Bush hoggin: How many hours?

[Cataclysm]

Check my math. 26.4 acres. 13.6 hours @ 2 mph. The 2 mph is due to a gopher infested field. I checked the mph today on GPS during a test run. Nothing in the field even comes close to bogging the tractor, its just the gopher mounds.

The tool of grass destruction is a LS4155HC (55hp) spooling an 8' twin spindle Howse shredder.

So 5,280' x 8' is 42,240 sq ft.
x 2 mph is 84,480 x sq ft per hour.
26.4 acres is about 1,150,000 sq ft.
And 1,150,000 sq ft divided by 84,480 sq ft per hour is about 13.6 hours of actual mowing time. Obviously it will take more actual time but this will get me in the ball park.

Do I have my numbers and units correct?

BTW you guys probably already know this but google maps has a cool feature that will give you sq ft. I'm using that to estimate run times on reclaiming some neglected pasture. (shreddin, sprayin, discin and gopher gettin!)

Thanks in advance!

 

[japody]

Why 5,280' x 20'? Isn't your mower 8' ? If so, it'll take 13.6 hours.

 

[Cataclysm]

Ha! exactly right! The 5.5 sounded way too quick.

 

[rustyshakelford]

This is what I use. Granted they are pretty much assuming straight line no turns and 10% overlap

Mowing Calcuator | How many acres can I mow in an hour

If you can get that field smoothed out you'll be able to get done much faster.

Brett

 

[dieselcrawler]

It is unlikely you will get a full 8' swath each pass, more like 7' is a reasonable guess. My 5' cutter actually gets about 4' each pass, with some overlap of the previous swath.

 

[Turbys_1700]

I use the same type mowing calculator and find that it is pretty accurate if I use a 50% multiplier. The areas that I mow are not open and required some stops, starts, and maneuvering.

 

[smstonypoint]

Theoretical capacity (acres/hour) is calculated as ground speed (mph) * implement width (ft.)/8.25. Effective capacity is calculated by adjusting the theoretical capacity by a field efficiency factor to allow for overlap, turning, etc. See https://www.extension.iastate.edu/agdm/crops/pdf/a3-24.pdf for a listing of estimated field efficiency factors.

If you are willing to assume 82.5% efficiency (which should be in the ballpark for a rotary cutter), the formula for effective capacity (acres/hour) reduces to speed(mph)*width (ft)/10.

OP's situation: 2 * 8/10 = 1.6 acres/hour with 82.5% efficiency. 26.4 acres/1.6 acres/hour = 16.5 hours.

Steve

 

[RedNeckRacin]

I used to mow a pretty decently kept hay field of about 25-26 acres with a 9' haybine in around 14 hours.

 

[Shaneard]

I bush hog about 20 acres of hilly land with a lot of turning and non square fields each year in 12 1/2 hours with a 6' cutter.

 

[nybirdman]

I do about a similar amount every year but never kept track of hours;not open by any means,lots of trees,rock walls and backing up.I used to mow twice a year but have cut down to once in August.I would guess I spent about 30 hours doing mine.