new member, new farm, and looking

[juddmyers]

I have done a search and the things i come up with are pretty old, so i wanted some new information.

I have a new to me 30 acre farm. It hasn't been maintained in 5 years or so. I have already started bushhogging it with a 25hp Mahindra and a 5ft bushhog. Yea...its going to take forever, i have figured that out. The land was used for farming some years ago...so basically lots of grass and saplings to cut over and out right now.

Goal is to start using it for organic farming. So I will run a bushhog and a disc and I am not sure from there.

I am thinking the new tractor will need to be around 50hp, is that enough?

I really like the JD 5205 that i have found used for 14,500. I was hoping to spend under 15. I CAN spend anywhere from 10 to 20.

I am not above looking at any brand.... anyone ideas?

 

[IslandTractor]

Welcome to TBN.

50hp should be about right. Some people do 30 acres with 30hp and some with 95hp but 40-50hp is a good range. Make sure you get a loader with that JD. You'll be able to get a lot of used implements of the appropriate size with a tractor like that too as you are right at the start of the Ag tractor size. I'd imagine you could use an 8ft bush hog which would speed up your land reclamation too.

Which implements really depends on what sort of crops you will be growing. Plow and disc or tiller for sure. Will you be haying too? For land clearing a light duty grapple would be great or you could add a grapple arm to the loader bucket for less money. Forks are always handy and can be picked up used. I am guessing that the JD has the JD style quick attach on the loader which will limit your choices of front end implements somewhat but you could also switch it to a universal type if JD implements are not easily available.

 

[patrick_g]

Guestimating required HP based on acreage is like asking how high is up or how long is a roll of string. I have 40HP 4x4 Kubota with cab, loader, and HST working 160 acres of mostly pasture. A good friend has 160 acres and is also a cow-calf operation but with more timber and logging than I have. He has a 30HP JD with loader and gear tranny and constantly regrets not getting a bigger tractor while I am quite satisfied.

For row crops with plowing, planting, disking, etc I'd not go below about 40 HP and 50 sounds nice. Few folks ever complain their tractor is too powerful and gets the work done too fast and easy.

If you want a FEL then get 4x4 or at least HD front suspension if 2 wheel. If much delicate or precision maneuvering like some loader work might be is likely you will love a hydrostatic tranny or at least a clutchless shift. Brute force gear tranny is not first choice for precision maneuvering.

Welcome aboard and good luck!

Pat

 

[RPW]

You didn't mention the year of the JD but 14.5 sounds about right. I've got a JD5103 (40~45PTO HP) and will be using it on 38ac. and I will be doing mostly hay. Looks like you've nailed it pretty good.

Good luck.

 

[juddmyers]

I figure i am about right on size... brand is the problem now. I have not been planning on a FEL.

Just came from a Kubota dealer and a McCormich dealer. I can tell you for sure that a Kubota MX5100 is OUT

Its 50HP, I just felt the tractor itself was to small. I felt like I was on a lawnmower. Honestly I didn't feel it was any bigger than the 25HP Mahindra that I have been using.

 

[Diamondpilot]

You bring up a good point on size. Not only do you need HP but you need weight for work that you are wanting to do. I personally like a tractor to be heavy after working some of the lighter new stuff. Mahindra makes some nice small farming tractors in the 50 to 75 HP range. You may want to look there if you have been happy with the 25 you have.

Chris

 

[MarkV]

Sometimes physical size can work against you if you are doing row crops. If you have decided what organic crops you are going to grow it might be best to size the tractor to common planting practices.

MarkV

 

[Reg]

Montana looks to have merged with Branson, so if you can stand the color, a 12 by 12 shuttle shift, a 38, 43, or 47 HP tractor weighing about 4100 lbs for a LOT le$$ money then a Kukje tractor with a Montana paint job could work for you.
For now they are red.

 

[WarrenF]

Sometimes physical size can work against you if you are doing row crops. If you have decided what organic crops you are going to grow it might be best to size the tractor to common planting practices.

MarkV

WHAT???? I live in the middle of an 80 acre field. There are row crop farms all around me for two miles in each direction. I routinely watch 110 hp John Deere tractors being used for planting, cultivating, side dressing, in other words EVERYTHING done for row crop farming. Oh yes and these are all Four wheel drive.

Don't you think that the best advice would be buy a tractor you can adjust the wheels to match your row width.....rather than to suggest that a large tractor will work against you for farming. What baffles me is why anyone wanting to farm row crop would buy ANY tractor that you could not adjust the wheels in or out to match any particular row width.

 

[flusher]

I have done a search and the things i come up with are pretty old, so i wanted some new information.

I have a new to me 30 acre farm. It hasn't been maintained in 5 years or so. I have already started bushhogging it with a 25hp Mahindra and a 5ft bushhog. Yea...its going to take forever, i have figured that out. The land was used for farming some years ago...so basically lots of grass and saplings to cut over and out right now.

Goal is to start using it for organic farming. So I will run a bushhog and a disc and I am not sure from there.

I am thinking the new tractor will need to be around 50hp, is that enough?

I really like the JD 5205 that i have found used for 14,500. I was hoping to spend under 15. I CAN spend anywhere from 10 to 20.

I am not above looking at any brand.... anyone ideas?

If organic farming is your ultimate goal, you really need to think hard and fast about the details involved in that enterprise. What crops? What acreage? What implements are needed? Full time or part time farming? After you pin down these issues, then figure out the basic requirements that the tractor has to meet. Right now you're going about your selection process backwards.