects. also the mold and dust issues can be greatly increased.
I would say to check out the 100-125 HP 2wd tractors they will ride better and do much more then a 50 HP or less CUT, then add in a 20-40 HP loader tractor, The auction prices on the larger 2wd has been coming down and for the right price a $1000 trucking fee can save you a lot off money on a tractor.

 

[cdb2]

Might be best approach. Two tractors on that size property would be useful. I wouldn't let the weight limit on what you can tow for an older (2wd if not 4) utility size tractor used primarily for mowing limit what you purchase. Once that larger tractor is on the property, for all intents and purposes wouldn't it be "home" to stay?

As for second smaller 4wd tractor with loader, I would still suggest a large cut at minimum.

Beautiful property by the way, I'm jealous! Enjoy your search and eventual purchase(s)!

Thanks, we weren't looking for that big of a property but kind of fell in love with it.

For towing I was just figuring if we buy used from a private party I'll need to haul the thing to the farm. The closest big-brand dealers are about an hour away too so thought I'd also need to be able to trailer it in for service.

 

[cdb2]

The one thing that I will add is to make certain that there is not a lien on the tractor! Search for "lien" and you'll find a nice thread about it. There's a lien on mine, as I owe money on it, so I couldn't sell it without arranging to pay that off-unless I was a crook. And, evidently, there are a lot of crooks.

Thanks for the heads up. I'm not sure how to check for a lien but I'll search out that thread and take a look.

 

[cdb2]

Thanks again to everyone for sharing. I'm going to go take a look at some of the local tractors for sale over the next couple of weeks.

 

[Turbys_1700]

I have a 100 acre farm in addition to another 45 acre farm. My main tasks are mowing. My neighbor currently cuts the hay off the larger track but I have 15 acres over at the other farm. I just traded for a lightly used 2012 t4.75 New Holland cab tractor with 1000 hours. Just acquired a new Titan 10 foot bush hog. I would have like to purchased a 15 foot batwing but at the price cost comparison the 10 footer hit the sweet spot.

Cutting my mowing time in half and riding in comfort is worth the expense. Just my opinion but get a cab if at all possible. Look at Tractor House and get something that will pull at least a 10 footer. Anything 75-95 HP is your goal. I chose the New Holland due to dealer support, price, and one of the best New Holland experts in the industry that is a friend and works at the dealership. RickB knows who I am talking about.

 

[HEC]

Look at the mowing calculator Jeff provided and figure out how much tractor you need compared to the time you want to spend mowing and doing other chores . I find mowing very relaxing as I am retired . With about 52HP at the pto I can mow some pretty heavy hay in fourth gear on level ground with a 6ft bush hog . That translates into about 3 to 3 1/2 acres an hour or about 2 acres in 3rd. for me . Some of my fields have gotten a little rough over the years so 3rd. gear is used in those areas . I could not pull a larger cutter in 4th gear for sure , unless it was a dual spindle which I have never tried . It's much about the comfort , time , tractor , dollars you are willing to spend , and of course compromises .


3rd. =2.4 mph

4th. = 3.6 mph on my tractor

 

[cdb2]

Look at the mowing calculator Jeff provided and figure out how much tractor you need compared to the time you want to spend mowing and doing other chores . I find mowing very relaxing as I am retired . With about 52HP at the pto I can mow some pretty heavy hay in fourth gear on level ground with a 6ft bush hog . That translates into about 3 to 3 1/2 acres an hour or about 2 acres in 3rd. for me . Some of my fields have gotten a little rough over the years so 3rd. gear is used in those areas . I could not pull a larger cutter in 4th gear for sure , unless it was a dual spindle which I have never tried . It's much about the comfort , time , tractor , dollars you are willing to spend , and of course compromises .


3rd. =2.4 mph

4th. = 3.6 mph on my tractor

Thanks. Time is not too much of a concern to me since it's only once or twice a year, especially if I can spread it out over a week or two. I think if I could do 3 acres an hour that's great. I don't think 2 per hour would be too bad either. I also like mowing and find it relaxing, even with the sun and dust and noise. I can't even imagine sitting in an air conditioned cab, I might get too spoiled lol.

Most of the heavy grass is between 12-18 inches high and the seed stalks are probably up to 3 foot or so after about a year's growth. I don't really have anything to compare it to, so not sure whether that counts as heavy or rough fields. I do know from a few patches I've had to clear that the little Husqvarna ride-on mower that I retired when I got the ZTR will cut it at this height, albeit slowly and not doing a very good job.

 

[majorwager]

Rbstern,

Jeffy is just exercising his intellectual (actually ineffectual) superiority.


CDB2,
Suggest listening to fellows w/ acreage such as Lou ny and turbys 1700. They are experienced. Jeffy lives in a subdivision, perhaps owns an ajoining lot,

I posted previously, I've mowed my entire farm in the past. If I were doing so again on a semi-annual basis, the minimum I would approach that task with is a tractor/cab, 75 pto hp and a 15 ft batwing rotary mower.

The first ground yellow jacket nest you hit will be very unpleasant in an open station tractor.