Equipment Advice for Clearing Land for Pasture

Glenn9643 · Feb 1, 2004

Looking at the pictures you've attached, I think that I would go with a New Holland TN65/4wd (or comparable utility tractor), FEL with toothbar, and bushhog. You'll be amazed at what you can clear with the FEL/toothbar in a relatively short time. I've done some road clearing in growth much worse than yours with my MF1455v, which is a lighter tractor than the TN65 with good results. My previous tractor was a TN65/2wd, and when I bought it the price was comparable to a larger CUT. After clearing the remaining trees/growth you can determine how to attack the remaining large stumps. They'll need to come out if you ever intend to do any tillage as others have said, and it will be easier to get to them and concentrate on them with the rented equipment after you've removed the other growth.

jinman · Feb 1, 2004

( And maybe a little dynamite???? )

I think you are right, Bird. If you didn't have equipment or explosives, you looked for some prime bottom land or prairie without a lot of trees. I think land like that sold for premium dollars and forrested land was seen as a source for timber. I really believe that modern equipment clearing land is a recent happening because we have modern equipment doing cultivation and farming. I suspect a farmer with a team of mules only cleared about as much land as his mules could also plow. Nobody was farming 1000's of acres with a team of mules. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Bird · Feb 1, 2004

( Nobody was farming 1000's of acres with a team of mules. )

Yep, that's a big difference. My old grandpappy made a decent living for many years, with horses and mules, on 80 acres but gave it up and took a job in town in 1943.

cowboydoc · Feb 1, 2004

I really believe that modern equipment clearing land is a recent happening because we have modern equipment doing cultivation and farming.

Actually most all of the farmland in the US was heavily forested. The midwest, the best farmland in the world was pretty much a marsh when settlers first came here. They developed a system of water drain off and numerous water handling streams. Then came the clearing. It was back breaking work and took years. It's hard to look back and see what was here. I was at a conservation grazing meeting the other night and one of the speakers showed us the pictures and topography maps of the US from 200 years ago. In this area it was nothing but a forested marsh. Now we have $4000-$10,000/acre land and raise 200 plus bushel corn. It's just amazing what our forefathers did to make this country into a fertile nation and all without our modern equipment.

My grandfather built his ranch by doing this same thing. When his family got ruined by the dust bowl in South Dakota they went to Idaho. At that time you could still take advantage of the homestead acts. Each person in your family could get a section of land to develop. You had to develop the land and have it in use within 10 years or you lost it. Once you finished one plot you could get another. Seeing the before and after pictures is just amazing what they accomplished. Taking nothing and turning it into irrigated fertile land. Our forefathers were really something is all I have to say. I don't know anyone today my age that would even attempt those land development projects with what they had to work with in the old days.

Egon · Feb 1, 2004

Henro:

Talking about where I grew up.

When clearing land in the distant past many homesteaders would debark a band around the base of a tree. Depending on the type of tree it would take as little as two to three years for things to start to rot.

Then using four draft horses the stumps could be pulled. The larger tougher ones would be farmed around until rotten.

This was followed by a hand guided single moleboard breaking plow behind four horses.

Disking followed and hours upon hours of rootpicking.

Some may have used black powder but that was probably an exception.

Draft horses are able to pull much more than we realize.

From the pictures shown and my reccolections of 40 years ago a D9 with a brush rake would walk right along taking out all the little stuff and maybe gruntin a bit for the big roots. It would be followed by a big heavy disk. In many places on the pictures only the disk would have been used.

Note: The difference between a D6 and D9 is like comparing my kubota to Big Bud. D10/11 came later.

Egon

Dozernut · Feb 1, 2004

I can't add much to what has already been said, but I would also recommend hiring a pro with his equipment. Buying a dozer for your own usage is a good idea if you have a mechanical background. New dozers are very expensive and unattainable by the average person. Used dozers are more affordable but usually require repairs and need routine maintenance. The undercarriage on a small dozer will cost around $5000 to replace and that is if you do the work yourself. The larger the dozer the higher the cost for parts and repairs.
I think you need to break the land into parcels and do a section at a time. First the area for the house and barn then look and see what your needs are and go from there. It would not be a crime to let a section just go wild and give the wildlife some habitat.
Go to your USDA office and get some advice from their foresters, it will be free and they can steer you onto a good equipment operator. They also still might have funds available to help you build a pond. Check out all your options before you take action.

tawilson · Feb 1, 2004

bebster,
I just spent the day, just like every day for the last month, clearing land that my great-great-great-grandfather started clearing around 1820 and I was going to post what you said about how doing it yourself gets you to know your land. I am whooped but I feel good. And the things you learn from doing it yourself. I taught myself a trick today using skidding tongs and the front end loader that is going to save me a ton of work. Besides, this is a tractor forum, not a hire a contractor and spend a ton of money forum.

Old_Hickory · Feb 1, 2004

( Besides, this is a tractor forum, not a hire a contractor and spend a ton of money forum. )

Geeeezh what a statement !!! /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

People here exhange ideas and suggestions everyday about building things/fixing things/buying things other than tractors.
I have even seen discussions about satellite dishes and Walmart on this forum. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

Looking at your posts on record I see that you yourself have talked about other things besides tractors.
/forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

pabelote · Feb 2, 2004

while back ag department put out a pamplet on how to make low cost explosives. aint all that hard but make sure its legal for you or you gonna have the feds pay you a visit

tawilson · Feb 2, 2004

I apologize. In my mind it sounded like a joke, but I guess it came out offensive and obnoxious. Sometimes my humor is so subtle that it ceases to exist.