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Subject: Market Farming
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- From: "Beth Spaugh" <lists AT rhomestead.com>
- To: "'Market Farming'" <market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org>
- Subject: [Market-farming] new tractor - wheel spacing
- Date: Tue, 14 Sep 2010 22:18:18 -0400
I am going to bite the bullet and get myself a tractor
since DH doesn't get things done on time, and I don't like to use his JD 2010
with the funky gears plus idiosyncrasies, plus heaven forbid I might change
something. I figure if I mentally spread the cost out over 5 years I can easily
increase production (and time for marketing) to make up $5,000/year (So much for
the rant). I have been hemming and hawing for two years on this, trying to
decide on bed/wheel spacing. I finally settled on 6 foot last week and
went shopping, expecting to find something that can be 6 feet now and moved back
to 5 feet if I change my mind later. Found some good tractors (good
service dealers here are Kubota and JD) with narrower wheel spacings.
Dealers are researching how much the wheels can adjust, and whether the front
tires also move out enough.
Now I am second guessing myself. I plan to use
this tractor to use the loader/forks, pull a plastic mulch layer (currently lay
it by hand), pull a chisel plow occasionally, flail mower, etc (no, I don't have
any of these yet), and 5 foot disk, 2-bottom plow, and 5 foot mower which we
have with the 2010. I decided on 6 feet because I have an old but good Kubota
B6100D (wheels 32" oc, 40 outer) and golf cart (35" oc, 41 outer) so figured 6
foot would work with those. I have a 42" aging rototiller, middle buster, and
corn cultivator for the 6100. I can visualize putting planting/cultivating tools
on a toolbar that would straddle two "beds", though I seldom have two rows of
anything at the same stage and the same time, except late beets, carrots,
etc.
I have 3 acres in veggies, another 3 in chicken
pasture, another acre that should be good for veggies if it gets brush
hogged/plowed/cover cropped, and more that needs improvement for pasture. Also
have a hoophouse that I'd love to be able to drive the tractor into to place
pallets of squash for drying, compost, etc.
As I see my options:
1. as described above, assuming the older equipment
will continue to be integral to the operation, and keep everything in multiples
of 3 feet to match the 6100 and golf cart.
2. use the 6100 for things that are planted in rows
(potatoes, broccoli, etc) and use the new tractor for laying mulch and doing
crops in beds. For this 4 or 5 foot wheel spacing might be ideal. I
planted potatoes on 4 foot spacing this year to allow more air movement.
3.
other suggestions?
First
day of shopping came up with the Kubota L3300 or L4400. The 3400 is only
35 hp but is 4wd so equivalent (for a mulch layer) or 45? Dealer is checking
wheel spacing adjustments on those. John Deere dealer first recommended
one in the 3000 series (I forget which one) until we realized it was narrower
wheel spacing. Then he quoted one in the 4000 series, too expensive. But,
he has an absolutely loaded used (730 hours) 3720 for less than the
Kubotas. One really neat thing I found - I wanted a quick hitch system,
but the dealer recommended a much less expensive alternative - telescoping arms
on the 3 point hitch. You can pull the arms out a few inches if you aren't
lined up dead-center. They slide back to position and lock when you raise the
implement.
I appreciate insights/what you are
glad you have or wished you had. Please don't get off on the wisdom/folly
of making such a large purchase. This is my first year with
employees. I have paid over $5000 out of which 95% plus was for hand
weeding. I have got to spiff up my planting and cultivation. We are
not mechanics so have decided to get new or dealer OKd almost new, and are only
going with the dealers with the best service reputations.
Thank
you.
Beth Spaugh
Rehoboth Homestead, Peru, NY
Farm Fresh Food Club CSA - http://rhomestead.com
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-
Re: [Market-farming] Planet Jr. Question,
Mark Weinheimer, 09/14/2010
-
[Market-farming] new tractor - wheel spacing,
Beth Spaugh, 09/14/2010
-
[Market-farming] Fortex Pole Beans,
Allan.Balliett, 09/15/2010
-
Re: [Market-farming] Fortex Pole Beans,
Richard Robinson, 09/15/2010
-
Re: [Market-farming] Fortex Pole Beans,
Allan.Balliett, 09/15/2010
- Re: [Market-farming] Fortex Pole Beans, Richard Stewart, 09/16/2010
-
Re: [Market-farming] Fortex Pole Beans,
Allan.Balliett, 09/15/2010
-
Re: [Market-farming] Fortex Pole Beans,
Richard Robinson, 09/15/2010
- Re: [Market-farming] new tractor - wheel spacing, MAsteveINE, 09/15/2010
-
[Market-farming] Fortex Pole Beans,
Allan.Balliett, 09/15/2010
-
[Market-farming] new tractor - wheel spacing,
Beth Spaugh, 09/14/2010
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