Advice on tractor/skid steer to keep field edges clear

[fcwise]

Have a 53 HP 2WD Massey with a Bush Hog brush cutter. Good for keeping the fields cut, but not so good for the field edges. Also, I want a loader. Wondering if anyone has a good solution that allows you to cut those annoying overhanging branches without the manual labor of a chainsaw, etc. Was looking at some videos on skid steers with forestry mulching attachments, but that seems like overkill for my needs. Can you use a brush cut mower at a reasonable height on a loader to cut the overgrowth? Any other tools I should look at? Thanks in advance for any feedback.

 

[hayden]

It might be worth investigating what it would cost to have someone with a mulcher come so it. I find that after cutting back field and road edges, it's around 5 years before it's needed again. Just cut back aggressively when you get the chance.

 

[part-time-Farmer-NC]

Depends on the size of the stuff needing cut. I have a bucket mounted sickle mower that I use to trim up to about 3/4 limbs. I can't remember the brand, it came from Canada. It looks like the one below.

ProCut Hydraulic Sickle Bar - AGRISHIELD

Discover the Agrishield ProCut Hydraulic Sickle Bar – designed for quality cuts and durability. Perfect for maintaining vineyards, orchards, and farms with effortless trimming and superior cutting performance. Attach easily to tractors & skid steers!

agrishieldllc.com

Also depends on how much you want to cut towards the wood line. A batwing mower may do the job for you.

 

[Smokeydog]

Use to clear by hand but labor intensive. Have several attachments for tractor to help. No one attachment does it all.

Danuser Intimdator. Not only to pull up trees but reach up and tear off limbs.

Hydraulic limb saw. Great for high and big limbs. Built this one.

Brown tree cutter. 5’ model is all my 45hp PTO tractor can handle.

This spring bought a Precision Manufacturing Miniclip. This is a game changer. Works on smaller B26 CUT or much better on the M59. Extendable boom, rotating head, 7” cut capacity. Been easy to cut back boarders, roads and fences. Have cut and hauled off 100tons of trees and limbs in the past couple of weeks. Flush cutting at the ground should be able to maintain with rough cutter.

All these generate large amounts of debris. Grapple helps moving and hauling. Both tractors are HST which is very helpful for maneuvering.

 

[part-time-Farmer-NC]

Use to clear by hand but labor intensive. Have several attachments for tractor to help. No one attachment does it all.

Danuser Intimdator. Not only to pull up trees but reach up and tear off limbs.

Hydraulic limb saw. Great for high and big limbs. Built this one.

Brown tree cutter. 5’ model is all my 45hp PTO tractor can handle.
his spring bought a Precision Manufacturing Miniclip. This is a game changer. Works on smaller B26 CUT or much better on the M59. Extendable boom, rotating head, 7” cut capacity. Been easy to cut back boarders, roads and fences. Have cut and hauled off 100tons of trees and limbs in the past couple of weeks. Flush cutting at the ground should be able to maintain with rough cutter.

All these generate large amounts of debris. Grapple helps moving and hauling. Both tractors are HST which is very helpful for maneuvering.

Lots of cool toys, err tools there...

 

[2manyrocks]

Hiring a forestry mulcher may be your best option if you have a lot of trees overtaking your fields. They can clear a lot of material and grind it to pieces in minutes without the operator leaving his air conditioned seat protected by a layer of polycarbonate windshield.

The issue with most front mounted cutters on a tractor is the possibility of material either falling onto the operator or getting thrown back onto the operator. Or you cut the material off with a pole saw or whatever and then manually have to drag it with a chain or a grapple to pile it up somewhere. A mulcher will just grind it in place.

Fence wire will stop a mulcher by getting wound around the cutter and then taking forever to get loose.

 

[Lineman North Florida]

I use my forestry mower on my skidsteer, just did this job this morning for a customer, he is having a new fence built and needed the property line cleared, I can cut stuff about 10' off the ground.

 

[2manyrocks]

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[fcwise]

Depends on the size of the stuff needing cut. I have a bucket mounted sickle mower that I use to trim up to about 3/4 limbs. I can't remember the brand, it came from Canada. It looks like the one below.

ProCut Hydraulic Sickle Bar - AGRISHIELD

Discover the Agrishield ProCut Hydraulic Sickle Bar – designed for quality cuts and durability. Perfect for maintaining vineyards, orchards, and farms with effortless trimming and superior cutting performance. Attach easily to tractors & skid steers!

agrishieldllc.com

Also depends on how much you want to cut towards the wood line. A batwing mower may do the job for you.

Thanks for the information on the sickle mower

Depends on the size of the stuff needing cut. I have a bucket mounted sickle mower that I use to trim up to about 3/4 limbs. I can't remember the brand, it came from Canada. It looks like the one below.

ProCut Hydraulic Sickle Bar - AGRISHIELD

Discover the Agrishield ProCut Hydraulic Sickle Bar – designed for quality cuts and durability. Perfect for maintaining vineyards, orchards, and farms with effortless trimming and superior cutting performance. Attach easily to tractors & skid steers!

agrishieldllc.com

Also depends on how much you want to cut towards the wood line. A batwing mower may do the job for you.

Thanks for the information on the hydraulic sickle bar. That's in the ballpark of a reasonable amount to spend. I'll check it out.

 

[fcwise]

I use my forestry mower on my skidsteer, just did this job this morning for a customer, he is having a new fence built and needed the property line cleared, I can cut stuff about 10' off the ground.View attachment 3318904View attachment 3318905View attachment 3318906

Appreciate the information. I was watching a YouTube on one of these, but it was unclear whether you could run one of those off the ground. Clearly, you can and do. Do you know the ballpark price for one?