Help, I'm clueless!

[wntrwhte]

I just purchased a property in the Northeast Kingdom that totals over 150 acres but only about 18-ish are currently cleared or mostly cleared. The rest is dense woods.

The cleared land consists of about an acre surrounding the house, which has some tight spaces, and then larger swaths of open land. It might need to be bush hogged once every couple months, but I'm guessing a rotary cutter could do it the rest of the time. In the northeast, mowing is one of the best things you can do for your grass, so figure I will be mowing at least once every other week the entire cleared acreage.

The land will eventually be fenced and be pasture for horses.

Since I just shelled out big money on this property - I don't have a huge budget to buy equipment. I currently do have a 1955 IH 300 Hi Utility that is in ok working order minus needing new rear tires and some elbow grease. It does have some attachments like a lord loader and a couple back blades.

For general mowing, post hole digging, and light land clearing tasks, and assuming I can use the IH for heavy snow removal for the time being, could I get away with something along the lines of a Kubota BX2370, Kioti CK2610HST or its equivalents?

I was also eyeing a Mahindra MAX26XL. Any recommendations are welcome. I would prefer HST, as I'm a 5' tall, 105lb female and this is a lot of tractor for me at my size, never mind bigger!

I would say I have a pretty hard budget of $15k to get me to a place where I can mow and do light garden tasks on the current acreage. If I clear much more, I would invest in something larger, but it's a few years out. I could maybe go up to 18k if there were 0% financing available for some length of time as Kioti and Kubota currently have.

 

[davrow]

Welcome, wntrwhte! While the ones you cite might do the job, I question whether the mowing deck size might become a restriction due to time spent at your activities, since you intend to repeat them fairly often.

That said, those are all fine choices.

160 acres, I'm so envious. Hmm, VT vs So Cal...maybe only envious part of the year! :laughing:

 

[wntrwhte]

The other option is to hold on the tractor and use the IH and buy a zero turn, but as I haven't walked every foot of all 18+ acres, I don't know what there is for holes and similar things that would trip one up. I could also purchase a wider tow behind to do the larger open areas and use the mid deck for the lawn. There's options, they just cost money

Winters haven't been too bad in these parts for the past few years. One or two major snowstorms, otherwise just cold. I'll take it for this kind of land!

I've had horses for 20 years, but this is the first time I'll be solely responsible for agricultural maintenance, and I want to be sure I don't make an $18,000 mistake buying the wrong tractor.

 

[jeff9366]

I just purchased a property that totals over 150 acres but only about 18-ish are currently cleared or mostly cleared. The rest is dense woods.

What about slopes and hills? Tractors are inherently unstable. If you will operate on hills and slopes it will alter the suggestions you receive.

What is your plan for the dense woods? Leave alone? Trails? Game Food Plots? Clean up the edges?

The cleared land consists of about an acre surrounding the house, which has some tight spaces, and then larger swaths of open land. It might need to be bush hogged once every couple months, but I'm guessing a rotary cutter could do it the rest of the time.

Larger swaths does us no good. One acre surrounding the house and _ _ _ acres of open land that will eventually be fenced for horse pasture.

A Bush Hog is a brand of Rotary Cutter. Rotary Cutters are Three Point Hitch implements for mowing rough land.

There are relatively delicate Three Point Hitch Finish Mowers, for turf only. However somewhat difficult to maneuver around obstacles.

Since I just shelled out big money on this property - I don't have a huge budget to buy equipment. I currently do have a 1955 IH 300 Hi Utility that is in ok working order minus needing new rear tires and some elbow grease. It does have some attachments like a lord loader and a couple back blades.

IH 300 SPECS: TractorData.com International Harvester 3 tractor information

IH 300 is a good, heavy, 2-WD tractor but it predates the (Ferguson) Three Point Hitch, which mean only IH "Fast Hitch" implements will fit it at present.
(Ferguson) Three Point Hitch conversions are still readily available: Google
Research would be required to find out if "Hi Utility" configuration is a complication.

For general mowing, post hole digging, and light land clearing tasks, and assuming I can use the IH for heavy snow removal for the time being, could I get away with something along the lines of a Kubota BX2370, Kioti CK2610HST or its equivalents?

Your need to move hay bales, either small squares or round bales will be a key factor in your NEXT tractor selection.

I was also eyeing a Mahindra MAX26XL. Any recommendations are welcome. I would prefer HST, as I'm a 5' tall, 105lb female and this is a lot of tractor for me at my size, never mind bigger!

I would say I have a pretty hard budget of $15k to get me to a place where I can mow and do light garden tasks on the current acreage. If I clear much more, I would invest in something larger, but it's a few years out. I could maybe go up to 18k if there were 0% financing available for some length of time as Kioti and Kubota currently have.

For opening a Kitchen Garden, light grading and light land clearing a Ratchet Rake attachment for your loader bucket is all you need to start. I would buy a Ratchet Rake and see if you can tolerate that IH300 until the budget is stronger. One big question: Does the IH 300 have power steering?
VIDEO: RATCHET RAKE - YouTube

After experimenting with the Ratchet Rake, consider a Three Point Hitch conversion, which will allow you to use all contemporary Three Point Hitch implements, unless the Hi Utility factor interferes.

When you eventually replace the IH300 you will want a tractor with a bare tractor weight of ~~~4,000 pounds,~~~ close to what the IH 300 weighs.

 

[wntrwhte]

I just purchased a property that totals over 150 acres but only about 18-ish are currently cleared or mostly cleared. The rest is dense woods.

What about slopes and hills? Tractors are inherently unstable. If you will operate on hills and slopes it will alter the suggestions you receive.

What is your plan for the dense woods? Leave alone? Trails? Game Food Plots? Clean up the edges?

The cleared land consists of about an acre surrounding the house, which has some tight spaces, and then larger swaths of open land. It might need to be bush hogged once every couple months, but I'm guessing a rotary cutter could do it the rest of the time.

Larger swaths does us no good. One acre surrounding the house and _ _ _ acres of open land that will eventually be fenced for horse pasture.

A Bush Hog is a brand of Rotary Cutter, which are for mowing rough land. There are also relatively delicate Finish Mowers, for turf only.

Since I just shelled out big money on this property - I don't have a huge budget to buy equipment. I currently do have a 1955 IH 300 Hi Utility that is in ok working order minus needing new rear tires and some elbow grease. It does have some attachments like a lord loader and a couple back blades.

IH 300 SPECS: TractorData.com International Harvester 3 tractor information

IH 300 is a good, heavy, 2-WD tractor but it predates the (Ferguson) Three Point Hitch, which mean only IH "Fast Hitch" implements will fit it at present.
(Ferguson) Three Point Hitch conversions are still readily available: Google
Research would be required to find out if "Hi Utility" configuration is a complication.

For general mowing, post hole digging, and light land clearing tasks, and assuming I can use the IH for heavy snow removal for the time being, could I get away with something along the lines of a Kubota BX2370, Kioti CK2610HST or its equivalents?

Your need to move hay bales, either small squares or round bales will be a key factor in your NEXT tractor selection.

I was also eyeing a Mahindra MAX26XL. Any recommendations are welcome. I would prefer HST, as I'm a 5' tall, 105lb female and this is a lot of tractor for me at my size, never mind bigger!

I would say I have a pretty hard budget of $15k to get me to a place where I can mow and do light garden tasks on the current acreage. If I clear much more, I would invest in something larger, but it's a few years out. I could maybe go up to 18k if there were 0% financing available for some length of time as Kioti and Kubota currently have.

For opening a Kitchen Garden, light grading and light land clearing a Ratchet Rake attachment for your loader bucket is all you need to start. I would buy a Ratchet Rake and see if you can tolerate that IH300 until the budget is stronger. One big question: Does the IH 300 have power steering?
VIDEO: RATCHET RAKE - YouTube

After experimenting with the Ratchet Rake, consider a Three Point Hitch conversion, which will allow you to use all contemporary Three Point Hitch implements, unless the Hi Utility factor interferes.

When you eventually replace the IH300 you will want a tractor with a bare tractor weight of ~~~4,000 pounds,~~~ close to what the IH 300 weighs.

Trying to respond in order:

1. The property is sloped. I don't have the grade % handy but it is a relatively mild grade, but the whole property is coming down from a mountain ridge towards a low spot where the main road is centered. I have a topographical map somewhere if it will help. It slopes down away from the house.

The woods are to be left alone. Right now approximately 75 acres is protected by a state tax provision that taxes me if there is destruction for any reason other than forestry maintenance. The other portion is not protected but the budget does not cover clearing it at this time. Eventually the clear acreage and pasture, over the next 10 or so years, should approach approx 50 acres. The property is in three sections.

2. The acreage outside of the area immediately around the house is open land with a few trees here and there. It is pasture grass and has been maintained up to now with regular rotary cutting and finish mowing.

3. I checked with my husband, there are some back blades, a tiller, and one other attachment as well as the FEL for the IH. The immediate need is a way to mow and by the end of the fall season will need to be able to move snow.

4. The IH does not have power steering and it also is quite difficult for me to drive being that it requires shifting and I'm quite small for it, hence the desire to upgrade.

As I said, I'm open to other equipment suggestions that would meet the need as long as I don't need to be writing a $50k check for all of it.

 

[newbury]

Welcome aboard!
When is ice out?
I pretty much left northern Vermont in 1975, but still have about 75 acres about a mile south of Bakersfield. So I have some understanding of your physical environment.

I just purchased a property in the Northeast Kingdom that totals over 150 acres but only about 18-ish are currently cleared or mostly cleared. The rest is dense woods.

Is that mature forest or 30 year old regrown clearcut? Conifer, deciduous or mixed? Makes a big difference in getting through it.

The cleared land consists of about an acre surrounding the house, which has some tight spaces, and then larger swaths of open land. It might need to be bush hogged once every couple months, but I'm guessing a rotary cutter could do it the rest of the time. In the northeast, mowing is one of the best things you can do for your grass, so figure I will be mowing at least once every other week the entire cleared acreage.

The land will eventually be fenced and be pasture for horses.

And what is the definition of summer in northern Vermont now? When I left living there full time we considered full blown summer a couple of weeks in August. But now I read it's like Virginia in the '60's!

The newest evidence? Today, the U.S. Department of Agriculture unveiled its new, 2012 Plant Hardiness Zone map. The Vermont map confirms what local growers have been saying for years: The Green Mountain State is becoming more temporate and now more resembles the climate of Virginia in the 1960s.

from here

I didn't realize it had gotten that warm. This greatly increase your mowing season.

Since I just shelled out big money on this property - I don't have a huge budget to buy equipment. I currently do have a 1955 IH 300 Hi Utility that is in ok working order minus needing new rear tires and some elbow grease. It does have some attachments like a lord loader and a couple back blades.

For general mowing, post hole digging, and light land clearing tasks, and assuming I can use the IH for heavy snow removal for the time being, could I get away with something along the lines of a Kubota BX2370, Kioti CK2610HST or its equivalents?

I was also eyeing a Mahindra MAX26XL. Any recommendations are welcome. I would prefer HST, as I'm a 5' tall, 105lb female and this is a lot of tractor for me at my size, never mind bigger!

I would say I have a pretty hard budget of $15k to get me to a place where I can mow and do light garden tasks on the current acreage. If I clear much more, I would invest in something larger, but it's a few years out. I could maybe go up to 18k if there were 0% financing available for some length of time as Kioti and Kubota currently have.

Remember a tractor is just an engine on wheels, it's the attachments that do the work. Do you need to buy new? Can you wrench some hydraulic hoses etc.? Do you have a truck and trailer? And how close is the nearest dealer? (some people live a mile from their dealer and never need a trailer).

Looking at Tractordata (the IH is a gasser correct?) if it's all functional, good 3pt, good loader, good PTO I'd suggest you get that up to good condition, get a good rotary cutter for your pasture that will fit the IH and a future tractor, a PHD and use that until you can decide on what you really need. With 150 acres I think you will eventually need a tractor the size of your IH or larger. Trees and horses are heavy. If you buy "stuff" for a small tractor (rotary mowers, grapples, and other things you will need) you will need to rebuy for a larger tractor.

And limit your close cropped classic lawn to something you COULD cut with a standard push reel mower. Then get a small ride on or self powered or robotic lawnmower. Or sheep

/edit - OP - you posted while I was composing.

Trying to respond in order:

<snip>
3. I checked with my husband, there are some back blades, a tiller, and one other attachment as well as the FEL for the IH. The immediate need is a way to mow and by the end of the fall season will need to be able to move snow.

4. The IH does not have power steering and it also is quite difficult for me to drive being that it requires shifting and I'm quite small for it, hence the desire to upgrade.

As I said, I'm open to other equipment suggestions that would meet the need as long as I don't need to be writing a $50k check for all of it.

Mowing for lawn is best done with other stuff. A Mid Mount Mower for a BX runs about $2K.

Your probably going to need at least a 40HP tractor if you are going to run horses.

 

[TheMadOne]

If you plan on mowing 18 acres every two weeks I suggest either rethinking your tractor needs to include something that can power a 15ft batwing, getting goats, or loading up on audio books and your drink of choice. Even at full tilt on a zero turn you'd be looking at a minimum of 6-8 hours of work. Trying to do it with a 5 foot brush cutter, mid mount mower, or rear finish mower you'd easily double that.

I think you're way underestimating the size of tractor you'll need, especially moving forward to when you have horses. Even if you're planning on getting small square hay bales from somewhere, are you sure you can also get straw in small bales? Most folk won't do straw in small bales, not enough call for it. Even less than hay.

A tractor, like most other modern equipment, doesn't care how big you are. As long as you can reach the pedals you can work the machine. Your IH comes from a time where operators still needed to wrestle with the machines. My bosses 15 year old son can make a Case Magnum that weighs over 27000 pounds dance with one hand on the wheel.

 

[jeff9366]

I currently have a 1955 IH 300 Hi Utility that is in OK working order minus needing new rear tires and some elbow grease. It does have some attachments like a lord loader, a couple back blades, a tiller, and one other attachment as well as the FEL. The immediate need is a way to mow and by the end of the fall season will need to be able to move snow. The IH does NOT have power steering and it also is quite difficult for me to drive being that it requires shifting and I'm quite small for it,

For general mowing, post hole digging, and light land clearing tasks, and assuming I can use the IH for heavy snow removal for the time being, could I get away with something along the lines of a Kubota BX2370, Kioti CK2610HST or its equivalents?

I was also eyeing a Mahindra MAX26XL. Any recommendations are welcome. I would prefer HST, as I'm a 5' tall, 105lb female and this is a lot of tractor for me at my size, never mind bigger!

I would say I have a pretty hard budget of $15k to get me to a place where I can mow and do light garden tasks on the current acreage. If I clear much more, I would invest in something larger, but it's a few years out. I could maybe go up to 18k if there were 0% financing available for some length of time as Kioti and Kubota currently have.

What brand tractors are sold within 20 miles of your property. Most helpful if you list closest first.

You need a tractor with 12" to 14" ground clearance. Nine inches ground clearance is not enough.

Roto-tilling the garden will be a once a year task for the IH300. Snow for the IH300.

You really need a new tractor only for a Post Hole Digger, a Rotary Cutter and probably a Garden Cultivator. You will still want a Ratchet Rake bucket attachment for your other tasks. Consider a Zero Turn dedicated mower in lieu of a Finish Mower. Consider if you want the tractor to enter the horse barn for mucking out, utilizing the FEL bucket as a wheelbarrow.

Nothing wrong with Kioti, Kubota or Mahindra. But keep in mind Mahindra re-badges small tractors from other suppliers. Mahindra does not make small tractors in its own plants.
LINK: http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...375391-series-mahindras-made-japan-south.html

RE SLOPES: Have the dealer fill the rear tires with freeze resistant liquid. This lowers the tractor's center-of-gravity making the tractor more stable. Question if new tractors you inspect have wheel widths that can be spread. Wider tread is more stable than narrow tread. Heavier tractors have more inertia, hence are more stable. They also have larger wheels, which are less likely to be swallowed in holes and ruts.

When you visit Kubota, check out the L2501/HST/4-WD. An L2501 can operate a 60" Rotary Mower.
VIDEO: kubota L2501 tractor - YouTube

 

[wntrwhte]

Thanks for the advice. There are no dealers of any type within 20 miles. The closest dealer that does heavy equipment (not just garden tractors/small zero turns) is Kubota, around 30-35 miles away. Nearby to them is JD. I bought my RTV400 as a holdover from that dealer. That dealer also has a used 2013 BX2370 with a mower deck and FEL in my price range, which opened me up to this question. However, if a zero turn is better/faster, then I'll spend a lot less even buying a really nice one of those.

As for moving hay, etc - hay bales here are between 50 and 65 pounds. I don't bed with straw, I bed with wood pellets in the stalls that are purchased by the pallet. This is all moved with a Kubota RTV400 that has a dump bed and fits in the barn aisle. I also use this to pull the manure spreader, and actually to do most everything - haul water, hay, muck out stalls and dump, move small amounts of fill around, carry posts and jumps - a lot of things. I could get a pull behind mower for it but the slow speed is not conducive to getting anything done in a finite amount of time. If I can mow with a zero turn and move snow with the IH, then maybe I don't have an immediate need for a tractor. That thing is old and it is incredibly hard for me to work with, especially going forward and reverse as you do moving snow, so that will be a temporary thing until I can get something with HST.

I'll probably mow in sections, so over a cumulative two weeks the whole thing will get mowed, then start over. Not do the whole thing in a day every two weeks.

 

[jeff9366]

If I can mow with a zero turn and move snow with the IH, then maybe I don't have an immediate need for a (contemporary) tractor.

LINK: Zero turn and rough groumd - Google Search

 

[mike69440]

What brand tractors are sold within 20 miles of your property. Most helpful if you list closest first.

You need a tractor with 12" to 14" ground clearance. Nine inches ground clearance is not enough.

Roto-tilling the garden will be a once a year task for the IH300. Snow for the IH300.

You really need a new tractor only for a Post Hole Digger, a Rotary Cutter and probably a Garden Cultivator. You will still want a Ratchet Rake bucket attachment for your other tasks. Consider a Zero Turn dedicated mower in lieu of a Finish Mower. Consider if you want the tractor to enter the horse barn for mucking out, utilizing the FEL bucket as a wheelbarrow.

Nothing wrong with Kioti, Kubota or Mahindra. But keep in mind Mahindra re-badges small tractors from other suppliers. Mahindra does not make small tractors in its own plants.
LINK: http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...375391-series-mahindras-made-japan-south.html

RE SLOPES: Have the dealer fill the rear tires with freeze resistant liquid. This lowers the tractor's center-of-gravity making the tractor more stable. Question if any new tractor you inspect has wheel widths that can be spread. Wider tread is more stable than narrow tread. Heavier tractors have more inertia, hence are more stable. They also have larger wheels, which are less likely to be swallowed in holes and ruts.

When you visit Kubota, check out the L2501/HST/4-WD. An L2501 can operate a 60" Rotary Mower.
VIDEO: kubota L2501 tractor - YouTube

A smaller tractor is really useful.
I really like my Max28XL Shuttle, but I'm no fan of the 2 speed HST on large acreage. The Max can do 90% of what a L2501 can do, just not as stable or good on rough ground. L2501 may seem too big for you. The B2650 is 3 Speed HST, is very close to the Max in capability, and it's a Kubota, more refined, but will cost more. Long term you may like the Kubota best. (Compare a Honda CRV to a Mitsubishi Outlander, bot good, but Honda is nicer.) An L2501 can operate a 60" Rotary Mower and so does a Max or B2650, just not quite as effortlessly. Your dealer is close by. Stay away from SCUT's on large property with rough ground.
Any tractor expecially the B series and Max, etc will need loaded tires. Pat Easy Change Pat's Easy Change System - TractorByNet.com Store is recommended over a Quick Hitch (HF and the like)
Vermont you will need tire chains front (Amazon) and rear TireChain.com is Where to Buy Tire Chains | Best Tire Chains or Tractor Tire Chains – Tire Chains by TireChainsRequired.com for the winter. B Series tractor or Max26 size tire chains you can install yourself. L2501 chains are at least twice as heavy.
I agree, RTV's are a great thing!

When time comes to replace the IH, small utility tractor or a very large CUT, at least 4,000 Lbs bare weight is best to keep 18 Acres under control.

 

[Gary Fowler]

If it weren't for your snow removal issue, I would think that a $10K commercial zero turn mower to mow your 18 acres of pasture and around your house would be good, assuming that it is all dry and smooth, zero turns don't work well in damp or muddy ground and tend to get stuck rather quickly.

As for a tractor, I also would have to recommend the B26xx series over the BX. BX 26xxseries tractors are just too close to the ground with their super small tires and about 10" or less of ground clearance, this could be a big problem in snow or mud during the winter. For about the same price, you can get a B26XX series with larger tires, higher lift capacity, better traction (actually better everything). I personally wouldn't go for a mid mount mower due to the cost. For your mostly wide open spaces, go with a rear finish mower (or bush hog type) for about 1/3 the cost of a mid-mount mower.

For any tight spaces around your house that you cant get at with the tractor, just get a cheap push mower or riding lawn mower to get to those. A box store riding mower can be had for less than $1000 and will last for years if only doing touch up work. I personally prefer zero turns since they are more maneuverable and much faster but a good one that will last many years of mowing 6-10 acres weekly is going to set you back close to $8000-10000. The box store zero turns just aren't built to mow that much acreage, more like 1/2-1 acre lots at most without crapping out in a year or two.

Also look for used with a few hundred or even a thousand hours on them. IF well maintained and stored inside, they will still look and perform like a new one but at thousands less than new. Don't be in a big hurry, keep looking for a good deal on used and you will find it. It may not be right in your neighborhood, but you can always rent a trailer and bring it home from hundreds of miles away. I bought my B26 500 miles from my house.

 

[mike69440]

If it weren't for your snow removal issue, I would think that a $10K commercial zero turn mower to mow your 18 acres of pasture and around your house would be good, assuming that it is all dry and smooth, zero turns don't work well in damp or muddy ground and tend to get stuck rather quickly.

As for a tractor, I also would have to recommend the B26xx series over the BX. BX 26xxseries tractors are just too close to the ground with their super small tires and about 10" or less of ground clearance, this could be a big problem in snow or mud during the winter. For about the same price, you can get a B26XX series with larger tires, higher lift capacity, better traction (actually better everything). I personally wouldn't go for a mid mount mower due to the cost. For your mostly wide open spaces, go with a rear finish mower (or bush hog type) for about 1/3 the cost of a mid-mount mower.

For any tight spaces around your house that you cant get at with the tractor, just get a cheap push mower or riding lawn mower to get to those. A box store riding mower can be had for less than $1000 and will last for years if only doing touch up work. I personally prefer zero turns since they are more maneuverable and much faster but a good one that will last many years of mowing 6-10 acres weekly is going to set you back close to $8000-10000. The box store zero turns just aren't built to mow that much acreage, more like 1/2-1 acre lots at most without crapping out in a year or two.

Also look for used with a few hundred or even a thousand hours on them. IF well maintained and stored inside, they will still look and perform like a new one but at thousands less than new. Don't be in a big hurry, keep looking for a good deal on used and you will find it. It may not be right in your neighborhood, but you can always rent a trailer and bring it home from hundreds of miles away. I bought my B26 500 miles from my house.

I agree with Gary. BX and the Massey Ferguson are great little "Yard" tractors and can be had with a little BH as a TLB package. It is not a primary farm tractor.

Sounds like you have a lot more to do with a real tractor than finish mow. Craig's list a nice riding Lawn/garden tractor or just box store/local dealer buy one. Done. I have two, beat the crap out of them. Sometimes I'm too lazy to hook up my rotary cutter and just use one of the Sears LT1000's . Figure you will break spindles, easy to replace, buy on Amazon, and install yourself.

 

[Egon]

My arms & legs get tired from just thinking about manovering your IH around for snow clearing. It would do fine for mowing the 18 acres with a pull type rotary mower.

You know what you want to accomplish so I'd suggest patience and lots of looking. A smaller agricultural tractor with shuttle shift and loader that has enough HP for a decent sized rotary mower may be what you are looking for. Start haunting local equipment dealers and extend your search to areas of agriculture as there may be a wider range of equipment available. Look at the auxiliary equipment also so you get a good idea of pricing and availability.

Research and patience are your friends.

Be aware that dealers will work on whatever comes to their shop. The maintenance bays are not colour conscious.

 

[hghvolt]

I kept up with 5 acres of mowing with a 60" zero turn commercial grade mower for 4 years. Things that made me buy a tractor for the job: 1) if the ground is slightly softer than concrete the mower would be stuck. 2) mower was fast but with short wheel base and no suspension it's a back killer. 3) it is a dedicated mowing only machine. Other than I could mow 5 acres in 3 hrs.

 

[Kentuckyfarmer]

I was raised on larger farms than I have now and worked them until in to my twenties. Of course that was years ago and I only have 22 acres now cleared ground which about 19 acres is all pasture. I have a bx23 I use for mowing, running tiller, backhoe work for mostly myself and small loader things. I wouldn't even think about mowing the rest of the place with it. One you would just finish and have to start over again. It would take way to long when you have other things to do. The larger tractor I have is 47 hp and I have a 7 foot bush hog. When I bought the property the previous owner had horses and nothing harder on pasture than horses if not managed right. I have cattle now but the first two years I gave the pastures a break from over grazing and try to get the weeds under control. I bush hogged about 5 to six times a year with that 7 footer and it took me about 15 hours to cut each time. Not because it was so thick or ruff ground I didn't run balls to the wall and try to get it done I went at a good speed and wanted a good cut each time. I wish I had to cutter three times that big because even though I was in ac, had a radio, and was in comfort I got tired of it and always had other things I could be doing. Using a little bx to mow 18 acres it wouldn't last you but a couple years and it would be wore out. Other thing to consider is how many horses your going to have. You having horses know they only eat and crap so enough on 18 acres you won't have to cut pasture very much. I myself would look for something to mow the yard with like a lawn mower and buy a tractor that you can get at least an 8 foot hog behind. Good low hour 50 to 70 hp tractor. It all depends on how many animals you will have and what you want to all do. That old IH 300 I would either park or sell and have something lots newer to do the work. Those old ones are more parade queens any more or something for people that have nothing more to do than enjoy their selves driving them for a hobby doing field work. We had a farmall 400 and I sure wouldn't want to use that for any work I do now. In the day it was a good tractor and was our main work horse for a few years back in the early 60's.

 

[jeff9366]

There are no tractor dealers of any type within 20 miles. The closest dealer is Kubota, around 30-35 miles away. Nearby to them is JD.

This is no surprise. Kubota and Deere combined have somewhere around 70% of the USA market for tractors of <70-horsepower.

From your posts it seems unlikely you will perform tractor maintenance and repair. So I would give dealer proximity pretty heavy weight.

For a dealer to trailer a tractor for service is FOUR travel segments. 35 miles X 4 = 140 miles. Typical transport charge is $1.50 per mile in flat, snow-free, relatively low cost Florida.

The only service I perform on my tractor is greasing, which is required every ten operating hours on the loader. I break something on the tractor or an implement every few months beyond my troubleshooting ability and often physical strength to correct. I do not improvise any repair that could result in an injury. I am on my third tractor, second new Kubota, and am grateful my Kubota dealer is only six miles away. The Deere dealer is ten miles away.

I am also grateful I have an excellent, full service welding shop ten miles away. About half my implement repairs are appropriately addressed at the welding shop.

 

[tcreeley]

For plowing snow- get a cab/heater if possible. A snowblower up front would be the easiest, or a rear mounted if you don't mind the twisting and backing. It sounds fun. Used is a good way to go. Read all of the reviews in TBN, and google searches. Makes buying easier. - Is this an established place - you are already bedding the horses. I assume you are buying hay. - Take your time looking - until you find what you really want.
A lot of fun here!

If your IH is on the big size for you- 25-35 hp makes sense. Hydro robs a little power, so go a little bigger. I think a snow blower would be better for the tractors you are thinking of than a plow. I plow with my 30hp TC30 and it gets old - can only push it just so far. A blower would get it done much faster and you can pick them up used. A bucket will be very useful - look for a quick attach set up, or a welder can make you up one of you show him a picture. A 15hp tractor - probably too small for the long haul. - Go sit on some tractors at the dealerships- learn a lot that way.

 

[jenkinsph]

The other option is to hold on the tractor and use the IH and buy a zero turn, but as I haven't walked every foot of all 18+ acres, I don't know what there is for holes and similar things that would trip one up. I could also purchase a wider tow behind to do the larger open areas and use the mid deck for the lawn. There's options, they just cost money

Winters haven't been too bad in these parts for the past few years. One or two major snowstorms, otherwise just cold. I'll take it for this kind of land!

I've had horses for 20 years, but this is the first time I'll be solely responsible for agricultural maintenance, and I want to be sure I don't make an $18,000 mistake buying the wrong tractor.

Maintaining 18 acres routinely will require a larger budget if you want a newer hst tractor and implements. That said a larger tractor that can handle large bales may reduce your hay costs enough to free up more cash for monthly payments on the tractor. It can be a Catch 22 but having better equipment to work the pastures can in turn lower feeding costs for the horses.

You mentioned the fields and whether their condition could be suitable for smaller mowers, that would be information that you need to know right away. If the fields are smooth with good grass cover then a smaller tractor with enough power for fast mowing can work. If the fields are rough then a larger tractor with a wide mower moving slower is a better choice. Smoothing these fields if rough would work better with the larger tractor too.

An example of what would appear to be a good size for your uses would be a Deere 3046R cab tractor. Just using this for reference size as I am more familiar with Deere model numbers than other makes. I consider this a medium size compact tractor with the higher horse power rating. Good for mowing, tilling and moving medium sized bales. Also good tractor to set up for front mount snow blower and a cab. Setting up a tractor and the various implements like this are well beyond your proposed budget. But if you have this size tractor as a goal to work towards it helps with selecting implements that you may buy now to use with a used tractor of similar size. Just about every tractor manufacturer make a tractor this size today with an hst transmission and cab. I would consider all of them that are close enough for parts and service. I prefer Deere but will say that they are all good today.

If you want to avoid making a costly mistake I recommend buy once and cry once. Buying too small and upgrading afterwards happens to a lot of folks here. That can greatly increase the overall cost. That said with a low budget at this point I would get a separate mower to use around the house that will last many years. I would start saving up for the right tractor for the rest of the property. I would work outwards from the house as I could afford it.

 

[bspeedy]

Your budget is not sufficient to support your tractor requirements. 150 acres typically requires serious machinery. I would be hard pressed to get the right equipment for my place for 15 grand, and I have about 1/3 the acreage.

I suggest using the 15 grand for a good used cab tractor without a loader. I know, I know - loaders are half the tractor, and I agree with this statement, BUT you already have the IH with a loader. Make do with that for now.

Find a used cab tractor around 40-50 hp and get a light or medium duty 8-foot bush hog for the pastures. Then, get an 8-foot back blade or a rear snow blower for the snow tasks. A modern cab tractor will be fine for someone of your size and stature. I taught my sister (all 4-11" and 110 lbs of her) how to drive Dad's shuttle shift 65 hp cab tractor in about 15 minutes. She had no issue with the controls and controlling the machine.

Continue to use the IH for loader tasks and handling hay bales.

Phase 2 is to get rid of or retire the old IH and get a good 4wd utility tractor with loader - cab or open station. This can be your summertime hay bale handler and general chore tractor. Two tractors will come in handy in many situations. An 8-foot pull behind rotary cutter will be in the way when feeding hay. A loader can be a pain when trying to maneuver in tight quarters. Having multiple machines will give you greater flexibility, as well.

That is how I would approach this dilemma. I would strongly advise you NOT to buy a SCUT or smaller CUT. You will quickly realize you have the wrong machine for the size of work you want to do.