e.myers
Silver Member
I need a tractor, and I'm looking for max flexibility.
Here's the story.
My immediate property that will be maintained is 150 Acres. All but my yard, and 7 or so acres is planted in pine trees that vary in age (It's a tree farm, row planted, for timber production).
I have a lot of other interests, and my since my job schedule is flexible and on and off at times I dabble in some other things. Currently have a garden, but I'm also VERY Interested in starting a combination cut flower farm, nursery, a greenhouse or two, and possibly a small vegetable/fruit farm/orchard with the idea that it provides enough seasonal (+ some extended season) produce to be able to supply a small roadside produce stand a couple times per week or so. Both of my uncles "farm" small scale. One greenhouses, the other grapes (vineyard) and blueberries. I haven't approached them about this yet, but will certainly get their opinion too.
My current push and the primary reason for the tractor (right now) is that I have just cleared 6 acres of the pine trees. Stumps will be removed by a contractor starting Monday.
Land is growing up in weeds in a hurry, because the trees have been cut for a few months now.
The land was cleared for two reasons.
1. So that I can begin to make some use of the property for some of my interests listed above.
2. My two boys ride and race motorcycles and I want to build a training facillity/practice track for them.
This is how I see the tractor being used.
1. Rotary tiller a couple times a week to groom the track deep (probably 4 hours or so per week) track will be max 1 mile long and ballpark 15 feet wide.
2. Moving dirt. Contractor is to BURY all stumps removed, (in trenches he digs) below the ground surface. These trenches will be basically winrows below the ground, but with dirt taken out of the trenches and put back on top in mounds to settle as it may. This will be my source of dirt (clay primarily) for jumps etc, so it will get moved over time, but no real hurry. Truthfully, for the near future a turn track (no jumps) is acceptable. It's doubful I'll ever need to move anything heavier than dirt.
3. Maintaining driveways and logging type roads. Driveway is ballpark 1/4 mile and might need to be maintained a couple times a year. Primary Logging roads are a couple miles and will be maintained on an as needed basis, but rarely more than once per year.
4. Mowing areas around the track.
5. Mowing areas between rows in the orchard/blueberry/cutflower Annual Rows/cut flower perennial rows etc. Row dimensions have not been establishes.
6. Intersted in sustainability, so looking at rotating out cropland (where annual fruit and vegetables are grown), growing in green manure and or "hay", mowing and raking for mulch etc.
7. Maintain Trails in woods (some maybe the narrower the better, but not absolutely a major criteria as far as width goes). Would basically like to be able to bushog the trails while I carry a chainsaw for limbing up and cleaning up fallen trees etc.
8. Eventually will probably need to move palleted material (typical greenhouse stuff), and move bulk loose material with a front end loader.
9. Need to Drag 8 or so old cars around to hide somewhere or pull near a trailer to take to the scrap yard.
10. Ideally have ability to remove some random stumps.
11. We have other property elsewhere, but it is rarely maintained, so ease of transportation could be important at some point.
I think what I need is the smallest possible tractor (width), with the largest HP engine, that will pull a 4 or 5 foot wide bushog and rotary tiller. What I'm dealing with is the width of the tiller, determines the width of my "rows" (for annual vegetables and cut flowers), and the width of the bushog determines the width of the aisles (between the grapes, blueberries, annual cut flowers, and nursery trees).
All that being said, I don't see me farming more than 5 acres (combination farmland, greenhouses, vineyards).
Initially, smaller seems better for both the farm/greenhouse/nursery application, but something not quite so small seems more appropriate for track maintenance and moving dirt (at least initially). The smaller tractor and narrower implements would also be less expensive, which is a plus. Also more manueverable I believe. If I get a narrower tractor, with enough HP, can I put a wider front end loader on it? Can I run a tiller wider than the tractor?
Ground clearance is also a concern because I need to be able to drive the tractor over jumps/whoops etc, so the smaller tractor might have some issues. Side to side stability MAY be important, but typically I don't think I'd have concerns on the track with rolling the tractor. Weight is probably a factor too, meaning the heavier the better for the track work (I would think). Doesn't weight equate to traction and how much you can push. Also how much dirt I can lift with the front end loader.
Have also considered a skid steer, which would be ideal for track maintenance (with the rotary tiller out front) tracks etc, but my guess is that it's not going to be so good for "farming". I mean you're running over the land that you just tilled... maybe the tracks distribute the weight so it doesn't matter. Anyway, just seems limited in my mind for farm work, but could be great for greenhouse nursery type stuff I would imagine. Anyone?
Interested in anyones thoughts. How narrow can I go? What HP do I NEED? What would you do in this situation to provide for the max flexibility?
Here's the story.
My immediate property that will be maintained is 150 Acres. All but my yard, and 7 or so acres is planted in pine trees that vary in age (It's a tree farm, row planted, for timber production).
I have a lot of other interests, and my since my job schedule is flexible and on and off at times I dabble in some other things. Currently have a garden, but I'm also VERY Interested in starting a combination cut flower farm, nursery, a greenhouse or two, and possibly a small vegetable/fruit farm/orchard with the idea that it provides enough seasonal (+ some extended season) produce to be able to supply a small roadside produce stand a couple times per week or so. Both of my uncles "farm" small scale. One greenhouses, the other grapes (vineyard) and blueberries. I haven't approached them about this yet, but will certainly get their opinion too.
My current push and the primary reason for the tractor (right now) is that I have just cleared 6 acres of the pine trees. Stumps will be removed by a contractor starting Monday.
Land is growing up in weeds in a hurry, because the trees have been cut for a few months now.
The land was cleared for two reasons.
1. So that I can begin to make some use of the property for some of my interests listed above.
2. My two boys ride and race motorcycles and I want to build a training facillity/practice track for them.
This is how I see the tractor being used.
1. Rotary tiller a couple times a week to groom the track deep (probably 4 hours or so per week) track will be max 1 mile long and ballpark 15 feet wide.
2. Moving dirt. Contractor is to BURY all stumps removed, (in trenches he digs) below the ground surface. These trenches will be basically winrows below the ground, but with dirt taken out of the trenches and put back on top in mounds to settle as it may. This will be my source of dirt (clay primarily) for jumps etc, so it will get moved over time, but no real hurry. Truthfully, for the near future a turn track (no jumps) is acceptable. It's doubful I'll ever need to move anything heavier than dirt.
3. Maintaining driveways and logging type roads. Driveway is ballpark 1/4 mile and might need to be maintained a couple times a year. Primary Logging roads are a couple miles and will be maintained on an as needed basis, but rarely more than once per year.
4. Mowing areas around the track.
5. Mowing areas between rows in the orchard/blueberry/cutflower Annual Rows/cut flower perennial rows etc. Row dimensions have not been establishes.
6. Intersted in sustainability, so looking at rotating out cropland (where annual fruit and vegetables are grown), growing in green manure and or "hay", mowing and raking for mulch etc.
7. Maintain Trails in woods (some maybe the narrower the better, but not absolutely a major criteria as far as width goes). Would basically like to be able to bushog the trails while I carry a chainsaw for limbing up and cleaning up fallen trees etc.
8. Eventually will probably need to move palleted material (typical greenhouse stuff), and move bulk loose material with a front end loader.
9. Need to Drag 8 or so old cars around to hide somewhere or pull near a trailer to take to the scrap yard.
10. Ideally have ability to remove some random stumps.
11. We have other property elsewhere, but it is rarely maintained, so ease of transportation could be important at some point.
I think what I need is the smallest possible tractor (width), with the largest HP engine, that will pull a 4 or 5 foot wide bushog and rotary tiller. What I'm dealing with is the width of the tiller, determines the width of my "rows" (for annual vegetables and cut flowers), and the width of the bushog determines the width of the aisles (between the grapes, blueberries, annual cut flowers, and nursery trees).
All that being said, I don't see me farming more than 5 acres (combination farmland, greenhouses, vineyards).
Initially, smaller seems better for both the farm/greenhouse/nursery application, but something not quite so small seems more appropriate for track maintenance and moving dirt (at least initially). The smaller tractor and narrower implements would also be less expensive, which is a plus. Also more manueverable I believe. If I get a narrower tractor, with enough HP, can I put a wider front end loader on it? Can I run a tiller wider than the tractor?
Ground clearance is also a concern because I need to be able to drive the tractor over jumps/whoops etc, so the smaller tractor might have some issues. Side to side stability MAY be important, but typically I don't think I'd have concerns on the track with rolling the tractor. Weight is probably a factor too, meaning the heavier the better for the track work (I would think). Doesn't weight equate to traction and how much you can push. Also how much dirt I can lift with the front end loader.
Have also considered a skid steer, which would be ideal for track maintenance (with the rotary tiller out front) tracks etc, but my guess is that it's not going to be so good for "farming". I mean you're running over the land that you just tilled... maybe the tracks distribute the weight so it doesn't matter. Anyway, just seems limited in my mind for farm work, but could be great for greenhouse nursery type stuff I would imagine. Anyone?
Interested in anyones thoughts. How narrow can I go? What HP do I NEED? What would you do in this situation to provide for the max flexibility?
