Buying Advice Just bought 40 acres of grass

[Creamer]

Since you live in Florida, have flat land, and two mortgages, it may be a good option to get an older heavy 2wd tractor for your 40 acres of mowing, then upgrade to a more modern machine later.

A Ford thousand series may be a good option, like a Ford 4000 or 5000.

Agree totally! A 50 hp 2wd will be a lot less than a smaller 4wd and will do fine for haying. If you need 4wd on level land it is too wet to be driving on it. Also agree that an older Ford N or Farmall would be real handy as a second tractor for raking and moving wagons around. You could find both of these tractors used for less than $5k and be very happy.

 

[jaxs]

There is no way under the sun you should own equipment to put up hay on 40 acres. Look around at neighboring full time ranches and you will see most of them hire their hay baled or have it baled on shares. You don't need all the hay anyhow so why not let someone do it for half the hay. The very best and well educated rancher in Tx can run 40 cows on 40 acres and that is exceptional. The average rancher run's 8 mother cows on 40 acres. I doupt it's much different in Fl. I hate conterdicting but you only need 1 tractor for all jobs on your place. I 100% agree that a Ford 3000,4000 or 5000 or equvalant is ideal (4000 being the most ideal). I 100% agree a FEL is indespensible but might not handle the largest bale in the country but it will handle 90% of them. To be prepared for the heaviest bale that come's your way,buy a 3 point hay spear or better still,a bale lift with 2 arms that do double duty for moving things too heavy for the FEL. The iceing on the cake,if you first put a bale on the 3 point,you can lift the heaviest bale in the country. As far as mowing,if grass is choking the engine down,move over and take 1/2 width of deck. Once cows are on the ground,it will never get too tall to mow. If you must ask advice on the net,I recommend inlisting the help of an experienced neighbor to look at tractors with you. Paying an experienced person $200 to broker for you is the best money you will spend. If you must wing it alone,buying from an established dealer is what I recommend. If you haven't turned wrenches,buy something much newer than the thousand series Ford. Good luck with your new place,keep posting as you get rolling.

 

[M5farms]

it depends on the Location of the land in Chipley. If its in the sunny hills area it is very sandy poor soil. If its in in central to north Washington county it is very fertile. With proper care and weather you could avg 10 bales to acre on 3 cuttings , some years you can get 4 cuts and every now and then 5 cuts . It does require some input to achieve these results. You could run 30 mamas with only rotational grazing and hay in winter with of about 150rolls. Plenty of hay producers in this area that can supply you with that. 2wd tractor will function fine in your area and can be had much cheaper. Pm me if you need some specifics or who to contact in that area. I worked there along time and have a lot of friends there

 

[saray]

Think I have decided on the MX 4800 I was going back-and-forth between A3901 and even the Yanmar But just too much plastic on th he Yanmar. MX has class 2 hitch and with loader, grapple, 6ft cutter r4 tires and canopy comes in at 33k. anything I am missing?