How much horsepower do I need?

[Lord Vader]

I am expanding my farm operation and thus will be purchasing my first real tractor(probably a Kubota or New Holland with 4x4, hydrostatic tranny). I will be plowing and planting about 20 acres of clay loam and bush hogging a badly overgrown 5 acre pasture in addition to regular farm chores. I would greatly appreciate any advice on the necessary horsepower to accomplish this. Thanks.

Eric

 

[Dingeryote]

I'd look at something used in the 50-70hp range, at the very least.
The more the better, and you'll be working it less.
You can get away with a smaller rig, if you have the time and choose the impliments right though, but I'd still want at least 40-50hp for chopping brush, and plowing in that heavy ground.

Plowing clay loam is as much about tractor weight as it is power. I have seen 4 bottom plows give a light 70hp tractor fits, where an older heavier 40hp tractor had no issues.

 

[jeff9366]

I believe you will want enough power and traction to pull 84"- 96" implements to work 25 acres.

I would think 70 horsepower would be about right. This is the beginning of the ag tractor category, which in the Kubota lineup are in the 'M' Series.

You will also need four wheel drive. Some ag tractors have it, some do not. You do not want to compact clay soil while working it. With 4-WD you have much more traction and can use a lighter tractor effectively.

You can pull a 72" Heavy Duty Bush Hog/Rotary Cutter through 2" saplings with an ag tractor. You could pull an 84" Rotary Cutter but you may find a 72" RC more maneuverable with only 5 acres of pasture to recover.

LINK TO KUBOTA M SERIES:

http://www.kubota.com/product/MSeries.aspx

 

[vtsnowedin]

50 to 70 sounds about right but you haven't said what you will be planting or what you will be harvesting it with if it is more then a cover crop. You should consider the PTO horsepower draw from whatever is the largest piece of equipment you might want to use. For example bailers that make four foot round bales need about 50HP at the PTO to work efficiently. Also if you plan on pulling balers with kicker wagons in train you need enough weight to not get pushed around going down hills by the mass behind you.
You should at least set on a JD 5065E to see how JD answers those questions before you make your final choice. (No I'm not a dealer )

 

[Gary Fowler]

You can go as big as your wallet will let you and finish very fast with your bush hogging or go as small as 20 HP and 4 foot cutter and take a couple days for your 25 acres. We used a JD 750 2 WD with turf tires to cut our neglected 42 acre farm when we first bought it. It was slow going in the heavy stuff (like 1st gear) but it got the job done in all but the wet areas. Those turfs would get stuck on wet grass if trying to turn on a slight incline. Now we have 3 tractors, one dedicated TLB Kubota B26, a NH 2030 and my beast LS P7010. Both the NH and LS have mowers and cabs with AC so mowing it done quickly and in comfort.I can remember when I was very young that my Dad farmed 40 acres with an 8N Ford (19 PTO HP)and all 2 row equipment (72") so it can done. That was a big step up from a pair of mules, so size is all relevant to how you want to do the job and how much time you are willing to invest.

I would say that you don't NEED anything larger than a 50 HP which is a nice sized in between small CUT and Utility. Just remember that the larger the tractor the more it costs and the more the proper sized equipment costs for it.

 

[Steppenwolfe]

Check out the Kubota MX5100. 52 hp with turbo. Tons of power, low on bells and whistles ...Just a real work horse. Consider the gear driven model over hst for pure power.

I am expanding my farm operation and thus will be purchasing my first real tractor(probably a Kubota or New Holland with 4x4, hydrostatic tranny). I will be plowing and planting about 20 acres of clay loam and bush hogging a badly overgrown 5 acre pasture in addition to regular farm chores. I would greatly appreciate any advice on the necessary horsepower to accomplish this. Thanks.

Eric

 

[WM75Guy]

Make a list of everything you think you might need or want to do with the tractor. Go visit every dealer within reasonable driving distance, talk to salespersons, drink lots of free coffee and try their tractors on for size. Let them recommend what size you need to accomplish the tasks you identified. A few more PTO horsepower and weight can make all the difference in what size implements you can use. Like was said before, your budget and how much your time is worth will factor in.

The lifting capacity of the loader can change tremendously by stepping up one size to the next model that uses a different loader. When you start moving things on pallets or lifting equipment off trailers the difference between a loader that lifts 1500 pounds and one that can lift 2000-2500 pounds is a big deal. I use my forks as much as my bucket.

Don't be afraid to ask for customers or client list that you can contact to see the tractor in operation or to check out the dealer's reputation. When you see one sitting somewhere stop and talk to the owner. Most of us don't mind talking tractors, that's why we are on TractorByNet.

 

[Larry Caldwell]

My dad started farming in 1950 with a 26 hp (drawbar) Allis Chalmers WC, and farmed a 45 acre home place and a second 40 acre parcel. In 1961 we moved to a 65 acre home place and bought another 35 acres next to the second parcel, so he upgraded to an AC D-17, then traded that for a 175, 54 (drawbar) horsepower. It was plenty of tractor. It would pull 3-16s through topsoil in 3rd and high, a little over 4 mph.

Figure that your HST will suck about 5 hp, and you will need about 40 hp left over. Buy the automatic draft control for the 3-point and it will really speed up your plowing. A 14" width is more common nowadays, and you should have no trouble pulling 3-14s through clay with 40 drawbar horsepower. Ignore the engine horsepower, the only rating that matters for farming is drawbar horsepower. Probably your minimum tractor should be an L4600 or comparable. Maybe an MX 5100. Ag tires, of course.

 

[kydick]

another thought if money will play hard into your purchase. part time hobby farmer or full time farmer? larger tractor will get the job done quicker so you can go down to the diner and sit around and talk and try to figure out where all your money went. or smaller tractor takes a little longer but want cost as much. however you will probably will still try to figure out where all your money went. good luck on witchever.