Hello...

ArkieGirl · Sep 17, 2017

I am a retired LEO after 28 years in Chicago. I live alone and luckily I have my health. I can still stack 50 lb. bags of feed all day long and move 80 lb. bales of hay as needed. I moved to Northwest Arkansas, way, WAY out in the country on 30 acres. I am so remote we don't get cell phone or even FM radio reception here, but I LOVE IT! I help a blind neighbor with his Jersey cows when his regular helper isn't around. As a result, I am able to get raw milk to make my own butter, cheese, yogurt, sour cream, etc. I grow and can all my veggies and planted an orchard my first year here that's just starting to produce well (Year 5). I have peaches, nectarines, apples, pears, plums, cherries and apricots. I also have a large berry patch I planted 2 years ago...blueberries, raspberries, blackberries and goose berries. This year I planted 4 varieties of grapes. Next year hops to brew my own beer. I have a few black walnut trees...luckily they are far from my growing areas. Many times I do all this with MANUAL LABOR, pick axe and shovel. My neighbor lets me borrow his tractor for brush hogging and for bucket work. I have horses, mini donkeys, a couple of pigs I raise for the freezer and a large flock of chickens, turkeys and Guinea hens. I have an area surrounded by trees, about 5 acres, that I have planted with a forage base for the deer (I like to hunt and fish to fill the freezer)

I have been dreaming of getting a tractor and some attachments to make my life easier. I want an American made tractor. Imagine my surprise when I found John Deere is made in PUNA, INDIA! Reviews have been mixed..it's either great or a total lemon. NOT FOR ME. Now it looks like Kubota is putting an assembly line in Georgia, USA to build their tractors. I will be doing my research to see how they stack up. While most around here have JD's, there are also quite a few Kubotas. My biggest need would be for brush hogging, manure spreading, rock raking, hay work and hole digging (fence posts and the like). Couple of times a year for tilling the garden. I am also working on redoing my pasture a few acres at a time and to clear more woods to expand the acreage to add a couple of milk cows and a steer once a year for the freezer.

Well, that's it for now. I am enjoying learning more about different tractors, attachments, etc. Thanks!

GrumpyJoe · Sep 17, 2017

Glad to have another Cop here. I have about 20 months till I retire. Been with the Sheriffs Office here over 27 years. After carrying a gun belt and vest for that long I do feel it in my hips and lower back. Besides that, I'm good to go. You will learn a lot here. Lord knows I have.

TBN Support · Sep 17, 2017

:welcome:

Welcome to the forum! It sounds like you have a piece of paradise over there.

Wagtail · Sep 17, 2017

G'day ArkieGirl and welcome to TBN from Downunder.

Enjoy the site... as you've just started exploring the 'world or tractor manufacturing', eliminating JD from your search because a few of their many models are made in their own factory in India is doing yourself a disservice. Both of my tractors were built/assembled in the USA. My 300CX Front End Loader (FEL) was built in Mexico... the diesel engine for the 4105 is a YANMAR.

All that and I bought it and use it in Australia. It's a world-wide economy and market.

mddorange · Sep 18, 2017

:welcome:
To the TBN forum ArkieGirl. We are glad that you joined.

Just like most manufactures now, JD has plants in many countries including the US. It all depends on what model as to where it is manufactured.

Yes, Kubota has more than one plant in Georgia and even an engine plant in Chicago.

Spanner · Sep 18, 2017

Welcome to TBN.

Yes, gosh... Imagine how the Japanese folk must feel when they want to buy a Japanese tractor and find to their horror that some Kubotas are made, not in Japan but, in some part of America!

Visit any Kubota dealers workshop and all you'll see are broken-down ... Kubotas. Just saying.

Stay away from Yanmar, Shibaura, Mahindra, Kioti, TYM, Branson, Jinma, MF, Same, Deutz, Renault, Ferrari, Lamborghini... :stirthepot:

Much of the fruit you grow is originally from overseas and the Jersey cows you tend are from - Jersey UK. Not New Jersey, USA.

P.s.
The Puna plant in India produces fine JD tractors with a lower level of warranty claims than JD tractor plants in USA. :2cents:

Thomas · Sep 18, 2017

:welcome: to TBN...enjoy.

ArkieGirl · Sep 18, 2017

I FULLY understand that we are now in a global market, but I would like to see more of the assembly / manufacturing of products taking place here in America. I have a brother in law who has family living in Japan...they were extremely well off. When his parents passed away, he was named in the will. He has not been able to get a single penny of his inheritance out of the country...it is not allowed. It allows Japan to remain a monetary powerhouse. While here in America, we are cutting our own throats...the single biggest export from America to Mexico is MONEY.
That being said, I still LOVE AMERICA!
Back to tractors...I would love to consider a John Deere...both neighbors have them and we have talked about the fact that we all have different needs...by purchasing the same model as my neighbor, I would be able to purchase different attachments that would allow us to trade needed implements back and forth as needed. I have also looked at some of the current package deals being offered by Kubota...some of them seem to be pretty good deals. The other tractor that seems to have good package deals is Rural King. So, the research continues. Does anyone currently have a Rural King tractor? The reviews I have read on the John Deere is pretty divided...they either have a hard working tractor or a lemon. The biggest complaint seems to be the engine running extremely hot or the inability to keep the engine running. Thank's for the welcome.

ArkieGirl · Sep 18, 2017

Well GrumpyJoe, from one LEO to another, take that retirement as soon as you can! It's nothing short of HEAVEN! I'm with you on feeling it on the hips and lower back. Since I worked as a street cop in the highest crime district in the city, I have my fair share of injuries and scars. I like to say they can call me Timex...I took a lickin' and kept on tickin'. Retirement has been truly a blessing. It's a little harder doing it by yourself, like I do, but I wouldn't trade it for anything! Until you retire, stay safe!