grandgourmand
New member
Hi everyone,
my first post. Thanks in advance for the advice and tips.
Background:
I've got an existing property, 99 acres of which 50 is flat, workable land. I'm evaluating buying a second property that is 75 acres, but has the same amount of workable land with the remainder a ravine woodlot. I would sell the other one, as the new one is in a better location for me. The plan is to build a home and eventually retire there. The reason I mention both properties is that either way, I'll have a bout 50 acres of workable land, which is pretty flat. 75% of the soil is sandy loam, the rest is more clay-like.
Future plans & tractor requirements:
1) As we build the home, I would need to do some landscaping, some wood cutting & clearing (nothing too big), some tree planting (small orchard), post digging, a bit of trail work.
2) Longer-term my plan is to have a farm. To produce my own food, vegetable garden, a few animals on about 5 acres. The remaining 45 acres would be for hay (square bales). More than I need, but it's something to keep me busy (I grew up working on dairy farms and actually loved hay season) and I'd sell the excess to local horse farmers and maybe hobby farmers.
3) Firewood production...my own needs. Not for sale. The ravines have some nice trees..but not that many accessible. I would just process blow overs that are accessible, and maybe some logs that come to me some other way. Along with handling logs, I'll want a chipper to process the small stuff and add to the garden or mulch the orchard.
4) Bush hogging.
5) Snow blowing. Both properties have long driveways. The one I own now is about 1000', the new one 2500'.
What do I need? What do I want?
I'll start with the former, as it's easier. I want two tractors. A SCUT or CUT, anywhere from 20-40hp. And a bigger Utility tractor, like 60-70hp, with a cab. I probably don't need the bigger one, but I want one.
Also on the want list is FEL (on both), Backhoe (probably on the smaller one), implements like snowblower, box blade, grapple, wood chipper and haying equipment.
On the need list...I think smaller is better. Less $$ as I need to invest in the house etc. And for my initial tasks, something smaller and more maneuverable would be best. I don't plan on doing major excavation.
A SCUT would probably be OK for my early needs (e.g. landscaping stuff). But I'm hesitant because I'd like to use that tractor to do some bigger tasks in a few years like raking & tedding hay, pulling a hay wagon perhaps and maybe some grapple work for logs (not sure which tractor would get that). I think a CUT (hope I'm getting the acronyms right) would be pretty good to get me going, but are they maneuverable?
For what it's worth, I'm going new. I'm not mechanically inclined so hoping to avoid repairs...AND don't really have anyone that can help me evaluate used tractors for condition. Also plan on financing. Not sure which brand yet, as that's a future discussion, though the closest dealers are Kubota/Case and JD.
Finally, if it makes a difference, well down the road I plan on picking up a side-by-side for some work but more fore pleasure (something like a Honda Pioneer would suit me just fine) and either a zero-turn or a tractor mower to cut grass.
I understand people have different views on how to approach situations. It's great to get different perspectives, even ones I don't agree with.
my first post. Thanks in advance for the advice and tips.
Background:
I've got an existing property, 99 acres of which 50 is flat, workable land. I'm evaluating buying a second property that is 75 acres, but has the same amount of workable land with the remainder a ravine woodlot. I would sell the other one, as the new one is in a better location for me. The plan is to build a home and eventually retire there. The reason I mention both properties is that either way, I'll have a bout 50 acres of workable land, which is pretty flat. 75% of the soil is sandy loam, the rest is more clay-like.
Future plans & tractor requirements:
1) As we build the home, I would need to do some landscaping, some wood cutting & clearing (nothing too big), some tree planting (small orchard), post digging, a bit of trail work.
2) Longer-term my plan is to have a farm. To produce my own food, vegetable garden, a few animals on about 5 acres. The remaining 45 acres would be for hay (square bales). More than I need, but it's something to keep me busy (I grew up working on dairy farms and actually loved hay season) and I'd sell the excess to local horse farmers and maybe hobby farmers.
3) Firewood production...my own needs. Not for sale. The ravines have some nice trees..but not that many accessible. I would just process blow overs that are accessible, and maybe some logs that come to me some other way. Along with handling logs, I'll want a chipper to process the small stuff and add to the garden or mulch the orchard.
4) Bush hogging.
5) Snow blowing. Both properties have long driveways. The one I own now is about 1000', the new one 2500'.
What do I need? What do I want?
I'll start with the former, as it's easier. I want two tractors. A SCUT or CUT, anywhere from 20-40hp. And a bigger Utility tractor, like 60-70hp, with a cab. I probably don't need the bigger one, but I want one.
Also on the want list is FEL (on both), Backhoe (probably on the smaller one), implements like snowblower, box blade, grapple, wood chipper and haying equipment.
On the need list...I think smaller is better. Less $$ as I need to invest in the house etc. And for my initial tasks, something smaller and more maneuverable would be best. I don't plan on doing major excavation.
A SCUT would probably be OK for my early needs (e.g. landscaping stuff). But I'm hesitant because I'd like to use that tractor to do some bigger tasks in a few years like raking & tedding hay, pulling a hay wagon perhaps and maybe some grapple work for logs (not sure which tractor would get that). I think a CUT (hope I'm getting the acronyms right) would be pretty good to get me going, but are they maneuverable?
For what it's worth, I'm going new. I'm not mechanically inclined so hoping to avoid repairs...AND don't really have anyone that can help me evaluate used tractors for condition. Also plan on financing. Not sure which brand yet, as that's a future discussion, though the closest dealers are Kubota/Case and JD.
Finally, if it makes a difference, well down the road I plan on picking up a side-by-side for some work but more fore pleasure (something like a Honda Pioneer would suit me just fine) and either a zero-turn or a tractor mower to cut grass.
I understand people have different views on how to approach situations. It's great to get different perspectives, even ones I don't agree with.
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