New Farmer

[Verticaltrx]

I know it is a lot of money, but I don't plan to buy everything at one time. I will probably start off with the skid steer 18-20k, a JD 4010 5k and the gooseneck trailer 8,500-10k. I would use the gooseneck trailer to haul the tractor, skid steer and bales around. Verticaltrx I would take up your idea of buying bales for a few years and buy baling equipment overtime. I would use the skid steer to unload the bales from the guy that I bought them from and I would use the skid steer to clean the barn, and put bales into the cow enclosure in the winter. So I would spend around 35k to start out and wouldn't buy anything for a few years. Do you think this is a good idea?

While I still don't think you should get any equipment until you start showing a profit or at least a good plan, here is my advice if you must purchase something:

As for a main piece of equipment, look for something like a 4wd tractor with a loader instead of a skid steer. To handle round bales you will need something the size of a 40-50hp utility tractor. This is something that can be used on almost any size farm and for many different tasks. I have a skid steer, but it is primarily used for my construction business. It is no doubt useful on the farm, but not as handy or as versatile as a 4wd loader tractor. Another item would be either an ATV, utility vehicle or compact 4wd pickup depending on your preference. Something like this will be used almost daily for checking fences, hauling tools, checking livestock and crops, etc. You could get a nice used JD utility tractor for $15K and an ATV/UTV/mini-truck for $4-5K. Instead of spending money on a trailer, look for a good used medium-duty truck like an old grain truck. You can haul manure, bedding, mulch, logs, lumber, and hay on it and you can get a pretty good one for $5K. Lastly, if you have any forest land on your farm a small sawmill might pay off as well ($5-6K). If you can mill your own lumber the cost for buildings and fencing will go way down. All of that together is a bit less than your $35K figure and will be more versatile regardless of where your farming path takes you.

As for right now, you need to focus on the smaller stuff first. Be sure you have all the hand tools, fencing tools, a good set of wrenches, maybe a welder, drill, vise, come-along, jacks, wheelbarrow, pitch fork, etc that you need to run any kind of farm. This is stuff you will assuredly use and can pick up for little money as you come across them. Then move on to the slightly larger stuff like an ATV, finally when you start to see some profits coming in go for the tractor and bigger items. Don't purchase anything until you can see how it will benefit the operation and turn a profit in a reasonable amount of time.

 

[hammerone40]

Very well said vertical.

 

[Farming5]

Yes thank you. My uncle already has many tools on the farm but I will still need to get some stuff, like a fence post driver and fencing wire and posts, mostly tools you will need for cows as the farm has not had any cows on the farm for over 60 years. My uncle already has an ATV on the farm, so that is one less thing I have to buy.

 

[Farming5]

I found a JD 1650 frontloader & backhoe. It is a 60 hp tractor and i think it will do the job for a while. It is $14,900 and it is at the same dealership as the 4010 I have been watching.

http://www.stitzelfarm.com/results.asp

This is a link to it. What do you think of it?