New farm, will need tractor

[cowboydoc]

Given what you've said now I would go with something in the upper CUT range. If you don't do round bales now you don't have to do them. If you're going to have the hay custom done you can have the bales done smaller. The smaller ones are only 700-1000 lbs. which you could handle with say a JD 4610 or 4710. I move bigger bales with my 4600 but it's not something I'd recommend and be safe.

As far as not wanting to mechanic on one I would definitely go new and I would go with one of the bigger dealers that is close to you. This way you don't have to worry about parts and you don't have to worry about having someone competent to come work on your tractor.

With regard to mowing I looked it up and the JD 7' mower is compatible with the 4710 from JD. You can look up the list prices on all of this equipment at www.johndeere.com. Figure 15-23% off of list. Are you a lifetime AQHA member? If you are PM me and I can tell you how to save even more from JD. Also my wife is about your size and runs our 4600 JD all the time. If you want to PM me I can give you her cell # and you can talk to her about the different size tractors.

 

[Woodbeef]

See if the dealers will send you out a tractor on demo for awhile to try it out.

Check out all the brands out there. They are all pretty comparable these days for dependability.

 

[mvoght]

I haven't disappeared, I am still digesting all of this information.

That and finishing up the wood floor in the last bedroom before the appraiser gets here on Tuesday (this is the "old' farm).

I am also catching up on some of the archives and really appreciate the feedback.

cowboydoc, I'll be private messaging you soon. I like having a comparably sized person to talk to when it comes to ease of operation. Those 6'+ guys in the tractor stores don't have the perspective. I even have a 2x8 under my heel in my dually because my toe slips off the pedal if I rest my heel on the floor when driving...and when hauling multiple hours, my leg gets tired hovering the foot on the gas pedal.

woodbeef, I'm seriously liking that "bring it over" for me to try it demo. I'll check into that one when we have moved in.

soundguy, currently, I just use a rotary on this farm, I'm not sure what I'll have on the new one. A finish mower can't handle the heights I'll end up letting the stuff get to, but 5' is just not enough. Now, part of the problem on the current farm is that we have several rock outcroppings. This slows down mowing considerably, I have one field that I have to mow in 2nd gear, so that I have time to react fast enough when a rock is in the path, and lift my mower. There is even one section, only about 1/4 acre that needs 1st gear to maintain a semblance of control. It is ROUGH and I should buy some fill dirt to get there, but the new owners can deal with that area. I think it is about 6 hours worth of mowing for my 6-7 acres of current pasture.

Don't tease me with the 15' mower talk. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

The new farm is 14 acres of pasture(that last acre is used up in driveway and buildings and arena...oh yeah, and house), but no rocks (woohoo!!!!). I'll be able to mow at a slightly higher speed and will probably be able to mow more efficiently since I'll be designing my own cross fencing.

I know I need a bigger tractor, just have to decide if I should go with the bigger compact and sell the little Mitsubishi, or go with a utility tractor in the 40-50 hp range and keep the little Mitsubishi. I'm leaning towards selling the little and getting a bigger compact, because (and this is off-topic) I'd LOVE a Gator for the farm. Those things are awesome and talk about utility. Not to mention the 12 year old son would love it.

grandad, your point about safety features is a good one. I almost tipped the little tractor 2 summers ago. I was moving a stump that was probably WAY overweight for the little FEL, and dumping it in a ditch. Let's just say I had one foot on the ground as I got the FEL down low enough (and had dumped the stump) to stabillize and push the little tractor back out. I was ready to leap out. Scared me and I have been careful about not overloading that FEL now.

I'll also need to worry about manure management <sigh> The least fun part. I will most likely end up spreading, but I have to decide if I want to compost first, then spread or just spread. I like the composting first idea, but I've read that most spreaders don't do as well spreading the composted manure/bedding.

RockyRidgeFarm, I need to get my location in my profile. I'm not familiar with OK grass, I do know that Virginia grows grass. I've been in the Shenandoah Valley and am moving across the Blue Ridge, near Middleburg, VA. If we have a wet year, the grass growth makes me nearly weep in despair. I even have to keep some of my horses off of it or they'll pop...ok, founder /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif not pop. Just getting a day that is dry enough to MOW was a challenge last summer, and I watched my neighbor out there w/ his 7' knock out his pastures (more than mine) while I got 2 of mine done...and then watched the rains come again.

jimg, I'm seriously going to be looking for the snowblower. For either the little tractor if we keep it, or a newer one.

jayhawkroy, we'll have to compare notes here! I'm still sitting on the fence WRT round bales. I prefer squares, but rounds are more convenient in the dead of winter and sometimes more available.

I'll have to look into the Mahindra, never heard of that one.

Mel