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Hey everyone, it's another tractor post. I see this forum growing in popularity!
So my wife, kids and I bought a place a few months ago. We're looking at getting a tractor that would be useful around the place. Your advice is much needed!
The Job
So we own 12 rural acres in Minnesota. It's surrounded by tilled farm land, typically corn, soybeans and hay-fields. Anything fenced is 8 foot tall woven wire fencing. We have:
We have chickens but will be expanding livestock. I won't be producing hay, but will likely be buying it. If a tractor can support moving around large round bales, great. Otherwise, I'll buy small square bales. Livestock:
Here's a list of tasks I'd like this tractor to do. We can't have it all, so I listed them in order.
The Options
I'm looking for something cheap, definitely under $5,000 and preferably under $3,000. No John Deeres (don't ask why, haha). In my area, I've been finding a lot of these:
What do you guys think? I definitely want a front-end-loader, 3 pt and a PTO. While a live PTO would be nice, I don't think my budget supports that. If I had a transmission PTO, I'd certainly need an overrunning coupler or something along those lines. I don't need power steering, I'm still young enough to fight the steering wheel!
Educate me!
So my wife, kids and I bought a place a few months ago. We're looking at getting a tractor that would be useful around the place. Your advice is much needed!
The Job
So we own 12 rural acres in Minnesota. It's surrounded by tilled farm land, typically corn, soybeans and hay-fields. Anything fenced is 8 foot tall woven wire fencing. We have:
- 3.0 acre pasture (Fenced, High Ground, Grass & Clover)
- 3.0 acre pasture (Fenced, Low Ground, Creek)
- 1.5 acre Woods (Fenced, Creek)
- 0.5 acre Garden (Fenced) - Not all garden yet, getting there
- 1.0 acre planted mature pine trees
- 3.0 acres remaining is the house, small barn and some woods
We have chickens but will be expanding livestock. I won't be producing hay, but will likely be buying it. If a tractor can support moving around large round bales, great. Otherwise, I'll buy small square bales. Livestock:
- Meat Goats (just to eat brush in woods)
- Feeder Steer or "Baby Beef" Setup
- Hogs
Here's a list of tasks I'd like this tractor to do. We can't have it all, so I listed them in order.
- Front end loader (light work)
- Rough mowing
- Driveway grading
- Garden work, maybe a tiller
- Post hole auger & wood splitter
- Snow Removal (I have another option here)
The Options
I'm looking for something cheap, definitely under $5,000 and preferably under $3,000. No John Deeres (don't ask why, haha). In my area, I've been finding a lot of these:
- Farmall M / Super M
- Farmall H / Super H
- Ford 8N (looks crazy with a loader)
- Allis C
- Allis CA
- Allis B
What do you guys think? I definitely want a front-end-loader, 3 pt and a PTO. While a live PTO would be nice, I don't think my budget supports that. If I had a transmission PTO, I'd certainly need an overrunning coupler or something along those lines. I don't need power steering, I'm still young enough to fight the steering wheel!
Educate me!