Confused by the size

[M31]

Hi, I am the first time be an active user here. This is my the first post. Sametime, I am a brand new farmer too. Just bought a piece of land 36 acres orange county NY. 16 acres are drained muck land, others are trees.
Planning do vegetable and hardy nursery plants growing on 16 acres muck land. Also need spend time with trees, may be need enlarge an ATV trial (800 feet) to allow a truck pass. Clean some space among trees to build couple sheds or a small barn. But field work is major task to me in next five years.
Friends in tractorpoint.com give a lots of good suggestions. But I am confused with size and weight of tractors. within 20k budget, new compact tractor or big used one.The land like this muck land is very soft. I know to handle 16 acres is little too much for a less than 40HP tractors, but the over 100HP used tractor (close 8 tons) will be very easy to sink. Plus I am dummy on tractor repairing now. I prefer a new compact tractor with cab, with a FEL and 5' tiller, but afraid this dicision becomes mission impossible.
Any kinds of suggestions are appriciated.

 

[Ledgemere Farm]

welcome aboard!!!

my best advice would be to spend some time shopping. Visit the dealers in your area. Explain to them your intentions. They are the most qaulified to help you decide which size machine is right for you. Don't be afraid of used machines that are only a few years old. ALternatively, there may still be some attractive finacing options on new equipment. I encourage you to pay visits to your local dealers. Have fun and above all DO NOT RUSH your decision!!!

 

[Soundguy]

Lets see.. wet land... and not a wrench turner.

Hmm... If yuo really don't like greasey hands and don't like wrenching.. I'd say stay away from economy brands and oldies... IE stick to something with a warranty from the big 3.

I'd advise 4wd.. and .. heck.. dual rears is not outta the question.. or at least flotation tires...

36 ac is a decent piece.. 16 to maintain..hmm. I'd see that in the mid 30s' to mid 40's give or take. IE.. I wouldn't rule out a good 30hp tractor ata good price with good options or package just cause it was a few hp shy of 'mid 30's "

A 35ish with hi float r3/r4 and or / dual rear.. and 4wd.. may get you.

However.. what do you plan on doing long term? any logging? etc?

Soundguy

 

[M31]

Soundguy, thanks for reply. It is not that "wet" like FL . and I want to be a wrench turner but it can not get in one night .
So you think Best 30s, Better 35s or Good 40s will fit I need. Do you know till this kind muck land with 5' tiller up to 16 acres will take how long? If no grass, no stone, 1 Acre 1 hour is OK?
I have no idea know how to deal with those trees, they are some oak, maple, wild hickory, 4-12 inches diameter. Mulch, firelog, they are to small for lumber.
Any suggestion?

Lets see.. wet land... and not a wrench turner.

Hmm... If yuo really don't like greasey hands and don't like wrenching.. I'd say stay away from economy brands and oldies... IE stick to something with a warranty from the big 3.

I'd advise 4wd.. and .. heck.. dual rears is not outta the question.. or at least flotation tires...

36 ac is a decent piece.. 16 to maintain..hmm. I'd see that in the mid 30s' to mid 40's give or take. IE.. I wouldn't rule out a good 30hp tractor ata good price with good options or package just cause it was a few hp shy of 'mid 30's "

A 35ish with hi float r3/r4 and or / dual rear.. and 4wd.. may get you.

However.. what do you plan on doing long term? any logging? etc?

Soundguy

 

[ToadHill]

I used to live next to a lot of muck land, some with 25 to 30 acre fields and they did a lot of work with small tractors, IH cubs, Ford N series, Small AC's and Masseys. Most were in the 25 to 40 hp range.

 

[Egon]

Seeing as you intend to do nursery type farming a large tractor may be perfect for the initial cultivation but much too big for using when the ground is planted.

I'd suggest seeing what is available locally, see what others around you are using for the same type of work and looking some more. 30 to 40 HP should serve you well. This size should also allow for tree removal using the loader with a tooth bar.

Look for a tractor that handles easily in small spaces.

 

[M31]

That is what I am thinking early. Muck land is not as hard to till as other type of soil. 4x4 light weight, heigher ground clearance. if <40HP can to it, will be very nice. Thanks a lot.

I used to live next to a lot of muck land, some with 25 to 30 acre fields and they did a lot of work with small tractors, IH cubs, Ford N series, Small AC's and Masseys. Most were in the 25 to 40 hp range.

 

[M31]

Thanks, Egon. Planning Nursery area grow to 6 acres, and keep 10 acres for vege in next 5 years. Still lots of field work need to do.
I found JD 790 ground clearance mark 16 inches, most <40HP usually only have 13 inches. Could this 3" be a issue on muck land?

Seeing as you intend to do nursery type farming a large tractor may be perfect for the initial cultivation but much too big for using when the ground is planted.

I'd suggest seeing what is available locally, see what others around you are using for the same type of work and looking some more. 30 to 40 HP should serve you well. This size should also allow for tree removal using the loader with a tooth bar.

Look for a tractor that handles easily in small spaces.

 

[BarryinMN]

Tilling 16 ac's is going to take forever. Plowing would be much faster 3-6 mph x width.

Keep asking questions and test driving tractors - one will eventually talk to you & be the one. Looks like you already listed out primary/secondary tasks, make an allowance for future tasks.

Clearing is time consuming, hiring out is faster but DIY has a sense of accomplishment. Get a 3rd function grapple for the tractor loader to speed material handling.

HP is very subjective thing - I have a 55 HP MFWD cab tractor on my place and run it year round. Not needed more power but at times could use more traction. The tractor can float over the low mud spots but the cultivator it's pulling grabs the weed roots & stops me cold.

 

[Soundguy]

I agree about large acerage tilling taking a while. I think a bog disc in a mucky area might do just as well...

Soundguy

 

[john_bud]

"forever" is a subjective term.

A 5' rototiller can do an acre an hour. Strangely, a 6' tiller is about 20% faster.

There are multiple ways to go. One would be to till the land up with a tiller. It will do about the best job of mixing the top 5-7". It there is hardpan under the soil, a middle buster may be needed along with the tiller. Using a bottom plow will turn a good 12-14" over and followed by a disc and cultivator will result in a good seed bed too. No matter what you do, it will take time to turn a mucky spot into a farm field. Disturbing the soil will germinate weeds. Plan on tilling or discing every weekend for a month to kill off the weeds.

As a new farmer, I don't know if you will be smart to do all 16 acres all at once. That could be a way of spending a lot of time and money on seed/fertilizer/herbicides and get nothing back at the end. Visit your county extension agent and even the local feed mills. You will probably need to spray to kill weeds. Might be smart to plant roundup ready corn or beans and spray roundup 3-4 times over the summer / fall and again in the spring to deplete the seed bank. Then convert over to your "real" crop.

Looking at your wish list "I prefer a new compact tractor with cab, with a FEL and 5' tiller" and your budget of 20K ---- well those two don't go together when talking about 35-40+ hp tractors !


I think you can be well served in the 30-35hp range. Deere, Kubota, New Holland, Mahindra, Kioti and Farmtrac would be on my shopping list for new or slightly used. You can save 10k getting an older larger tractor 40-50hp range, but may have more repairs needed. It takes a fair amount of tools to repair a tractor in that size range. Not so much to maintain.

 

[N80]

The Kubota L4400 or the JD 990 will get you the most hp for the buck in a new 4x4 compact....but no cab option on either one. You can get a 45hp Kubota L4400 with loader and rear remotes for under $20K. Anything else with 40+ hp and a cab is going to cost you a lot more than that.

 

[M31]

Thanks, john_bud. People here is so nice. Usually a rototiller can last how long, 2-3 years? For till 16 acres 4-5 time a year? Weeds is very serious problem on that land now. I just want to open 6 acres this year. After have someone help me bottom plow first, tiller couple times. Then plant some weed "friendly" veges like oriental winter-melon this year.
Cab, I realize now may not fit muck land, not only because of money, it is 500lb heavier than sunshed.

"forever" is a subjective term.

A 5' rototiller can do an acre an hour. Strangely, a 6' tiller is about 20% faster.

 

[M31]

Thanks N80, I don't know I can get Kubota L4400 with FEL under $20K before. I will check it.

The Kubota L4400 or the JD 990 will get you the most hp for the buck in a new 4x4 compact....but no cab option on either one. You can get a 45hp Kubota L4400 with loader and rear remotes for under $20K. Anything else with 40+ hp and a cab is going to cost you a lot more than that.

 

[flusher]

Hi, I am the first time be an active user here. This is my the first post. Sametime, I am a brand new farmer too. Just bought a piece of land 36 acres orange county NY. 16 acres are drained muck land, others are trees.
Planning do vegetable and hardy nursery plants growing on 16 acres muck land. Also need spend time with trees, may be need enlarge an ATV trial (800 feet) to allow a truck pass. Clean some space among trees to build couple sheds or a small barn. But field work is major task to me in next five years.
Friends in tractorpoint.com give a lots of good suggestions. But I am confused with size and weight of tractors. within 20k budget, new compact tractor or big used one.The land like this muck land is very soft. I know to handle 16 acres is little too much for a less than 40HP tractors, but the over 100HP used tractor (close 8 tons) will be very easy to sink. Plus I am dummy on tractor repairing now. I prefer a new compact tractor with cab, with a FEL and 5' tiller, but afraid this dicision becomes mission impossible.
Any kinds of suggestions are appriciated.

Don't know how mucky your muck land is, but my MF-135 has 18.5-16 rear tires that might be the ticket. This 135 is an orchard tractor, hence the low-profile rears, which are pretty worn, but are OK for discing work.

 

[M31]

It is not that bad. I heared 150 years before it is bottom of lake. Right now it is totally nature drained. 10-15 feet top soil left. Thanks for your helping. Here is a picture might be telling a a lot.

Don't know how mucky your muck land is, but my MF-135 has 18.5-16 rear tires that might be the ticket. This 135 is an orchard tractor, hence the low-profile rears, which are pretty worn, but are OK for discing work.

 

[dynasim]

I don't think you will need to till 5 times per year. Tilling is essentially a 1 pass seed bed prep(2 or 3 pass if it hasn't been worked before).

You will want to plant a cover crop if you till something up, and don't plant it to crops.

Discing/plowing, etc is a multi-pass process to creat a good seed bed. Each pass is faster, but I don't think that the total time would be much different with either process. Others should correct me on this if it is incorrect, as my experience is somewhat limited.

Chris