Need input on purchasing a tractor

gammagrass · Sep 1, 2010

Just last week I made the decision to pull the plug on the guy that has done custom farming for me for well over 10 years. I think "crank" has made a come back in my area and he is becoming unreliable.

Anyway, I have decided to do the farming myself and I was looking for some advice on buying a new tractor. I have made it to the Case. Kubota, John Deere and New Holland houses and I think I have narrowed it down to the New Holland TD5050 and the Kubota M9540. But since I am just jumping into this I would love to hear all recommendations, plus/minus, and insight I can get from the more experienced.

I have a 1200 acre ranch in Central Texas. About 220 acres are farmed. I plan on doing mostly all small grains on the farmland and running stockers on it through the winter. The soil is tight clay. I imagine I will need to plow twice then plant. I have an old 13ft tandem plow that I am fixing back up. I am not sure if I will need to get any more plows or if this plow is going to be large enough for me to get everything done efficiently. I would like to get a chisel that could also deliver anhydrous. I have a small 40hp tractor right now with a loader that I maintain roads with, shred, etc.. but with the new tractor I am sure over time I would get a larger shredder, larger box blade and a Beltec post hole digger. Also I plan on getting a spray rig to deliver herbicide/fertilizer/pesticide to the fields with improved grasses and the farmland.

I am thinking I will go cabless on the tractor. I like the cheaper price and with so many low overhanging trees on the ranch I feel like the cab would get beaten apart and parts of the ranch would be unaccessible.

I am not sure about 4x4. I do really want it and I know pulling a plow through wet clay is not easy but with either one the 90 hp tractors mentioned would it be a necessity to have 4x4 for what I am looking to do?

So are either the New Holland or Kubota tractors that I am looking at up to the job I need them for? Personally I like the Kubota better but the New Holland is a slightly larger/heavier tractor and cheaper so I was leaning in that direction. How much weight will I need to add up front or in the rear tires? Are there any options that I should purchase with the tractor?

Thanks

JDGreenGrass · Sep 1, 2010

Crank....Poor man's cocain. Too bad.

Anyways....Get the 4x4.

SARG · Sep 1, 2010

Don't have much personal knowledge ..... but do know that the three large farm operations around here all lease Deere machines. The one specifically stated they tried the New Hollands because a relative worked at the local dealer .... but stated they changed back because they felt the New Hollands were not up to their expectations.

TripleR · Sep 1, 2010

I wish I could be of more assistance, but I quit farming years ago as the profit margin was/is too small at least for me. I do however have an M8540 which is identical to the M9540 except in HP and so far have been very happy with it.

Having spent all day, day after day on a tractor years ago, I wouldn't even consider doing so with an open station unit, but that is just me. I live in the heart of farm country and no one uses an open station to farm, they will live with broken cab lights and bent mirrors.

As noted, you will need more weight than the M has stock; you can get weights, cast wheels, filled tires etc.

Personally, 220 acres seems like more than I would want to farm with either tractor mentioned and would go bigger.

I am sure someone with more recent experience will chime in; good luck.

gammagrass · Sep 1, 2010

Thanks for all the replies guys.

I was just looking over one of those "how big of a tractor do you need" equations. And if I could pull a 13ft tandem 5mph I would get about 35 acres plowed a day (8 hour days). That would mean about 7 days of plowing to till up 220 acres.

Maybe I do need a larger tractor. I would preferably be able to knock out the plowing in 5 days or less.

What is the next size up in plows and tractors?

SARG that is an interesting point. I was worried about that..I like the price of the NH's but I am looking for a tractor that I will have 30 years from now. I hope someone chimes in that has or does own one.

TripleR, I probably should consider a cabbed unit more seriously. Thanks

JD, thanks for the input. I think you are right about ponying up the extra cash for a 4x4.

NBmojo · Sep 1, 2010

Hey there,

I have a TD5050, I think its a great machine for the price. The 3pt. hitch is especially solid on this unit. I only have 50hrs on mine but no complaints so far. But a few comments:

-Get4x4, you mention wet clay and such, you won't regret having it for sure;
-Get a cab, you will love AC in that Texas heat. Also it protects you from dust, debris and bugs.
-For the amount of land and what you want to do with it, I would be looking at something quite a bit bigger...

mojo

flusher · Sep 1, 2010

gammagrass said:
Just last week I made the decision to pull the plug on the guy that has done custom farming for me for well over 10 years. I think "crank" has made a come back in my area and he is becoming unreliable.

Anyway, I have decided to do the farming myself and I was looking for some advice on buying a new tractor. I have made it to the Case. Kubota, John Deere and New Holland houses and I think I have narrowed it down to the New Holland TD5050 and the Kubota M9540. But since I am just jumping into this I would love to hear all recommendations, plus/minus, and insight I can get from the more experienced.

I have a 1200 acre ranch in Central Texas. About 220 acres are farmed. I plan on doing mostly all small grains on the farmland and running stockers on it through the winter. The soil is tight clay. I imagine I will need to plow twice then plant. I have an old 13ft tandem plow that I am fixing back up. I am not sure if I will need to get any more plows or if this plow is going to be large enough for me to get everything done efficiently. I would like to get a chisel that could also deliver anhydrous. I have a small 40hp tractor right now with a loader that I maintain roads with, shred, etc.. but with the new tractor I am sure over time I would get a larger shredder, larger box blade and a Beltec post hole digger. Also I plan on getting a spray rig to deliver herbicide/fertilizer/pesticide to the fields with improved grasses and the farmland.

I am thinking I will go cabless on the tractor. I like the cheaper price and with so many low overhanging trees on the ranch I feel like the cab would get beaten apart and parts of the ranch would be unaccessible.

I am not sure about 4x4. I do really want it and I know pulling a plow through wet clay is not easy but with either one the 90 hp tractors mentioned would it be a necessity to have 4x4 for what I am looking to do?

So are either the New Holland or Kubota tractors that I am looking at up to the job I need them for? Personally I like the Kubota better but the New Holland is a slightly larger/heavier tractor and cheaper so I was leaning in that direction. How much weight will I need to add up front or in the rear tires? Are there any options that I should purchase with the tractor?

Thanks

My neighbor farms about 200 acres of hayfield (oats, beardless wheat, etc). He uses a Steiger Super Wildcat for tillage

It's a 165 hp tractor he got at auction for about $10K a few years ago. The engine is a Cat 3160.

That's a 20-ft offset disc he's pulling for primary tillage. He has a 20-ft tandem disc with a spike drag to prepare the field for seeding, which he does with a 15-ft wide grain drill behind a 70 hp Kubota. He mows with a self-propelled Hesston windrower with a 15-ft wide head, combines windrows with a dual New Holland side delivery rake setup and bales with a New Holland 3-twine baler (100-120 lb bales).

He's into this type of large equipment because farming is his other job (evenings and weekends) so he has to get the planting and harvesting done pretty quickly. If you plan to farm full time, then smaller equipment might be a better choice for you.

jlsmith · Sep 1, 2010

I would go with a JD or MF. Both are well built and heavy machines. NH is not a heavy tractor nor is the bota and the bota have been know to have overheating problems. I have worked on 10 of them in the last 3 month for that verry reason.

gammagrass · Sep 1, 2010

Thanks for all the help.

After hearing everyones opinion I am definitely reconsidering what tractor I will be purchasing.

I think a heavier tractor with 120hp or so would be a better option.

I was thinking of buying new because all of the 60 month 0% financing was so appealing. But now since I will be eyeballing a larger tractor a new one may be out of my price range and buying used may be a better option for me.

I am going to go by the JD house tomorrow and get some quotes and see where that leads me.

If anyone else has an opinion to offer I would enjoy hearing it.

Caseih728 · Sep 1, 2010

gammagrass said:
Just last week I made the decision to pull the plug on the guy that has done custom farming for me for well over 10 years. I think "crank" has made a come back in my area and he is becoming unreliable.

Anyway, I have decided to do the farming myself and I was looking for some advice on buying a new tractor. I have made it to the Case. Kubota, John Deere and New Holland houses and I think I have narrowed it down to the New Holland TD5050 and the Kubota M9540. But since I am just jumping into this I would love to hear all recommendations, plus/minus, and insight I can get from the more experienced.

I have a 1200 acre ranch in Central Texas. About 220 acres are farmed. I plan on doing mostly all small grains on the farmland and running stockers on it through the winter. The soil is tight clay. I imagine I will need to plow twice then plant. I have an old 13ft tandem plow that I am fixing back up. I am not sure if I will need to get any more plows or if this plow is going to be large enough for me to get everything done efficiently. I would like to get a chisel that could also deliver anhydrous. I have a small 40hp tractor right now with a loader that I maintain roads with, shred, etc.. but with the new tractor I am sure over time I would get a larger shredder, larger box blade and a Beltec post hole digger. Also I plan on getting a spray rig to deliver herbicide/fertilizer/pesticide to the fields with improved grasses and the farmland.

I am thinking I will go cabless on the tractor. I like the cheaper price and with so many low overhanging trees on the ranch I feel like the cab would get beaten apart and parts of the ranch would be unaccessible.

I am not sure about 4x4. I do really want it and I know pulling a plow through wet clay is not easy but with either one the 90 hp tractors mentioned would it be a necessity to have 4x4 for what I am looking to do?

So are either the New Holland or Kubota tractors that I am looking at up to the job I need them for? Personally I like the Kubota better but the New Holland is a slightly larger/heavier tractor and cheaper so I was leaning in that direction. How much weight will I need to add up front or in the rear tires? Are there any options that I should purchase with the tractor?

Thanks

I would definitely consider a much bigger tractor. I would highly reccomend a 7000 series deere. I run a 7400 and a 6410 both have close to 10 thousand hours on them. You can never go wrong with a cab tractor i would never have one without a cab. U would look into some 7000 series deeres or cases above 120 or 130 pto hp. I think you will be very pleased with both. I would also Reccomend four wheel drive. I pull a 12 ft. Brillion chisel plow with the 7400 and without fourwheel drive im not sure i would be able to do it especially in hard clay or rocky soil. The 6410 is about equivalent to the kubotas you are looking into and would never be able to do what youre wanting to do with it. Hope this was helpful

ITHINKICAN · Sep 1, 2010

I've done some research - the results were: 1.) Get the cab - it's hot and dusty here in Texas. 2.) Get the 4x4 - who's gonna tow you when you get stuck out in the middle of the ranch. 3.) Buy a Kubota - just 'cause... don't need a reason for everything.

Welcome. Good Luck!!

Verticaltrx · Sep 1, 2010

I would recommend getting a cab tractor, about 100-120 PTO hp, 2wd with duals. With the right size tractor 4wd only gives you a marginal gain in traction during most types of field work. If it's muddy enough that you risk getting stuck it's too wet for field work anyways. The money you save on 4wd would pay for a cab, which is something you will definitely want for the amount of work you are describing. I can't recommend what size implements you will need because I'm not familiar with your area, but I don't think you will be able to do to much primary tillage with just a tandem disc. An offset disc would be better, but it's hard to really recommend equipment without knowing what kind of farming you plan to do (conventional, minimum-tillage, no-till, etc.)

Kubota makes great tractors, but not really anything in the size range you should be considering. Deere and Case-IH are your two best bets IMO.

DanielJ · Sep 1, 2010

My humble advice would be for a bigger tractor with a cab. With all of the ground engagement you plan to do I'd definitely opt for lots of weight and 4WD. 220 acres of crop farming is serious business and you could definitely justify a bigger machine. I've borrowed a JD 6330 cab tractor recently and that A/C sure made a believer out of me.

I also think that you will find the cab tractor pretty nice on the rest of you place.

aczlan · Sep 1, 2010

There are three things that few people will complain about getting in a tractor intended for field work: 4WD, a cab and more HP.

Aaron Z

rider9403 · Sep 2, 2010

If this helps. I bought a Case IH and I am very happy with the tractor. I thought at the time Case had more to offer and the cab was the selling point for me. The cab on the case is larger. The cab is worth the money, it's the best option!!!!!!!

Allan_Cen_Ont · Sep 2, 2010

gammagrass said:
Just last week I made the decision to pull the plug on the guy that has done custom farming for me for well over 10 years. I think "crank" has made a come back in my area and he is becoming unreliable.

Anyway, I have decided to do the farming myself and I was looking for some advice on buying a new tractor. I have made it to the Case. Kubota, John Deere and New Holland houses and I think I have narrowed it down to the New Holland TD5050 and the Kubota M9540. But since I am just jumping into this I would love to hear all recommendations, plus/minus, and insight I can get from the more experienced.

I have a 1200 acre ranch in Central Texas. About 220 acres are farmed. I plan on doing mostly all small grains on the farmland and running stockers on it through the winter. The soil is tight clay. I imagine I will need to plow twice then plant. I have an old 13ft tandem plow that I am fixing back up. I am not sure if I will need to get any more plows or if this plow is going to be large enough for me to get everything done efficiently. I would like to get a chisel that could also deliver anhydrous. I have a small 40hp tractor right now with a loader that I maintain roads with, shred, etc.. but with the new tractor I am sure over time I would get a larger shredder, larger box blade and a Beltec post hole digger. Also I plan on getting a spray rig to deliver herbicide/fertilizer/pesticide to the fields with improved grasses and the farmland.

I am thinking I will go cabless on the tractor. I like the cheaper price and with so many low overhanging trees on the ranch I feel like the cab would get beaten apart and parts of the ranch would be unaccessible.

I am not sure about 4x4. I do really want it and I know pulling a plow through wet clay is not easy but with either one the 90 hp tractors mentioned would it be a necessity to have 4x4 for what I am looking to do?

So are either the New Holland or Kubota tractors that I am looking at up to the job I need them for? Personally I like the Kubota better but the New Holland is a slightly larger/heavier tractor and cheaper so I was leaning in that direction. How much weight will I need to add up front or in the rear tires? Are there any options that I should purchase with the tractor?

Thanks

First off the tractors you are looking at are on the small side for some of the things you are wanting to do .they would be fine for the spraying and fertilizer spreading and the shredding but are on the small side for the tillage part you are wanting to do . You will need at least 130 hp MFWD tractor for the plowing and discing as you say you have tight clay and that will really work the tractor when plowing depending on whether the ground is dry and hard or has some moisture in it . You will need a cab on the tractor for spraying for health reasons and possible drifting of the spray depending on the weather conditions and what chemicals you are using as they can be hazardous to your health . You could always get a big older used tractor for the tillage on your ranch and trade your 40hp tractor in for one of the 2 you are looking at and you would be fine that way . I am suggesting all this as I have experience crop farming 800 acres . Is there a possibility you could switch to no-til crop farming or is it not possible with your clay soil.

gammagrass · Sep 3, 2010

Thanks for the help.

Now that I am going with a larger tractor I think brand new is going to be out of my price range so I am now checking out the used market.

Are there any magic numbers for tractor hours that large problems start occurring? I know it depends how the tractor has been maintained and if it has been used properly but do yall have an opinion on a number of hours to stay beneath when buying used?

Allan, not many people no-till in these parts. I have a neighbor that does it with wheat and sits right next to a guy who tills his wheat and I bet the guy who tills gets 50% more production, although I also believe he uses more fertilizer. I was thinking of trying it on a small 25 acre field and seeing how it goes.

I really appreciate all of this forums help. I think I am going to end up with a much better tractor now that I have heard from yall.

One more question, is there something similar to an online wal-mart that sells tractor and plow supply stuff?

Thanks

TripleR · Sep 3, 2010

I think you are headed in the right direction. There is a thread on here about "how much is too much" hours on a tractor. Essentially a tractor can live forever with proper upkeep and repairs. The family that farms our land has gone over to John Deere from IH with a few 8000 Series and a 7000 for utility, but they kept an old IH 1466 with a cab they bought new many years ago.

You might go around to some different dealers to let them know what you are looking for and they can let you know what is coming in and provide information on condition. Even used, there is no such thing as a good cheap tractor; reasonable, but not cheap. Successful Farming tracks and reports on what some of these tractors are bringing.

We have a 10' Great Plains no till we used on food plots and establishing native grasses. We loaned it to the people who farm one of our farms and the results were so good they bought their own much bigger unit the following year. I am sure it works better in some areas than others, but it sure saves on time and fuel.