Do I need a tractor?

[Reddernecked]

Good Day to you Old McDonald,

I guess its going to be a topic that has all of us expressing our opinions as to whether the Dr. should get a tractor or not,and isn't that a great way for the question to be answered? You have brought up and quoted several folks against the Dr. getting a tractor, but I have missed where you directly responded to a differing opinion for the Dr. getting a tractor or not, other than mine. I could quote many others that agree with my view, but that is just pointless, in my opinion, unless we are actually counting for and against. Somehow I don't think the Doc intended to take a vote on that statistic. The Dr. wanted advice or thoughts on whether he should get a tractor or not. I simply answered him, as properly as I would and I see where the Dr. has stated his pleasure with this thread and the many opinions.

As for children's age learning to drive tractors, I would have to take a poll, of the many farmers here in Illinois, and surrounding states too (Indiana, Iowa,Ohio,Missouri, here in the CORNBELT of the USA), and see when they start their youngsters driving tractors. I assure you sir, it would be younger than you may imagine. The people here who make their living farming certainly use their children to do the work, and yes, that includes driving tractors at young ages. To answer your question about what age would be proper to let the youngster drive a tractor, I am sure the parent will decide that for each kid differently and should rightfully so. It would be how responsible that person was or wasn't as the answer. Youngsters develope differently, and there are no two alike, as you know.

Off topic for a second if I may, I started reading your blog yesterday, and have to say I enjoy your writings. You have a gift in that area. I also respect your knowledge of farming, and commend you on your 163 acres and your old "fergie". Love that. My father gave me a 1940's 2 bottom Ferguson plow, which I restored years ago. It was yet another bit of farming history that just got left in the "fencerow", due to changes from old school to modern technology.

At any rate, I am enjoying the vast knowledge of this website, and certainly do respect your thoughts on the particular question, but think the Dr. should give a compact tractor a try. I also would be an advocate of letting him be the one who decides when his children are old enough to work with the tractor. I'll be 52 come October Old McDonald, and my father also taught me the story of the two bulls in the same pen!

Hope your day is a good one sir!

Reddernecked

Yes, you are correct that I think he does not need one. I am not quite alone on that. He did say in his opening post that he wants one but wondered if he needs one. Given his high pressure occupation I know he needs some relaxation, and he needs to spend quality time with his family. He cannot have very much spare time - and he told us at #35 the other things he does in addition to his "normal" workload. That post threw it for me, although as can be seen from my earlier posts, I was leaning towards him hiring people to do his grass cutting etc. If he was in a different occupation I would think differently. I bought a 163 acres working farm when I was in a fairly senior public service job, but had no commitments other than the job (which I soon afterwards gave up) and enjoyed nothing better than to unwind doing useful farm work with my little grey Fergie so long as there was daylight. I had been brought up on a smallholding and owned one of my own prior to buying the 163 acres so I was well experienced in agricultural work on a smaller acreage. I bought another two tractors and used all three daily. Cardiologist is in a different position to me. He does have other commitments.

Even Murph at #36 questioned what he wanted to do. Then lilranch2001 at #38 and TripleR at #40 reached the same conclusion as me from his post at #35. dragoneggs at#41 and Blackjackfarm at #62 questioned his need. Since he said in his OP that he wanted one, I reckoned he had already decided to buy something, just unsure what.

In turn, are you advocating that children should begin using tractors at a young age? If so what age, bearing in mind the number of fatalities around the world involving young children and tractors. I have already made the point that some countries have laws prohibiting kids using, and even riding on, tractors until their early teens. It has dramatically reduced the number of accidents involving children, although it still happens. A boy of 10 or thereabouts has been killed in the UK within the last couple of weeks. I do not know the details.

 

[Reddernecked]

Again Best of luck on your decision Doc. Tons and tons of knowledge on this website for sure. You should be able to get anything answered you can dream up here.

 

[Larro Darro]

Doc, all this talk of kids driving tractors got me to thinking of how I learned. Like all farm kids, I had steered tractors and trucks as long as I could sit in my Daddy's lap. As soon as I could reach the pedals on our riding mower, I had the job of mowing. The same with tractors. Back then we had smaller tractors, so I was doing simple farm tasks like bush hogging and discing when I was 10 or 11. When a kid can reach the pedals, he is old enough to learn.

Good luck, and have some fun.

 

[OldMcDonald]

Reddernecked, I like your post #81, and it would indeed be a dull world if we all agreed on everything. I also agree with you that a poll is not the answer, I was merely showing that I was in a small minority rather than standing alone, with the occasional poster unsure - at least at some point in their posts. I am certain that he will go ahead and buy a tractor and some equipment. He wants one, he has the money, so he will buy one.

I will not pursue the practice of children riding on or driving tractors and other machinery, but I do agree with a minimum age limit. The fatalities that have occurred have almost invariably been with kids under the control of a parent. Devastating if it happens.

Thanks for the thumbs up on my writing. It is approaching 6 pm here now and time to go out again for a couple of hours before dinner. Whilst it is not as hot as Australia, it is pushing 100ｺF at present and I tend to hide on hot afternoons until the shadows are longer. It is at these times that I put together odd bits and pieces of articles, mainly from agricultural research projects around the world by other people. Some are published most are not, but form a reference library for me. I have done that all my life and computers make it so much easier. I most certainly do not want to be known, or heaven forbid, remembered, as a writer. I sometimes wish I had not been persuaded to publish my book but just left it for my son. The ironic thing is that there were quite a few people pushing me to do it, yet only one of them bought it!!

Hope you have a nice day too - and apologies to cardiologist for taking it further off-topic.

 

[Larro Darro]

OldMcDonald, I to enjoy your writing. I have done a little writing myself, but I have stuck to fiction. I have written a series of seven novels, all set in 1717 and 1718. The first one of them is ready to publish, but so far I have held off. I'm not too keen on others reading my stuff. But as I get closer to retirement, the few dollars I might make off them will be more important to me then.

Thanks for posting on your blog. One day I might let a little of my stuff out that way. But the long term plan is to sell it on Kindle Direct.


Edit: Sorry for the thread hijack, Doc.

 

[cardiologist]

Share your blog link? I'd love to read more about this.

 

[2458n]

Skipped thru alot of this the simple answer is yes - you need a tractor. People ask why I drive a 4 wheel drw diesel dump truck. A friend sitting next to me seez because he wants to. Enjoy life!

 

[cardiologist]

Thanks all once again. I think I'm going to move up to the 30hp range. Get something a year or two old and still end up under $15k. Still doing research. Advice and experience still welcome!

 

[DB Pilot]

Yes, you need a sub-compact tractor. MMM can be harder to mount and dismount so I like my rear mount mower with rear discharge. Leaves a cleaner looking lawn. As for your mower service people. They will never do as good a job as you would like especially keeping the boundaries pushed back. So you can use them and still touch up the edges when you like. If you have a paved driveway a scraper blade and bucket set up is perfect, and lots of fun for snow removal. snow blowers are just a lot of maintenance. Just too much other things that can be done with a tractor and bucket than can be covered here. Don't forget the bucket makes a great step or lift for reaching high limbs or rain gutters.

Good Luck

 

[Cbrown9064]

I favor Fords...here is one from Toledo Craigslist. A 1989 3910. A little longer than SCUT, but a heck of a lot of tractor for the $. If it were me, I would start with something like this and see how it goes. Then you will know more about what you want/need. I don't know about the price on this particular one, but buying a used tractor like this it is hard to lose money if it is in good shape. A tractor like this will have a good amount of power also.

1989 Ford farm tractor 3910

Note...older tractors do need some MX and TLC, but that can be very therapeutic also.

You didn't say if you like to wrench on things...

Here is another Case IH (newer)...
Case IH DX29 w/LX114 loader

I just found these browsing through "Farm+Garden" on the Toledo Craigslist. Go look at a few and see what you think. All these smaller tractors will have 540rpm PTO and category I 3 point, so 3 point attachments will interchange.
Chris