help; new to having large land

geish · Aug 10, 2005

(
You talk about mowing, but what will you do later? Is this hunting land, a homestead, a golf course? Will you be doing landscaping? Burying toxic waste? (OK, don't answer that one...) Dis you know that you want a front ender loader? (Hint, the answer is YES)
)

Right now, our main priority is to cut down the grass/weeds that is about waist high. Eventually, we ARE going to put cattle on it. NO, we're not making a golf course. LOL. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

geish · Aug 10, 2005

( If you budget won't allow that much tractor and cutter, just plan on doing your cutting over a 4 weekend period. Even a medium sized tractor/cutter (6' cutter at least) could do 5-10 acres a day. However, since you don't know what's under that 3' high grass, the first cutting will be a bit slower.
)

If we can save some money by buying a smaller tractor, that would be great. I don't mind having to mow for one whole week. Really. It doesn't bother me at all. I just don't want to spend so much money on an enormous tractor that I can't service myself(that is feasible right?).
Time is not too much of an issue.
As far as attachments, we'll only be using things to cut the grass/weeds. We don't need anything special. Mother does want a pon in the future, but I'm thinking it would be more cost effective to rent a backhoe when we need it.

geish · Aug 10, 2005

( /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

OK, back to serious...

I often use my FIL's circa 1970's JD1020 with a FEL. About 40hp; sometimes seems small to me, but I'm often amazed how it marries versatility and HP. Probably not nearly as agile as many of the 40HP CUTs, but a little brake assistance and I can cut it pretty tight. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif )

You're freaking me out man. Ag tractor...LOL.

What is a CUT? I'm not so familiar with the terms.

geish · Aug 10, 2005

( It really depends on what you mean by mow.

If you are going to beat it down twice a year and the small tractor can be used for other stuff all the time, get the small tractor. Figure on either blowing 2 weekends a year or just cut a couple hours a night. Its not a big deal.

My tractor is 35 hp and it doesnt even notice the 5 foot hog in grass and weeds. Stumps are another matter. )

Right now, the weeds/grass is too high because the previous owner has neglected it.
We just want to keep the weeds/grass below 1.5 feet or so.
At what rate does grass/weeds grow? I'm thinking once we get the cows on the land, they'll help with keeping down the vegetation right?

I don't even know how often we'll be cutting. Again, we just want to keep it down to a reasonable height.

geish · Aug 10, 2005

( Is there a farmer around who would cut it if you let him take it for hay?

I'd forget doing it all and focus on maybe cutting half of it. If not your going to spend easily $20,000. )

Is there difference between grass and hay?
I think we have St. Augustine on the land right now; I'm not so sure.

What is the technical definition of hay.

Spiffy · Aug 10, 2005

Yes, you can have grass hay [of course several varieties within that], alfalfa hay, etc.

Straw on the other hand [the left over straws from an oats, wheat, etc. harvest], is ussually worth less; not much on food value, but makes good bedding.

If your grass is considered good hay around there; I'm sure a farmer would put it up for half. Else, if you need it all for your animals, it can be done. The 40-50HP is plenty for squares. You'd want more for rounds.

Compact Utility Tractor, is what most people are using around this forum for maintaining acrages or hobby farms etc. Somebody else will clarify much better than I could, but lets say imagine most of the new 20HP to 40HP tractors you see on lots these days. SubCUT [SCUT] smaller, UT bigger [utilities are mostly outfitted for FEL and/or backhoe work, differenting them some from ag machines in the higher HP ranges: pulling, maybe FEL].

BTW...the Big Bud I posted the link for is a real ag tractor....just for really big fields!

The JD1020 I was talking about would be a larger CUT or very small ag tractor by the definitions I slaughtered here.

JD for sale

Being used to the FILs; it doesn't look like much to me without an FEL on it.

Good Luck! /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

Soundguy · Aug 10, 2005

( I like the idea of a large 2wd farm tractor and huge mower. Not only will it mow a larger swath, but it will probably mow it at a faster ground speed than a C.U.T. )

Yep.. on my 7610s and 10' mower.. i can mow in 5th(H) gear ( out of eight )

Soundguy

Soundguy · Aug 10, 2005

( Right now, the weeds/grass is too high because the previous owner has neglected it.
We just want to keep the weeds/grass below 1.5 feet or so.
At what rate does grass/weeds grow? I'm thinking once we get the cows on the land, they'll help with keeping down the vegetation right?
)

-ANY- tractor, given time.. will knock it down. Even a 16-18 hp tractor with a 36" or 48" hog will mow multi-feet high weeds.. SlOwLy...

Why not pay a neighbor to knock it down and then get your cattle on it..

Id' still reccomend getting -some- kind of tractor.. they are all but essential any time you own land bigger than a 'yard'.

Soundguy

Bob_Skurka · Aug 10, 2005

( I like the idea of a large 2wd farm tractor and huge mower. Not only will it mow a larger swath, but it will probably mow it at a faster ground speed than a C.U.T. )

Yep.. on my 7610s and 10' mower.. i can mow in 5th(H) gear ( out of eight )

Soundguy 


Chris, I just want to jump in and clarify one point you made because we are talking to a newbie who doesn't know a lot about tractors and is looking at the Kubota B series tractors.

Kubota makes a small 24hp tractor called the B7610.

You own a farm tractor made by Ford, or Ford/New Holland that is also called a 7610. Those are two radically different tractors they just share the same number designation.

Soundguy · Aug 10, 2005

I usually throw the 'NH' on the end of the 7610S.. but I misse dthat one.

I did realize that he was talking 'orange' though. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

You bring up a good point though. For anyone not familiar with a specific tractor being discussed.. do make use of the profile info..

thanks for the clarification.. that might have been confusing due to the smae number designation... say about 66hp difference.. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Soundguy