I Need a Bigger Tractor

[fried1765]

Things must be quite a bit different out there in the upper mid west. Here in Vermont, land left to its own devices will grow trees. My field, in a single season, goes from freshly cut to 5 foot+ tall saplings over most of the field. Aspen saplings fill the field with multiple per square foot, but cherry and birch and nuisance invasive species will also do their part.

The "Great Plains" are called that for a reason!
Stand on a milk can in Iowa or Minnesota, and look at the Rockies.

 

[Smokeydog]

Improving, maintaining and working our East Tennessee farm has always been a thinking man’s game. From different livestock, tree farming, equipment and retirement. Don’t think the OP needs bigger tractor as much as maybe another tractor for mowing the larger areas. I have someone cut my hay fields for the hay. Most around here have to pay people to cut hay off their property.

Decades of different tractors and equipment have changed with our needs. Our current Kubota M59 and B26 TLB is working best for cleared land and woods maintenance. Not perfect but manageable by us as we transition from livestock to more park-like setting with deer and turkeys. Have many areas where a 6’ cutter is all the M59 can handle.

 

[mx1alex]

Around here (Mid-MO) you can find folks to cut your hay and they usually do it on shares and you can usually sell your share back to the guy who baled it. As far as number of times it should be cut, well that's an open ended question. Depends on what is you're cutting (Warm season grass, cool season, alfalfa, clover, etc.), where you live, what your goals are, etc.

And if wildlife is the goal then there's nothing wrong with letting it grow. Or maybe just mow a smaller area in the middle of the field. There's a lack of early successional timber growth in many areas and it provides excellent habitat for a number of critters.

 

[tradosaurus]

Well... yeah, but my naivety got in the way of making the correct choice coming out of the gate...

That was the fault of your salesman. My first ever tractor purchase almost 2 years ago was daunting and I would have gotten the MX5400 instead of my L3301 had the salesman did a better job.

 

[JWR]

That was the fault of your salesman. My first ever tractor purchase almost 2 years ago was daunting and I would have gotten the MX5400 instead of my L3301 had the salesman did a better job.

Interesting contrast., when I bought a new tractor in 2011 I had picked out a particular model and was concerned about size because it was a good bit bigger than the John Deere 4700 I'd been using for 10 years. Went over all the pros and cons, weight, bush hog capacity, etc. and the price was not all that much more for a LOT bigger tractor -- 81 horse MF 2660 instead of 65 horse MF 2635. Asked the dealer for "if it were him" opinion and he talked me into the larger one. I am SO GLAD he did.