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- From: "Rob Wallbridge" <rob AT songberry.ca>
- To: "'Market Farming'" <market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org>
- Subject: Re: [Market-farming] Tractors
- Date: Tue, 3 Sep 2013 10:26:18 -0400
Thanks to everyone for the excellent
tractor advice – definitely lots of things to consider. The most
important thing I’ve realized is that I should take my time and find a tractor
that meets all (or at least most of!) my needs, rather than buying the first
thing that shows up at the local dealer (especially considering that finding
something suited to vegetable production will be a challenge!). Happy harvesting to all, Rob Rob Wallbridge Songberry Organic Farm facebook: "Songberry Organic
Farm" twitter: @songberryfarm From:
market-farming-bounces AT lists.ibiblio.org
[mailto:market-farming-bounces AT lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of Mark Weinheimer We manage about 15 acres with a 95 hp diesel 4wd high clearance tractor
with a creeper gear and front 3 pt. hitch, a 50 HP diesel 2WD utility tractor
with a quick attach front end loader and home built quick attach forks, and an
old Gas Farmall Super C that we recently modified by building a 3 point hitch
that is mounted high enough that it doesn't hang down below the bottom of the
tractor, so we can get over the top of our raised beds. The creeper gear is critical for our use of the waterwheel transplanter.
We looked at lower horsepower tractors when we purchased the high clearance
tractor, but there was not a significant cost difference between the 70 hp
units and the 95 hp unit, and we have been happy to have the extra horsepower
and carrying capacity of the larger tractor. We find that, because the
larger motor isn't straining for most tasks, it actually uses less fuel than
the 50 hp utility tractor except for mowing and tilling where we need to keep
the rpms up. We do get in a bind in the early part of the season, when we need the
big tractor for spreading compost, tillage, transplanting, and cultivating, all
at the same time. The C should help, next season, by taking on the
cultivation. Consider the larger units as they can speed up tillage and more safely
handle bedforming and transplanting equipment, especially if you have to move
from farm to farm on the road. Good luck in your equipment search. Mark |
- Re: [Market-farming] Tractors, Rob Wallbridge, 09/03/2013
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