Tractor Sizing Here's the rub....

Mowdyman · May 18, 2010

That is the truth Triple R, that is the truth. Sorry guys, didn't know a JD man was going to slip in and leave a little.
My timeline is over at the end of the month. The fields need to be either cut or bushhog'd by then. Triple R - you suggested a bigger machine. Give me a couple of suggestions.
Leonz, I really do appreciate all the info there. Since we'll be putting horses on the place, I'll be going with the square baler, so you gave me some good ideas.
I'm really looking to pick up most if not all the add-ons with the purchase, (box blade, rotary cutter, FEL, etc).
Now, if I can just figure a way to get in up the driveway, past the shed, around the garden, and into the barn before the wife steps outside and says "IT AIN'T GREEN!!!............

Mowdyman · May 18, 2010

I hear you Triple R, what models would you suggest? BTW: the timeline is the end of the month.

TripleR · May 19, 2010

Mowdyman said:
I hear you Triple R, what models would you suggest? BTW: the timeline is the end of the month.

When I bought my last tractor I started with the Grand L32400 which is a really nice little tractor, but after some thought I zeroed in on the Grand L4240 HSTC.

I looked at the L3400, 4400, but while they are great tractors, I didn't like the way they felt, the hump in the middle, no tilt and so on. I am in my sixties and comfort is very important to me especially since I tend to keep things a long time.

I happened upon the L5030 in my Avatar; just put on the lot and not even prepped yet with a price too good to pass up.

I was just kidding about the John Deere as they make really great tractors, I just simply hate left side brakes. For those who like them they are great.

Bottom line is I think you will be well served with a 40 HP or better for your farming operations.

I do not claim to be an expert.

As to the wife, I suggest John Deere decals and tell her it's orange because it was part of a highway contract; that's my story and I'm sticking to it...

Good luck, Larry

MarkV · May 19, 2010

I would be looking at the type of haying equipment you are interested in to decide on your horse power needs. Square balers are not as bad as round balers but still require a good amount of PTO horse power. Another thing is tractor weight. Balers can really jerk around a lighter weight tractor. Personally I think the 3240 is too small for baling on a regular basis.

MarkV

Bulldogger · May 23, 2010

I would not get anything less than 40-60 HP as was suggested before. I would decide on the hay baler first and see what requirements it had. Balers are heavy and the tractor weight is just as important as the HP of the tractor. If you get a tractor that is not heavy enough you will get pushed around by the baler on hills.

I have a 30HP tractor that I use to to rake and tedder with and a 75HP tractor that I use to cut and bale with. The 75HP tractor weights about 8000 or so pounds and you know the baler is behind you on a few of the hills I bale on. My baler is a NH 565 and it requires atleast 35 HP and manual says tractor weight needs to be more than the baler weight. The baler weights between 3000-4000 pounds. I hope this helps.

newbury · May 27, 2010

leonz said:
The twenty year old pine you have is worth some money and contacting a local state forester about logging those two acres will save you time and effort selling the stumpage for a profit and having the logger cut them flush to the ground for you with their harvester.

If the pine is "superpine" it might be worthwhile.

2 acres of chip n' saw 20 yr old regular pine might yield about 60 cord, or about 150 ton. With prices around $15/ton last quarter. Just off almost record lows for this century. Forestry Extension Services - Reports

And when I went by the chipping plant on the Tombigbee at Fulton last week it was not operating, so demand may be slow.

If you can wait till the market improves you might get twice as much as it continues to grow.

I got my little ride for a very similar purpose.
I've a 40 acre piece of natural regrowth after clearcut, and some of it is dense pine, the largest about 14" DBH and most not worth pushing over.

I want to create/maintain trails which will require cutting, grading, and a little stump removal. But if you want to do serious stump pulling you are best learning to make your own explosives and blowing them out of the ground.

I'd strongly suggest you look at Barlows, used, and 50HP or larger.

MarkV · May 27, 2010

Boy Newbury is so right about the value of timber these days. I often hear people saying you should bring in a logger and make money off the 2 - 6 acres you want cleared. Well prices are so low right now that unless you have a bunch of land and don't want much for the timber you are going to have a hard time getting anyone to work it. I my area even with good pricing on timber you will have a hard time finding anyone that will deal with less than 20 acres. It just cost too much to move the equipment for a small tract.

MarkV

tractorshopper · May 28, 2010

I've got about 35 large straight pines in one section on my property. I had a small business man look at logging them while he was doing some grading work for me nearly a year ago. He told me it would be break even work for him to log them on the side around his other work and all I'd get would be that he'd pull the stumps and burn them with the tops. Couldn't swap any more skid steer work. The market kept dropping and he called me one day to tell me to wait a while and he'd revisit it when it rebounds.

Mowdyman · May 29, 2010

I had a fellow take out some hardwood. The local mill was buying hardwood logs for a little while and then hardwood for pulp until the price came way down. And for about a day, believe or not, one of the two local mills bought pine, then they came to their senses. So for now, what I plan to do is thin it out a little, clean up the tops and pulp logs left in the field by the fellow, and get into some grading and bushhoggin'. I'm still looking and meaning to pull the trigger by 6/1. Wife dropped off the new JD info in my lap the other day. I used it to beat the dog when he was digging in the tomato patch. Now the dog barks at my neighbor's JD. Heh-heh. May go the Barlow route since the local dealer, although very popular around here, is awfully high and hardly wants to deal.