Mowing May be buying a small farm. Bush hog question.

[dodge man]

In my mind it all depends on how rough it is. If there are some bad places, they can be fixed and leveled. You also don't have to do it all at once, do a couple of acres at a time.

 

[flusher]

My first tractor was a new 2005 Kubota B7510HST that I used to mow about 7 acres with a 4-ft wide hog twice per year. It's slow going if the weeds are more than 18" tall. Figure 10-11 hours. And with the simple seat suspension typical of these SCUTs, you will feel the jolt from every 3" or taller bump. Not a pleasurable experience.

I recommend that you walk the field carefully before the first mowing to be sure there are no surprises lurking in the weeds. In my case it was numerous old bent, rusted T-posts that would have done a number on my mower if I'd tangled with them.

Good luck with your new property.

 

[ovrszd]

I think you need to hold off purchasing the mower and give some serious looks at buying a bigger tractor with more ground clearance and HP which will handle a larger bush hog and possibly other implements you may want when you get the additional land in hand and roam it for a few weeks.

I agree. Not doubting the capabilities of the BX. Just thinking this is a pretty large chore for a sub-compact. Additionally, there will be other jobs that need done that would require a larger tractor.

 

[SDT]

I may be purchasing a 23 acre horse farm in the future. I have no real desire to raise or board horses, but that may change. There is probably 10 acres in hay, but I have someone to handle that. I also have about 6-8 acres I'll need to bush hog. My concern is my little tractor. I have a BX 23 that has served me faithfully, but can it deal with bush hogging that much acreage every few weeks? I have a 60" belly mower for it, but the terrain is a little rough and I don't know if that would work out. I haven't bought the bush hog,(or the farm), yet. Thanks!

Not if the terrain is rough cut (bush hog) terrain.

Your BX23 is a SCUT. It is not designed to operate a rough cut mower on a regular basis.

You will need a 25+ PTO HP tractor (e.g., B series) to operate a 5' rough cut mower.

SDT

 

[JWR]

I may be purchasing a 23 acre horse farm in the future. I have no real desire to raise or board horses, but that may change. There is probably 10 acres in hay, but I have someone to handle that. I also have about 6-8 acres I'll need to bush hog. My concern is my little tractor. I have a BX 23 that has served me faithfully, but can it deal with bush hogging that much acreage every few weeks? I have a 60" belly mower for it, but the terrain is a little rough and I don't know if that would work out. I haven't bought the bush hog,(or the farm), yet. Thanks!

The short answer is NO. Is this pasture, meadow, once a hayfield , steep, not much slope, rutted or smooth, etc ?? Several pieces of good advice already posted.

 

[pipefitter]

The land itself is a meadow, not much in elevation changes, and pretty smooth. I haven't had the time to walk it as closely as I need to, but will before I buy anything.

 

[JRobyn]

I bushhogged our 10-12 acres one time with my B-I-L's B2100 (old) with a 4ft bushhog. It worked ok, but took a while. Shortly thereafter bought the L4330 and a BH286.

 

[newbury]

<snip>
You will need a 25+ PTO HP tractor (e.g., B series) to operate a 5' rough cut mower.

SDT

And if he wants to run a 10' batwing he'll need a lot larger tractor.
OP - If you get it cut once and all the bigger stuff (saplings, briars, etc) is cut, and the terrain is fairly smooth, you can probably do it with a 4 foot cutter.
And only do it a couple of times a year.

 

[mike69440]

Buy some cows.
Nothing beats home raised beef.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

Not if the terrain is rough cut (bush hog) terrain.

Your BX23 is a SCUT. It is not designed to operate a rough cut mower on a regular basis.

You will need a 25+ PTO HP tractor (e.g., B series) to operate a 5' rough cut mower.

SDT

I run 5 ft rotary on my 20 hp, about the limit though.