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Tractor Talk Discussion Forum

Best practical tractor for 40-80 acres

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Dave From MN

02-26-2005 18:46:34




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I have a Farmall 544 Hydro deisel and a 46 h. The H is for pulling things round the farm, The 544 I want to keep in good shape for haying and loader work. What is a good any brand tractor for plowing and other feild work. I favor IH but have been impressed with all others. Some one will come bach and say I can do it all with the H, but I want to be efficient. I am looking for advice and pros/Cons. please dont turn this post into a brand bashing reply. ALL brands are decent.

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leland

02-27-2005 18:27:23




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 Re: Best practical tractor for 40-80 acres in reply to Dave From MN, 02-26-2005 18:46:34  
I know a older farmer that used a CA allis to work 250 acres up into the late 80s, so if your not in a hurry you don't need a power house of a tractor a 3 or 4000 ford would be plenty more power than you really need.



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txblu

02-28-2005 04:41:23




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 Re: Best practical tractor for 40-80 acres in reply to leland, 02-27-2005 18:27:23  
Worked with a Miss. farm boy who did the family's farming of 100 acres after school, old man on his case constantly for more production..... ...with a single bottom barely pullin Farmall B. YUCKO.

Obviously he went to school got a EE degree and never left ubania. LOL.

Mark



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Woodmouse

02-27-2005 14:38:28




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 Re: Best practical tractor for 40-80 acres in reply to Dave From MN, 02-26-2005 18:46:34  
First what are you raising???
Grains- 75 horse range, faster.
Row crops- about the same.
Hay- 50 horse range
Truck farm,Veges, you will need several tractors, ranging from 20 to 80 horse.



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Leroy

02-27-2005 08:30:18




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 Re: Best practical tractor for 40-80 acres in reply to Dave From MN, 02-26-2005 18:46:34  
There is NOT one best tractor, every one is beter at something than anouther, you need to just figure out what you want it to do, them figure out what ones will do that and eliminate the rest, then find out what is avaible and go with that to find out about service, then try what is left for comfort, what is comfortable to you will be UNcomfortable to your neighbor, only after all this can you decide what is best

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jhill

02-27-2005 08:14:33




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 Re: Best practical tractor for 40-80 acres in reply to Dave From MN, 02-26-2005 18:46:34  
I have a Case 870 with a cab and powershift transmission. Mine is 83 hp and I pull a 4-16 plow and 12 ft disk. Been very rugged and dependable. Also very fuel efficient. It was cheaper than Deere or Ford. 970 would also be a good choice. I can get parts from my Case - IH dealer without problem.



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thejdman01

02-27-2005 08:07:26




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 Re: Best practical tractor for 40-80 acres in reply to Dave From MN, 02-26-2005 18:46:34  
alot of it has to do esp since you arent brand committed is what you have access to nearby for parts and which dealer is friendlier and more helpful. you say 40 to 80 acres but never say waht type of soil it is and what you are hoping to accomplish. if you want to be real fast and efficient ie if you want a 25, 20 or 15 ft disc. i would recommend anything around 80-100 horse that you find. to sit here and say 4020 or 856 is ok but really doesnt matter if you cant find one locally in good shape. i recommend any models around 80-100 horse maybe if you arent in a huge hurry and arent lookign for anything real quick 60 would be ok to get you by if you are only pulling smaller plows

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JW

02-27-2005 07:09:12




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 Re: Best practical tractor for 40-80 acres in reply to Dave From MN, 02-26-2005 18:46:34  
I would look for a 7 or 856 or even 7 or 806. If you already have IH and have a good dealer I would stick with it. I personally am all Case but they are n't has easy to get parts for at times.



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tanklord

02-27-2005 06:54:49




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 Re: Best practical tractor for 40-80 acres in reply to Dave From MN, 02-26-2005 18:46:34  
I want to suggest a Ford 5000, from the 68-74 model years. I have one, grandfather bought it new in late 67. Been a workhorse on a 150 acre dairy farm. Did everything we needed it to do. Plowing, discing, haywork, you name it. It is also not too big to get in and out of tight spaces, a fairly nimble machine. parts are readily available.



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John (C-IL)

02-27-2005 06:43:50




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 Re: Best practical tractor for 40-80 acres in reply to Dave From MN, 02-26-2005 18:46:34  
You CAN do it with the H and be efficient. OH, you want to do it quick? yeah, you need a lot more HP. My vote goes to the 4020, although I have an IH 1066 for my 134 acres.



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txblu

02-27-2005 06:01:45




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 Re: Best practical tractor for 40-80 acres in reply to Dave From MN, 02-26-2005 18:46:34  
Green? 4020 JD is a good one; but surely not the only. Tough and parts readily available.

Mark



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Jeff Oliver

02-26-2005 22:51:25




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 Re: Best practical tractor for 40-80 acres in reply to Dave From MN, 02-26-2005 18:46:34  
Might want ot take several things in to consideration. HOw much of this farm is going ot be tilled and how much will just be mowed or have hay cut from it? Do you need to do your plowing and such quickly or kinda as a hobby of sorts? If ya need sped and efficiecy I would look for something around 75-80 HP in about any brand you want to look at. If ya don't mind taking your time and using a couple of extra days I would go with something in the 45-55 HP range. It will be alot more fuel efficient but not quite as fast as you can't pull as large of equipment.

We farmed about 140-160 acres at one time with a 2240 JD and a 10 ft disk and 3-14 plow. Did it after work. It took some time but I think dad liked the time away from everything than the actual crop you know?

As far as brands go? If your looking at older (1960's or so) tractors I would recommend farmall, A-C, or Deere. I am actually partial to Olivers but honestly parts availability is a factor and those three are probably the best with Farmall and JD being at the top. Heck you can still get most evvery part there is on the old two cylinder JD's not ot mention the later models.

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K.B.-826

02-26-2005 21:31:22




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 Re: Best practical tractor for 40-80 acres in reply to Dave From MN, 02-26-2005 18:46:34  
656, 666, or 686. Same thing as your 544, just with six-cylinder engines. I prefer gear drives.



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cdmn

02-26-2005 20:54:50




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 Re: Best practical tractor for 40-80 acres in reply to Dave From MN, 02-26-2005 18:46:34  
I grew up among a lot of 160 acre dairy farms. Much of the land was pasture, hay, and woods. So they didn't need big stuff. By the 50's most had two tractors. The "big" tractor would be an A JD, M IHC, U Mpls; the "small" tractor would be B JD, Allis B or C, Farmall H or C, Case VAC, Mpls Z. M's H's, and F20s were real favorites and used until the bitter end of milk-can dairying. Usually kept till the owners' retirements came to an end. There must have been a few Fords and Fergusons around, but none that I can remember close to us. Same with Oliver My dad's big tractor was a 444 Massey diesel, his small one a 540 IHC. The Massey was used for plowing, digging and disking; for running the silage chopper, feedmill, and for running pto-powered combine. He did a lot of custom work. The 540 was used for planting, corn cultivating, mowing, raking, baling, wagon towing, running elevator or auger, or sprayer. Along with these we also had an H loader tractor, and later an M loader tractor. The 540 was not well-thought-off, and ended up being traded for a new JD 4020. Went John Deere from then on till now. The Massey worked hard well into the 70's, when my Dad no longer wanted a tractor without a cab or power steering.
If you look around the world today, the small Massey Ferguson and Ford-type tractors dominate where there is still small scale farming. Of course there are dozens of tractor brands we seldom hear of in the States. On my own little place, I use my Mpls JetStar 3 loader tractor the most. But for 3 point stuff, I use a Ford 3000.

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