60 HP tractor big enough for 200 acres?

[Richard]

Simply with 100 acres of pastures you're going to need 80+ PTO for a 10-12 ft cutter...with a cab.

I live on my wife's family farm, 250 acres. I don't know the split so we'll say 100 ac fields and 150 woods (have no idea to be honest)

Father in law had an International 444 with a 5' rotary cutter. It was a royal pain in the butt to try to keep the farm cut. I finally stopped after one year, it took me almost all summer to get the place cut.

Interestingly, a couple years later, an International 860 (or some number like that, I forget) around 80/90 horse showed up along with a Rhino HD 10' cutter behind it.

NOW, I can get the entire farm cut over a weekend if I keep my nose to the grind stone.

Furthermore, I can cut in 2nd/3rd gear while going UP some of our hills rather than have to be in low range, 1st gear just to keep from bogging down.

So I vote bigger cutter and appropriate machine to run it

 

[Creamer]

I am laughing here because all these guys are used to areas you have to mow to keep the trees from filling in. Out where you are at the trees mostly grow in rows for a reason. I grew up in South Dakota which is similar land and also short grass prairie.

I am not sure what you are planning to need a tractor for but a 60 hp should do fine - I would say it is about right unless you are going to do some serious tillage. A cab would be very nice in the wind and cold you have as well - the only issue is that they are not great around trees but it appears you have open enough area for that to not be a problem. Make sure the tractor is handy for you, i.e. getting on and off is easy. Make your implement changes easy with fast hitches and the like. The more convenient it is the more useful it is.

 

[vanskills]

I am laughing here because all these guys are used to areas you have to mow to keep the trees from filling in. Out where you are at the trees mostly grow in rows for a reason. I grew up in South Dakota which is similar land and also short grass prairie.

I am not sure what you are planning to need a tractor for but a 60 hp should do fine - I would say it is about right unless you are going to do some serious tillage. A cab would be very nice in the wind and cold you have as well - the only issue is that they are not great around trees but it appears you have open enough area for that to not be a problem. Make sure the tractor is handy for you, i.e. getting on and off is easy. Make your implement changes easy with fast hitches and the like. The more convenient it is the more useful it is.

I only plan on mowing maybe 3 acres around the house maybe twice a year...

I wont buy a tractor without a cab!..haha, I work in North Dakota and freeze my *** off all year, so when i go home on the weekend i want to be a warm

 

[AKfish]

I only plan on mowing maybe 3 acres around the house maybe twice a year...

I wont buy a tractor without a cab!..haha, I work in North Dakota and freeze my *** off all year, so when i go home on the weekend i want to be a warm

If you're gonna mow three acres a couple of times a year... You could do that with a z-track and weave around those trees @ 10mph! LOL

I like plowing snow in the comfort of a heated cab; with eHydro. So, I get that... But, when it comes time to clear trees, dig stumps and dirt work for building foundations, etc. I saddle up my JD110 construction grade TLB with eHydro tranny.

The decision for you is how often and what kinds of work you really think you'll be doing on your land.

And yes... Several tractors is what alot of us have found to be necessary when working larger acreages.

 

[jeff9366]

Where is Lavina?

 

[audsp98]

I only plan on mowing maybe 3 acres around the house maybe twice a year...

I wont buy a tractor without a cab!..haha, I work in North Dakota and freeze my *** off all year, so when i go home on the weekend i want to be a warm

If you're only going to mow 3 acres a couple times a year then the 60hp tractor is more than enough.

If you haven't already make sure to look at every manufacturer you can and compare. If nothing else, you'll know for sure you're making the correct choice for you.

 

[vanskills]

Where is Lavina?

About an hour north of Billings Montana, I dont actually live in the town, its in name only, house in the country/mountains

 

[vanskills]

Property from space, I would say its a pretty good mix of trees and pastures, I made a shooting range out of one of the pastures, no idea what im going to do with all the rest of them yet

 

[jeff9366]

About an hour north of Billings Montana, I dont actually live in the town, its in name only, house in the country/mountains

I suggest you add Montana to your location of Lavina in your profile.

Here we are at Post #29 and the critical information of THE ALTITUDE OF YOUR PROPERTY is unknown. Had Montana been included in your profile someone would have asked your Montana elevation by Post #5.

Altitude reduces diesel engine power output fairly quickly. Over 6,000 feet a turbo-charged diesel engine is recommended in most tractors, in most situations.

 

[Egon]

For mowing a couple of acres a riding mower would do right fine.

In the past 60 HP tractors were used to farm many more than 200 acres and you are not into full time cultivation etc.

So, I'd suggest you chose a comfortable tractor that can handle the jobs you plan. For logging smaller tractors will work well. At least they do around here. Dirt/Rock work usually looks at larger equipment but smaller will do lot of work with patience.

A tractor with a removable frame mounted backhoe would probably suit you well.