i would suggest at minimum you look at a cut such as a jd 3520 or an older farm tractor like a 8n/9n or similar since they will have the utility you need and numerous attachments are available for the 3pt hitch but you may want a loader so take that into consideration as well
Don't know what kind of tractor to get any advice appreciated!!
Okay so here goes. We just bought 50 acres of land and no one has lived here in 6 years. So needless to say the hey and the weeds are as tall as me. I need to get a tractor or something to mow and pick up all the weeds and all that. I would also rather it be something that has multiple attachments. I really liked the Bobcat Utility Vehicles but from talking to the bobcat dealer I don't think it is the right tool for the job. But the nice thing is all the attachments you can get such as the snow plow, the forklift the bucket and the mower. But from what he said they only last around 1,000 hours of work. So what I am looking for is a tractor that can mow and have a snow plow on it if possible. Money really isn't an object. But I want to make sure I get the right equipment for the job and that it will last. Any suggestions would be much appreciated as I have no experience with tractors. I am Camas, Washington just across the river from Portland, Oregon so we also get a lot of rain.
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Mahindra makes an awesome tractor. A few members here have one as well as a good friend of mine. My buddy just loves his. He cuts hay for others for a living, and swears by his Mahindra.
Other brands that fellow members here are happy with include John Deere, Kubota, and Massey Ferguson. I suggest finding a dealer that you get along with and has a good reputation.
I would hire a local farmer to bush hog and rake it for you the first time since money doesn't seem to be an Issue. Then call out a JD salesmen (just my preference) and show him your property and ask him to put an equipment package deal together and send you his best price.
Whatever you get, don't go too small.
There is a John Deere dealership about a mile west of I-5 at the Donald exit south of Portland. Never dealt with them but know farmers in the area that say they are fair and honest. Be about an hour's drive for you by way of I-205. Don't know if they are still there, or under the same management, but there used to be a couple of good equipment dealers in Battleground just north and east of Vancouver.
There are those that will disagree but all good tractors are not painted green. We've used a lot of JD stuff over the years but other brands have merit as well.
Even with 50 acres in that lush growth area your in it's going to take a lot of mowing to keep things groomed up. If you're planning on putting up any hay or doing other farming I'd suggest talking to guys making a living at it in that area prior to buying equipment.
What we do, about an hour or so up river from you, is a totally different type of farming. Lot of smaller places are too small to farm and too big to mow. They end up as a weed patch and hard to deal with. You might want to consider share cropping or leasing any hay land out and just getting a tractor and equipment for the nicely groomed areas.
Don't know how familiar you are with the area but just up the river at Stevenson is the Skamania Lodge. Great place for nice suppers. We were down there for a couple of days this week.
Mike
There is a John Deere dealership about a mile west of I-5 at the Donald exit south of Portland. Never dealt with them but know farmers in the area that say they are fair and honest. Be about an hour's drive for you by way of I-205. Don't know if they are still there, or under the same management, but there used to be a couple of good equipment dealers in Battleground just north and east of Vancouver.
There are those that will disagree but all good tractors are not painted green. We've used a lot of JD stuff over the years but other brands have merit as well.
Even with 50 acres in that lush growth area your in it's going to take a lot of mowing to keep things groomed up. If you're planning on putting up any hay or doing other farming I'd suggest talking to guys making a living at it in that area prior to buying equipment.
What we do, about an hour or so up river from you, is a totally different type of farming. Lot of smaller places are too small to farm and too big to mow. They end up as a weed patch and hard to deal with. You might want to consider share cropping or leasing any hay land out and just getting a tractor and equipment for the nicely groomed areas.
Don't know how familiar you are with the area but just up the river at Stevenson is the Skamania Lodge. Great place for nice suppers. We were down there for a couple of days this week.
Mike
Thank you so much for the information everyone. We were thinking about hiring the landscapers to come out with a big field mower the first time. I think the suggestion about having the dealer come out and look and put together a package is a really good idea and will give that a shot.
Actually I don't really know the area that well thank god for gps systems for directions. I just moved here from Reno, Nevada about 3 weeks ago. Spent a month here during the summer visiting my sister and my dad though. I will know the area here soon I am sure. I will have to visit Skamania Lodge very soon and try it thanks again.Whatever you get, don't go too small.
There is a John Deere dealership about a mile west of I-5 at the Donald exit south of Portland. Never dealt with them but know farmers in the area that say they are fair and honest. Be about an hour's drive for you by way of I-205. Don't know if they are still there, or under the same management, but there used to be a couple of good equipment dealers in Battleground just north and east of Vancouver.
There are those that will disagree but all good tractors are not painted green. We've used a lot of JD stuff over the years but other brands have merit as well.
Even with 50 acres in that lush growth area your in it's going to take a lot of mowing to keep things groomed up. If you're planning on putting up any hay or doing other farming I'd suggest talking to guys making a living at it in that area prior to buying equipment.
What we do, about an hour or so up river from you, is a totally different type of farming. Lot of smaller places are too small to farm and too big to mow. They end up as a weed patch and hard to deal with. You might want to consider share cropping or leasing any hay land out and just getting a tractor and equipment for the nicely groomed areas.
Don't know how familiar you are with the area but just up the river at Stevenson is the Skamania Lodge. Great place for nice suppers. We were down there for a couple of days this week.
Mike
We like our Mahindra 350di. We bought it back in 2004, and it has been a very good tractor. As long as you go with a known brand, each of the brands are very competitive in terms of features at specifc price points. As the saying goes, it is as if the deciding factor is the color of the paint. Take your time and make sure that you buy the model that you want.
If the land hasn't been touched in 6 years, I would recommend that you pay someone else to do the initial clearing and cleaning. Every piece of land has its own hidden hazards, bee's nests, unexpected ditchs, uncovered wells, pieces of rusty barb wire...
Be sure to take the time learning how to operate the tractor in a safe manor; way too many people get hurt by tractors each year.
If the land hasn't been touched in 6 years, I would recommend that you pay someone else to do the initial clearing and cleaning. Every piece of land has its own hidden hazards, bee's nests, unexpected ditchs, uncovered wells, pieces of rusty barb wire...
Be sure to take the time learning how to operate the tractor in a safe manor; way too many people get hurt by tractors each year.
This tool will help you get an idea of what you are looking for in terms of a tractor...Actually I don't really know the area that well thank god for gps systems for directions. I just moved here from Reno, Nevada about 3 weeks ago. Spent a month here during the summer visiting my sister and my dad though. I will know the area here soon I am sure. I will have to visit Skamania Lodge very soon and try it thanks again.
http://productselector.deere.com/CustomerTool/NACutsHomeServlet?targetMarket=AG
If your 50 acres was a hay field the all the previous posters offer sound advice. However if it was pasture it may be full of rocks and unmowable. I'd follow the advice by tackit so you can see what may be under all the weeds.
I don't know how much (if any) snow your area gets, but with a piece of land I intended to clear this summer, the brush is just so tall (goldenrod over 8' tall, honeysuckle about 14' or better) and it hides the ruts and such, making the terrain really unpredictable. I decided that I'm waiting for early next spring so that everything's been packed down by the snow and yet the ground will still be exposed and at least reveal most of the potential hazards.
We get a LOT of snow, and it really does do a good job breaking down the stuff like the goldenrod etc.
Just my two-cents, don't know if it'll work for you or if you can wait that long.
We get a LOT of snow, and it really does do a good job breaking down the stuff like the goldenrod etc.
Just my two-cents, don't know if it'll work for you or if you can wait that long.
I know were youre talking about .But it is there anything else you have in mind for your property? If your just want a rotary cutter any compact tractor will do . But if you intend on any kind of livestock ,use a full size utility tractor.JD,MF, NH,Challenger,Agco,TYM,Mahindra ,or Kubota.And the ARGO line of tractors are also a good Choice ( McCormick or Landini ). And a loader with skid steer hookups.For using a bucket or blades. Many choices,for 1 idea.But the best thing to do is go out and check equipment dealers.Then you will know how the tractor chooses the dealer.
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