I need help:

[flusher]

I need help:

I am city slicker who bought 78 acres of land. And I am smart enough to know that I know nothing. My contractor made sure that I bought the right chainsaw, STIHL 290 with safety equipment chaps, gloves, helmet and so one. He took me along for one day to introduce me to operating the 290. That痴 how bad it is.

But before I ask my tractor question, let me give you some information:

The land is in the Midwest, mostly flat a few slight elevations. Most of it is wooded, approximately 10 acres are meadow, which has not been mowed in 2008.
Two ponds, 1+ acre and 0.5 acre, both with trees and grass around it.
The house has also trees and grass around it.
Approximately 800 yards of gravel road.
Approximately 1 mile of hiking trail which will be expanded.

I have identified four immediate tasks for the tractor and some possibilities for the future:

1. Cut grass around the house and pond. (mower deck)
2. Collect leaves around the house and pond. (bagger)
3. Clear the gravel road from snow. (snow blower)
4. Transport stuff from A to B. (utility cart)

Future possible tasks:

1. Maybe mow the 10 acres of meadow
2. Maybe drag trees out for firewood
3. Maybe lift heavy stuff and take it from A to B

I have looked at the following tractors.

John Deere X749
John Deere 2305
John Deere 2320
John Deere 3320
Kubota BX2660
Kubota B2320
Kubota B3030

The John Deere X749, John Deere 3320 and Kubota B3030 can have a factory cab. The John Deere 2305 & 2320 can have a Curtis aftermarket cab. All cabs are available with heat. But only the John Deere 3320 and Kubota B3030 are available with A/C. which would be great considering Midwestern summer heat and mosquitoes.
All tractors have 4 wheel drive but only the John Deere X749 has 4 wheel steering, which would be great for mowing around the house and pond with all those trees.
John Deere has two interesting utility carts (18 cu.ft. & 21 cu.ft.). Kubota has no utility carts.

The John Deere X749 is perfect for the four tasks. But cannot be easily adapted to new tasks and has no A/C.

John Deere 2305 I find unattractive.

John Deere 2320 is very attractive. But can it mow efficiently around the house and pond with all those trees? And it has no A/C.

The John Deere 3320 is too big, isn稚 it?

Kubota BX2660 & B2320 are not bad but no cab, to the best of my knowledge.

Kubota B3030 is very attractive. But can it mow efficiently around the house and pond with all those trees?

There are two friendly John Deere dealerships nearby (8 miles, 35 miles). Both are willing to negotiate price.

All the nearby Kubota dealerships (35 miles away) belong all to the same owner. And I have not found a salesperson I 田lick with.

John Deere will come to do maintenance (for a reasonable fee) at my property. Kubota will come to pick the unit up for a 途ansom?

I just don稚 know what to buy.
Am I looking at the right manufactures and models?
Am I too obsessed with 4 wheel steering and/or utility carts and/or A/C?
Do I have to buy two tractors? My wife will not be amused!!!
PLEASE help with constructive criticism and with your experiences.

Thank you,
Regards,
FRIZ (the clueless)

Get yourself a 30-40 hp (engine) tractor with HST, FEL with 6-ft wide bucket and a cab, a 6-ft rotary mower (aka brush hog), and a zero-turn radius riding mower to handle your landscape maintenance work. This configuration will handle the chores you listed. I assume that your near-term plans do not include clearing your wooded acres so you're really looking at landscape, driveway and 10 acres of field mowing.

You have lotsa choices for tractor and riding mowers. You may have to get your cab from a second source supplier since not all tractor manufacturers offer cabs for 30-40 hp CUTs.

Plan to spend $20-25K to get yourself outfitted for your new country estate.

 

[RWolf]

Yes I believe you need 2 machines. For lawn you need something with a low center of gravity to safely work around your ponds. A larger tractor for the 10 acres you have now and for future work in the woods. Full size tractors maintain there value for a long time so there really isn't a need to trade up to a larger tractor if you size your requirements right from the beginning. One way I look at it is I will tade a vehicle every 5 years +/- but my tractor will last me for 15 years at least. And you will find more and more uses for your tractor as time goes on. During the winter is a good time as dealers will be wanting to reduce there inventory before the tax man cometh. Your budget is going to dictate how much you can afford to spend so your asking a lot of good questions.

Good luck.

 

[flaming-ace]

Chain saw license? Darn never heard of that, living in "Live Free or Die New Hampshire" we are sort-of against that kind of thing! Although with so many weekenders using chainsaws around here these days, it might be proper to have a class or two on safety use and sharpening chains if nothing else

As for tractors I would think the Kubota 3030 with cab, front mounted snowblower, FEL, and whatever implements you might desire would do most of your task.

For mowing the lawn around the house and pond I think I would go for a dedicated zero-turn machine just for that type of task

Ye health and saftey go crazy at stuff in the UK, you need a chainsaw license if you are like a self employed contactor or tree surgen and stuff

 

[Diamondpilot]

Get yourself a 30-40 hp (engine) tractor with HST, FEL with 6-ft wide bucket and a cab, a 6-ft rotary mower (aka brush hog), and a zero-turn radius riding mower to handle your landscape maintenance work. This configuration will handle the chores you listed. I assume that your near-term plans do not include clearing your wooded acres so you're really looking at landscape, driveway and 10 acres of field mowing.

You have lotsa choices for tractor and riding mowers. You may have to get your cab from a second source supplier since not all tractor manufacturers offer cabs for 30-40 hp CUTs.

Plan to spend $20-25K to get yourself outfitted for your new country estate.

Just what I said back on page 1 post 3. A 30ish HP tractor and a ZTR.

Chris

 

[FRIZ]

...By the way where are you located. I see you said midwest but where? I live in Northern Indiana where things are totally different from where I grew up in Southern Indiana. For example we get 2' of snow blizzard once or twice a year plus plenty of 6" snows in between but just 150 miles south where I grew up we are lucky to get 12" of snow the whole year.
Chris

The property is in Starke County IN. Just got our first Winter Storm Watch.

 

[pitt_md]

Something to keep in mind along with all the other good advice you got.
You no doubt have heard "if you build it they will come" from some movie.
With tractors and land it kind of works like this, "If you have it you will build".
Meaning with 78 acres even if most of it is wooded at this point you WILL find many things you want to do with it. Don't skimp on the tractor size. If you have women in your life you may find horses roaming your land at some point.

Have fun

 

[Diamondpilot]

The property is in Starke County IN. Just got our first Winter Storm Watch.

You know all about the snow. Get ready, its coming.

Chris

 

[ScottFarm]

Below are some of my suggestions. Make sure you go ride these tractors. I didn't like the sound of the 3 cylinder diesel from Deere. I prefered the Kubota and Montana. Deere engines for the size I was looking at are made in India, Kubota makes their own engine and Montana uses a Mitsibishi diesel.

I'd do something like below for your yard. They also make these that look like a small tractor.
Zero Turn Radius Mower

Then i'd do something like below for the farm and get a 6' bush hog and other equipment as needed.

Below are a few different tractors that would work..Just my opinion. With that many acres you never know when you might need the extra Hp.

2007 MONTANA 4340C 40 HP to 99 HP For Sale At TractorHouse.com

2007 MONTANA 5740C 40 HP to 99 HP For Sale At TractorHouse.com

MAHINDRA 4510 40 HP to 99 HP For Sale At TractorHouse.com

2008 KIOTI DK45S 40 HP to 99 HP For Sale At TractorHouse.com


Below is the McCormick, it's made by same company that makes the Montana

2008 MCCORMICK CT50U 40 HP to 99 HP For Sale At TractorHouse.com

With you being a newbie to farming, I would suggest that you get a good dealer nearby... I've been farming all my life and grew up with Deere, Case, Ford, and now I own a Montana. I wouldn't trade my Montana for any of the other brands. I researched 3 years before I bought mine. My closest dealer is an hour away, but I feel comfortable doing 75% of my mechanic work. So when I do have to haul it to a dealer it's not a big deal. Plus my best friend lives in the town and it gives me a reason to visit him.

Good Luck...

 

[ScottFarm]

Look for dealer Demo's too. They like to show off these cab model tractors at fairs and such. They'll have usually 60-200 hours on them. That is no time for a tractor.
Someone mentioned earlier about tax credit too and now dealers want to sell before Jan 1. You should call someone who does farm taxes as a business and find out what you need to do to qualify for a farm. In Va it's like own 5 cows and make a $1000.00 profit each year. Which is easy and the tax write off of equipment is nice..

 

[FRIZ]

...Below are some of my suggestions...

Thank you,
Regards
FRIZ