100 acres ,,need advice

[gemini5362]

I started out with a MF65 it was an older tractor but ran very well for years and years. It was a 2 wheel drive. I went to a new 49 horse Montana 4 wheel drive. I would never go back to a 2 wheel drive again. If you decide to look at new tractors Montana makes a 75 horsepower tractor. It is powered by a John Deere engine. I have not checked the price on montanas of that size but on my Montana there was a very significant price difference between it and a john deere.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

I started out with a MF65 it was an older tractor but ran very well for years and years. It was a 2 wheel drive. I went to a new 49 horse Montana 4 wheel drive. I would never go back to a 2 wheel drive again. If you decide to look at new tractors Montana makes a 75 horsepower tractor. It is powered by a John Deere engine. I have not checked the price on montanas of that size but on my Montana there was a very significant price difference between it and a john deere.

A guy that I know bought that big Montana, and it is one nice tractor. It is actually made by TYM. Still to small for this job though IMO.

 

[AndyMA]

50hp is a good sized compact tractor, but it's way too small for what you have planned. Clearing land and working dirt takes an massive amount of effort on a tractor, not to mention how destructive it is. The smaller tractors just don't stand up to that abuse for very long, and honestly, neither do the operators. It will wear you out long before you ever finish.

I have 75 acres and both a Ford 2120 (TC55 size) and a TN75D. The TN is definately a heavy lifter compared to the 2120 and I would recommend a machine of it's size or larger for you acreage.

Andy

 

[gemini5362]

A guy that I know bought that big Montana, and it is one nice tractor. It is actually made by TYM. Still to small for this job though IMO.[/QUOTE

I dont know whether it would be too small for his needs or not. All I know is the compared to my 4940C Montana it was huge.

 

[D7E]

Mowing 80-90 acres is a waste of money...You need at least a JD4020 (90hp)

I assume you are going to plant something...soybeans...sugar beets...if you are just going with grass...then at least hay it...

Yup for that work you would be better off with a real tractor like a JD 4020 or Ford 7000-7600 or MF 1105 or something like that ?

 

[ihookem]

Why would you want 80 ac. of grass. Plow it and grow 10 ac. of grass and the rest trees rim them once in a while and watch them grow. Cut 80 ac. of grass. I cut 22 ac for my church and by the time I get the first cut it's time to do it all ove again.

 

[bake321]

We mowed sixty acres of grass, black berry and saplings this fall with a Kubota L4310 equiped with a five foot brush hog. That was the only unit in the area availible for rent. Between my wife, son and I we ran it seven days in a row and put forty hours on the meter. The plus side of having the wife involved was she has now budgeted 30k for a tractor purchase this spring. I am doing a lot of research and a Kubota M7040 MFWD is looking good.

Bake

 

[Z-Michigan]

We mowed sixty acres of grass, black berry and saplings this fall with a Kubota L4310 equiped with a five foot brush hog. That was the only unit in the area availible for rent. Between my wife, son and I we ran it seven days in a row and put forty hours on the meter. The plus side of having the wife involved was she has now budgeted 30k for a tractor purchase this spring. I am doing a lot of research and a Kubota M7040 MFWD is looking good.

Bake

Be sure to get an 8' or 10' mower if you go that big... I run a 6' mower behind a 50hp utility and have nearly double the power I need. If you don't need such a big mower, consider a smaller tractor with a cab. If I could go back and re-do my purchase decision, I would seriously consider trading the MFWD I have for a 2wd with a cab (or spending the extra 5k for a cab and MFWD).

 

[bake321]

I'm going to go with either a 10' or maybe a batwing. Lots of hillside and loader work. I definetly want MFWD. I also plan on doing some haying.

Bake

 

[gemini5362]

Yup for that work you would be better off with a real tractor like a JD 4020 or Ford 7000-7600 or MF 1105 or something like that ?

Hmm real as opposed to those little plastic riding toys some of the rest of us own ?

 

[Pfm1011]

Thanks Alot for all the very very helpful advice.. I originally thought I could cut the 100 acres with a 8 foot in a weekend....not bloody likely ...

Decided to lease 65 out to a Soy/corn farmer, and plant pine trees on 20 and grass and "hobby farm" ( wifes garden) on 15.

Picked up a 2004 400 hr JD 5105 with MFWD and a FEL for the lawn and small brush cutting. I think its big enough for the little jobs, I get to play farmer and leave the real work to the real farmers. Will get something in the 100 to 125hp (with a cab) later for any real work.

In regards to the 5105 , Im thinking a 8 ft flail for the lawns and property perimeter and rough fields. 7 ft tiller and when we get a house on the property and want nice lawns , get a 10 to 12 ft finish.

Will a little tractor like this handle a 8 ft Box blade or is that too big ??

Are my sizes right or should I go bigger or smaller on the implements??

The ponds....hire a contractor....

Again I really appreciate the good advice

 

[JiminGa]

I think the soil type/condition will determine your box blade size, for soft dirt with few rocks/roots I think the 5105 will be ok for an 8 ft, rough dirt you may drop to a 6 or 7 ft.
flail mowers are nice, especially for road sides, but they are expensive and you won't get a manicured look like the finish mower.
that's a large tractor to do lawn mowing, you may consider a second smaller unit instead of a big finish mower...a 10 or 12 ft finish mower will surely set you back several thousand dollars.

 

[JiminGa]

on a side note, I grew up on a Christmas tree farm, about 200 acres. I cut the fields 3 times a year, in two directions each time with a Ford 3000 and a 6 ft bush hog. It took about 2 weeks each time all day 6 days a week.

 

[chh]

A local dealer(McCormick, Montana tractors and also has Chevy and Dodge) uses a 8' finish mower on his yard and it looked great. The day I was in looking he had the mower on a 75 hp or so McCormick, because it was just in and he wanted to try it. Sometimes uses a Montana, sometimes his JD. Doesn't matter to him as long as it has air and a good radio. His only complaint was turning to tight with new ag tires. Industrials and turfs are better for the yard. I was looking at the McCormicks and a used MF he had. He offered to let me mow his yard with the McCormick since it was hooked up. I passed.
Letting someone rent/use the rest of your place sounds like a good plan. That will give you time to figuire out what you want to do with it long term without too much hassle.

 

[ddivinia]

Thanks Alot for all the very very helpful advice.. I originally thought I could cut the 100 acres with a 8 foot in a weekend....not bloody likely ...
---

Takes me longer than that with a 15' mower.


Picked up a 2004 400 hr JD 5105 with MFWD and a FEL for the lawn and small brush cutting. I think its big enough for the little jobs, I get to play farmer and leave the real work to the real farmers. Will get something in the 100 to 125hp (with a cab) later for any real work.
----
GOod call.


In regards to the 5105 , Im thinking a 8 ft flail for the lawns and property perimeter and rough fields. 7 ft tiller and when we get a house on the property and want nice lawns , get a 10 to 12 ft finish.
----
Flail mowers are far and few between here in Texas. I have no real experience with them.


Will a little tractor like this handle a 8 ft Box blade or is that too big ??
-----

What kind of tires do you have on your 5105?

I bet you have more headaches with such a wide boxblade. Get a blade that will for sure cover you tire tracks.

D.

 

[Soundguy]

I'm going to go with either a 10' or maybe a batwing. Lots of hillside and loader work. I definetly want MFWD. I also plan on doing some haying.

Bake

i never thought I needed a batwing untill after i tried one.. then my 10' mower seemed.. uh.. less than significant!

Soundguy

 

[ddivinia]

i never thought I needed a batwing untill after i tried one.. then my 10' mower seemed.. uh.. less than significant!

Soundguy

You got that right. Great for mowing ditches, and other uneven ground.

D.

 

[Soundguy]

Hmm.. you should be able to cut 100 ac in 2 days.. just make them long 10hr days or so..

I cut 10ac ( open) in a little less than 2hrs with a 15' mower.

Soundguy

Takes me longer than that with a 15' mower.

D.

 

[ddivinia]

Hmm.. you should be able to cut 100 ac in 2 days.. just make them long 10hr days or so..

I cut 10ac ( open) in a little less than 2hrs with a 15' mower.

Soundguy

Well, that depends on terrain, thickness of the grass, how many pastures.

What kind of ground speed do you run?

D.

 

[Soundguy]

I specified open terain... but you do bring up a good point.. as it will influence time, as will obstacles, and paddocks, travel time.. and gate sizes to go thru.. etc.

I'm making about 5 to 5.5 mph. ( 5th gear on my 8spd at pto rpm. )

Soundguy