Which One?

[blueriver]

Everyone says bigger is better ... I'm not familiar with the soil conditions in MT ... Hear my one neighbor pulls, in tandem a 12' disc with a 12' grain drill behind the disc for wheat with 55 hp...sure he's not sinking the disc to the hub just breaking the ground for the drill and not coving 30' at a time but he gets it done and it grows as well as the other neighbor who runs 150hp and a darn big tandem disc and a big drill.

I have seen some Gleaner combines on tractor house for what I believe to be reasonable.

 

[foreman Etexas]

Everyone says bigger is better ... I'm not familiar with the soil conditions in MT ... Hear my one neighbor pulls, in tandem a 12' disc with a 12' grain drill behind the disc for wheat with 55 hp...sure he's not sinking the disc to the hub just breaking the ground for the drill and not coving 30' at a time but he gets it done and it grows as well as the other neighbor who runs 150hp and a darn big tandem disc and a big drill.

I have seen some Gleaner combines on tractor house for what I believe to be reasonable.

You could use a 35hp tractor and a two row planter but were talking 200ac.I could use a 5ft shredder and take cple months to get my pastures mowed and it would look good as the 15ft but I rather use my time to get it done and do other projects.

 

[Liltex10]

Doesn't give your location - that makes a huge difference. Best thing is to talk to farmers in the area to gain knowledge as to what works. Three colleagues I worked with had about the same amount of land that you have, also use their land for pheasants and other hunting, but share crop their land because of the equipment investment to do the job right. They are Northeast Nebraska, Northwest Iowa, and Southeast South Dakota, all primarily corn. Case IH and Allis-Chalmers/Deutz-Allis/Gleaner, the farm equipment companies for whom I worked, did their field testing by supplying combines to custom harvesters or very large farmers. I got to travel with those guys from Texas to Montana, then Illinois to Mississippi. One thing they all liked to do when the crop was green or the weather was bad was sit in coffee shops and talk shop. I learned things like guys who moved from the south to the upper midwest tried the same farming practices they were accustomed to, went broke. That wasn't always the case. Some who moved from one area to another found the opposite. You really should get acquainted with farmers in the area to get an idea. Even things like a planter - you might be able to get a great deal on a 36" row spacing planter for example and then find that none of the custom cutters in the area can handle that spacing and you're screwed.

Good info. Area is Lewistown, MT area. Obviously, I have a great deal to learn. I probably will go the route of leasing and working as free labor for a year to learn but very interested in all I can learn on here because I will want to do it on my own after a year or two.


Thanks, LT

 

[abeal]

When my dad was growing up they farmed 150ac with two Farmall 300s. I guess it all depends on how fast you want to go.

 

[Martian]

Personally, I don't think Kubota makes a tractor big enough for you. The M135x would be about right but even then it would be on the small side. 200 acres is a lot of farm. The closest farm that is not just a hobby farm around here is only 100 acres and their SMALLEST tractor that pulls any tillage/planting equipment is larger. They do have a lot of rented out a lot of land they farm as well so they probably have closer too 200 acres with that land. They run mostly Case equipment, don't know the models but they are row crop, not utility tractors - you are looking at a large utility. They do have a couple utility but are mainly for feeding the cows and and moving their crap around. If this is going to be how you make your living, and farming 200 acres will take most of your time, I would recommend a row crop tractor, that would take you out of a Kubota range so Case/NH/Deere are your big three options and then you have off brands like McCormick as well that will make tractors in this range.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

Personally, I don't think Kubota makes a tractor big enough for you. The M135x would be about right but even then it would be on the small side. 200 acres is a lot of farm. The closest farm that is not just a hobby farm around here is only 100 acres and their SMALLEST tractor that pulls any tillage/planting equipment is larger. They do have a lot of rented out a lot of land they farm as well so they probably have closer too 200 acres with that land. They run mostly Case equipment, don't know the models but they are row crop, not utility tractors - you are looking at a large utility. They do have a couple utility but are mainly for feeding the cows and and moving their crap around. If this is going to be how you make your living, and farming 200 acres will take most of your time, I would recommend a row crop tractor, that would take you out of a Kubota range so Case/NH/Deere are your big three options and then you have off brands like McCormick as well that will make tractors in this range.

You forgot to add that you hate the Kubota dealer and own JDs to give a perspective of where your recommendations/experience is coming from.

 

[Martian]

You forgot to add that you hate the Kubota dealer and own JDs to give a perspective of where your recommendations/experience is coming from.

What does that have to do with me recommending a bigger tractor? If Kubota made a bigger tractor don't you think I might have said something... but they don't. 200 acres is a lot of farm for only a 135HP tractor (about .6 HP per acre). I guess if that's really what he wants he can do it. But the OP will be spending a lot of time out there to where it will be taking up most of his time and become a job. And if it's a job wouldn't you want to have the best tractor for the money and not be straining to small of equipment using more fuel?

John, I don't know if you think I hate Kubota or I just only like Deere. It's as far from the truth as possible. I give honest recommendations as I have nothing to gain telling him that he should get a 20hp B series Kubota (I think we all know that won't be his best option). Right now I'd love an M59 as I need a compact TLB for some new work but because of them being so new I have to look at the smaller, less powerful JD 110.

And if anything of you posting this same response a out a Kubota thread every time it just makes you look like there's no choice but a Kubota. It makes me not want to buy one. I'm recommending a bigger tractor Kubota doesn't offer from my experience with both farms around here and through my knowledge of planting and harvesting acreage. 20 acres, different story, but it's 200 acres.

Can we please be done with this now?:thumbsup:

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

Can we please be done with this now?:thumbsup:

We can if you a JD owner that has never owned a Kubota because you said you hated the Kubota dealer will quit ALWAYS recommending any other brand than a Kubota when someone asks which KUBOTA would be better in the KUBOTA Buyers or Owners forum.
Look at the responses of all of the other posters that have experience with the needs of this poster and I don't think any of them except you recommended buying another brand and not a Kubota as you did.
There are brand specific forums here on TBN. This is a brand specific KUBOTA forum. It isn't the general questions forum it's the KUBOTA forum. You not owning nor never owning a Kubota seems well......You just puzzle me that you keep coming to the KUBOTA forum and always giving a suggestion of another brand, usually a JD which you own, that will be better than the Kubota or Kubota that is being discussed.:thumbsup: I really believe your a JD dealer and if not you should be.

 

[foreman Etexas]

Row crop,isnt just hobby farming its going to be a full time job,either by you or by highered help...Tractor HP size is going to be up to you,how many hours do you wonna spend in the field..Neighbors 135hp tractor easily pulls a 20ft shredder and 21ft disc,I would totally be happy with a 135hp tractor but we only have 400ac.neighbor has something like 1500ac.

 

[Martian]

John,

I'm sorry you feel this way, I truly am.

If I was a dealer I wouldn't have any money because I'd use all the tractors before I could sell them:laughing:

I'm not recommending he get another tractor because Kubota doesn't make a good enough tractor, I'm saying it because they don't make a big enough tractor. If I were farming 200 acres I would want at least a 150-200HP row crop, not utility, tractor. Unfortunately, Kubota doesn't make one. I used to use my 5410 (85 HP) to farm 20 acres and I thought it was on the low side for what I did (I haven't farmed as much lately though).

Yes, the OP can use a 135HP tractor but I wouldn't.