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Tractor Talk Discussion Forum

first time tractor to mow 9 acre pasture

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Frank King

02-25-2007 01:40:16




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Hello,
We are buying a small farm; no experience. Need to buy a mower for a 9 acre pasture. Would like one that we could us a harrow (sp), with.
Would like advice on a mower that my wife could handle; easy to manuever and affordable.
Thank you




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buickanddeere

02-26-2007 08:31:35




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 Re: first time tractor to mow 9 acre pasture in reply to Frank King, 02-25-2007 01:40:16  
Unless you want to be paying service calls or regularly tinkeirng with old equipment. Purchase something new or almost new. Doesn't matter what brand or how wonderful the machine is. if it's 20,30,40,50 years old. It will always need something "fixed". The old Ford 8N,2N, 9N have to be the most overated man killers ever made. The little Yuppie overgrown 20-40HP lawn tractors are cute but.... They cost the same as a plain jane 50HP farm utility tractor. Try pricing a Deere 5105. It also takes all standard size field equipment and has live/power everything.

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Bob Semrau

02-25-2007 20:08:46




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 Re: first time tractor to mow 9 acre pasture in reply to Frank King, 02-25-2007 01:40:16  
You really don't need a tractor with live PTO to run a mower - just be sure you use an overrunning coupler (ORC) and you will be fine. I wouldn't recommend an 8N Ford, however, due to the lack of live hydraulics. All of the other tractors mentioned here are fine, but I wouldn't go older than an NAA in the Ford line. If you were going to be baling hay or running a snow blower, then a live PTO would be necessary.

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Brian Duffney

02-25-2007 15:10:28




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 Re: first time tractor to mow 9 acre pasture in reply to Frank King, 02-25-2007 01:40:16  
I would recomend a FORD 3000 or 2120. You will want power steering and live PTO. 30 to 40 hp range would be best no matter what brand.



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135 Fan

02-25-2007 08:37:52




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 Re: first time tractor to mow 9 acre pasture in reply to Frank King, 02-25-2007 01:40:16  
A 135 MF would be an excellent choice. Unless you have a loader you don't need power steering. The manual is a lot more trouble free as well. What ever tractor you consider get a live PTO. They allow you to get the mower up to speed without the tractor moving forward. Very important in heavy grass. A tractor in the 35-45 hp range will handle a 6 ft mower and also do a lot more other work like discing or harrowing. Walk the field first and look for rocks and holes and other obstacles. Clean up what you can and remove all rocks. If it is fairly smooth and basically just a big field of grass I would suggest spending a little more and get a 3 pt. hitch finishing mower with rear discharge. Side discharge leaves big windrows that are hard to cut through. I have a Sicma that is made in Italy. It was comparable in price or cheaper than other makes but is built way better without sharp corners on the bottom of the deck for grass to get caught in. The best thing about a finish mower is it has 3 blades that are easy to remove for sharpening and has 4 gauge wheels for adjusting the height of cut. You just put it down and go. If there is a lot of trash in the field go with a large single blade model. A dealer could help you to choose. A flail mower would be excellent but they are a lot more money. MF tractors have the best 3 pt. hitch. Ford are OK. Buy a popular tractor. Then a lot of people on here can help you if you have problems. Any MF with the 3 cylinder Perkins (preferably diesel) would be the ultimate tractor. 135, 235 ,245, 230, 240 etc. Again a dealer could tell you what are things to look for. Big Dean also has a guide on his website. Hope this helps. Dave

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135 Fan

02-25-2007 08:32:43




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 Re: first time tractor to mow 9 acre pasture in reply to Frank King, 02-25-2007 01:40:16  
A 135 MF would be an excellent choice. Unless you have a loader you don't need power steering. The manual is a lot more trouble free as well. What ever tractor you consider get a live PTO. They allow you to get the mower up to speed without the tractor moving forward. Very important in heavy grass. A tractor in the 35-45 hp range will handle a 6 ft mower and also do a lot more other work like discing or harrowing. Walk the field first and look for rocks and holes and other obstacles. Clean up what you can and remove all rocks. If it is fairly smooth and basically just a big field of grass I would suggest spending a little more and get a 3 pt. hitch finishing mower with rear discharge. I have a Sicma that is made in Italy. It was comparable in price or cheaper than other makes but is built way better without sharp corners on the bottom of the deck for grass to get caught in. The best thing about a finish mower is it has 3 blades that are easy to remove for sharpening and has 4 gauge wheels for adjusting the height of cut. You just put it down and go. If there is a lot of trash in the field go with a large single blade model. A dealer could help you to choose. A flail mower would be excellent but they are a lot more money. MF tractors have the best 3 pt. hitch. Ford are OK. Buy a popular tractor. Then a lot of people on here can help you if you have problems. Any MF with the 3 cylinder Perkins (preferably diesel) would be the ultimate tractor. 135, 235 ,245, 230, 240 etc. Again a dealer could tell you what are things to look for. Big Dean also has a guide on his website. Hope this helps. Dave

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MF Poor

02-25-2007 08:11:06




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 Re: first time tractor to mow 9 acre pasture in reply to Frank King, 02-25-2007 01:40:16  
My picks would be Massey Ferguson 135/150, 165, 240, 245, 255. Ford 3000 or 4000 (3 cylinder models) 3600, 4600. They were the best sellers in that size tractor when they were new. There's a good reason why. They were great tractors. Find one in good condition and you have all you'll need. By being so popular, parts are easy to get today if you need them. New is nice but comes with a pricetag. You could buy 4 or 5 of the above choices for what you pay for anything new the same size.

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Don LC

02-25-2007 12:17:38




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 Re: first time tractor to mow 9 acre pasture in reply to MF Poor, 02-25-2007 08:11:06  
The wife needs power steering.....



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Oldmax

02-25-2007 07:34:23




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 Re: first time tractor to mow 9 acre pasture in reply to Frank King, 02-25-2007 01:40:16  
I use a 1715 Ford/New Holland With a 5' King kutter to mow my farm mow about 20 acres & farm next door "About 30 acres" Belongs to Uncle . We let neighbors mow for years for hay , then they wanted us to pay them to mow and take the hay off . After the neighbor got unable to work his son's took over both on Welfare wouldn't work in a pie factory both have bad back's can't work but haul scrap every day to scrap yard. they Just mow flats it's "WV hill side farm". Thats when I bought a 8-N and started mowing myself later bought 1715 after using 1715 first time to mow farm sold 8-N Love that little 1715 is 4wd and 27 HP Live Hyd's & PTO .Plus it is small enought to trailer with a pick up truck & 16' utility trailer .

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Oldmax

02-25-2007 07:32:03




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 Re: first time tractor to mow 9 acre pasture in reply to Frank King, 02-25-2007 01:40:16  
I use a 1715 Ford/New Holland With a 5' King kutter to mow my farm mow about 20 acres & farm next door "About 30 acres" Belongs to Uncle . We let neighbors mow for years for hay , then they wanted us to pay them to mow and take the hay off . After the neighbor got unable to work his son's took over both on Welfare wouldn't work in a pie factory both have bad back's can't work but haul scrap every day to scrap yard. they Just mow flats it's "WV hill side farm". Thats when I bought a 8-N and started mowing myself later bought 1715 after using 1715 first time to mow farm sold 8-N Love that little 1715 is 4wd and 27 HP Live Hyd's & PTO .

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evielboweviel

02-25-2007 07:19:38




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 Re: first time tractor to mow 9 acre pasture in reply to Frank King, 02-25-2007 01:40:16  
Massey Ferguson 135 or 235 prefer with diseil engine. Nice tractor with three point hitch handles a plow, disk, rear blade etc. You will find that you need/want these as you go along.

STAY AWAY from the old Fords 2n,8n,9n go with a newer(late 60's) Ford 3000,4000 with the three cylinder not four cylinder engines. Oliver 550 would also be a good choice. Not up on International, Allis Chalmers, MM, John Deeres are high dollar but have good machines.


AS LONG as you stay in the md 60's or newer you should be ok.
Things to have are live power takeoff or independent power takeoff. Power steering is a plus.
New Kubota would be hard to beat as long as you went into the 30 horsepower and up range.
GOOD LUCK
Ron

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OH Boy

02-25-2007 07:07:59




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 Re: first time tractor to mow 9 acre pasture in reply to Frank King, 02-25-2007 01:40:16  
A 9N or 8N ford with a 5' bush hog or 6' finish mower will keep it mowed. It will take you about 6 hours each time though.



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TomH in PA

02-25-2007 07:01:05




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 Re: first time tractor to mow 9 acre pasture in reply to Frank King, 02-25-2007 01:40:16  
I agree with the advice that simply mowing a 9 acre field is not a great idea. If it's already in pasture (and has fences) a neighbor will probably rent it for grazing.



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sammy the RED

02-25-2007 06:28:10




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 Re: first time tractor to mow 9 acre pasture in reply to Frank King, 02-25-2007 01:40:16  
An older tractor with a Woods belly mower may meet your needs. If you have plans for more use of a tractor, look into some of the newer ones that have 3-pt. hitch.



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Tree Farmer1414

02-25-2007 05:34:09




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 Re: first time tractor to mow 9 acre pasture in reply to Frank King, 02-25-2007 01:40:16  
You have already received some very, very good ideas. Be practical, go at it slow, and learn as/before you leap. Instead of spending the money on tractor and mower (and undoubtedly other implements will follow which means more cash outlay) have a neighbor harvest the hay. Watch what is being done and learn from that as well. You may want to spend a fraction of your hay income on improving the field by picking up stones and debris, fertilizing, fence row clean up, etc. Just my $.01 for it's not worth $.02.

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Rod in Smiths Falls, ON,

02-25-2007 05:25:34




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 Re: first time tractor to mow 9 acre pasture in reply to Frank King, 02-25-2007 01:40:16  
One of the first rules of settling into country property is not to change the land usage in the first year of ownership. Your new neighbours will respect that.

A tractor is a neat thing to have, but don't take on big tasks for it until you and it are ready. If someone is already taking the hay, stick with that system until improvements suggest themselves.



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Leland

02-25-2007 04:44:32




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 Re: first time tractor to mow 9 acre pasture in reply to Frank King, 02-25-2007 01:40:16  
I agree bale at least 75% of it , but mowing is something very dangerous for a rookie since there could be large rocks , stumps deep holes wash outs ect ect . But if you insist get something with a wide front end and roll over protection( ROPS ) power steering power brakes a live PTO is a must here like a 656 IH or a 3020 JD with a 6 foot bush hog . 9 acres is asking a lot from a mower unless you have the skills to repair it and do all maintaince it could turn into a money pit fast . besides having somebody bale it for you relieves you from any labor and you get it mowed for free a few times a year and you save the cash for something else .

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hillbillyOH

02-25-2007 04:15:16




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 Re: first time tractor to mow 9 acre pasture in reply to Frank King, 02-25-2007 01:40:16  
9 acres is a pretty big plot just to mow. You might consider having someone bale it for you.



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