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Writer needs help from experience farmers

D

DeeHess

Member
Tractor info needed, Can you help?

I'm a fiction writer and I have a character that lives on a cotton farm in the southwest (around Yuma - Az / CA border). It takes place around 2004.

They own a tractor for plowing their small 80 acre farm. I've done tons of research on tractors and plows attachments but I'm so ignorant, I'm not really sure what I'm looking at.

Can you suggest a tractor that could have been used in 2004, but was bought in early 1980's (probably slightly used when purchased from a farm going out of business in 1980'ish). Something that a small, very poor farm would use. Plow width very small.

Name of tractor, and any pertinent details about the tractor and plow would be very helpful (links good too). Also any info on how long it takes to plow an acre with your recommendation would be helpful. my research shows width x MPH - do you think that works for your recommend tractor (the estimated vary widely). Land is flat, ground is hard but has been farmed for decades.

The tractor ends up playing a pivotal role in the mystery, so the more details I can find about it, the better. My hope is to make it as accurate as possible.

Any experts out there that can help me?
 
I'm going to assume that you want this farm to be at least marginally profitable. With that said, I'm not sure cotton farming on 80 acres is going to do it. Lots of specialized
equipment most likely will be needed. You may have to change your plot line a little to also have your farmer rent additional ground. I'm not from that area, so I'll let the dry
land farmers weigh in here.

Soooo....the tractor did it?

Larry
 
You're asking for a lot. A poor farm in the early 1980's probably is not buying a tractor made in the very late 1970's that sold for 10,000 plus dollars that would not have
been too big for an 80 acre operation. Anyhow, maybe something like a Ford 3600 that would pull 2 or 3 bottoms in most soils. John Deere 2040. Those would have
been around 40 PTO HP and made during the late 1970's- early 1980's. More likely if it matters here they would have bought some 1960's 40 PTO HP tractor for less.
Don't know if I helped but I tried.
 
I agree that an inexpensive tractor purchased in 1984 would have to be one made in the 60's or before. You can go to
tractordata.com to see what models were made when, what horsepower and even pictures. I would suggest something like a Case 800 or
and allis chalmers 170 as cheap buys in the time period since both companies were nearly out of business then. There were a lot of
farm auctions in the early 80's for sure.
 
I would say for an 80 acre
farm in the 80s you would be
talking about a 60s vintage 4
plow tractor. A JD 3020, Allis
180, farmal 706, 666, 766,
case 830, Massey 180. These
would have pulled a 4 bottom
plow and 12-14' dics and we're
are 65 hp. They could plow 2-3
acres an hour and disc twice
that. Dad figured 30 acres a
day with our 830 and 4 bottom.
 

The Tractor did it! I'll see if I can work that in.
Currently though the drugs and cash are stored in the, by this time -- broken down tractor - not sure where or how yet, but that's the plan.

I appreciate your comment about the size of the farm and the crop type. I can easily change both. Maybe just alpha or hay, which is also grown in the area.

Thanks for your time.
Dee
 

Thank you, NY986,

I figured I didn't even know what info to provide to get the info I need, but you all have been a great help. Thank you for your quick responses too.

Dee
 

Thank you, Ray Tractor.
I was thinking they bought something in an auction during the early 1980, or even late 70's as many farms were going out of business at the time, according to my research (and you mentioned as well). The farm at that time was profitable (I need to make it many more acres - which can be easily done.) It isn't until the late 90's it falls into trouble. So by 2004, and after three years of drought they are pretty much done (especially have the Pa is shot, and Ma is taken by the drug cartel). :eek:

Appreciate the link to tractordata.com, I'll check it out today.

Since the tractor and the plow are two different pieces - what would the plow be for the ones you mentioned?
 

jon f mn -- thank you! Great specifics. I'll track those down and see what I can. I may be needlessly concerned about a 1960 tractor, but could it still be working in 2004? Forgive my ignorance.

Dee
 

Hoofer B - I'm not sure what a tri-directional tractor is (other than is goes three ways?) but it sounds way too fancy for my farmers, so I think you're right. Probably not that!

Dee
 
He?s just messing with you. It?s a tractor that exists in the
minds of old tractor guys , but was never a reality. It shows up
in the Tractor Tales forum as an item of discussion every now
and then. Let us know the title of the book when it?s published.
If they?re hiding drugs in a tractor I would suggest the inside of
the rear tires. 😊😊😊
 

Princeton Bill - I love it, I was punched by a tractor guy!
Now i have to ask, are you punching me? How would one get the drugs into the back tires?? :?
 
(quoted from post at 15:48:05 10/21/19)
The Tractor did it! I'll see if I can work that in.
Currently though the drugs and cash are stored in the, by this time -- broken down tractor - not sure where or how yet, but that's the plan.

I appreciate your comment about the size of the farm and the crop type. I can easily change both. Maybe just alpha or hay, which is also grown in the area.

Thanks for your time.
Dee
Click to expand...

Unless you're going to somehow put the cash/drugs in a tire, there's not a lot of places to put a large amount of cash or drugs on a tractor. OTOH, you could hide quite a bit in the twine boxes on a baler, in the grain/seed boxes on a grain drill, inside the bale chamber of a round baler or in the round bale itself. Inside a combine, chopper or maybe a load of square bales would work too.
 
To follow-up. Is there a way that a broken down tractor can kill someone? The answer is yes.

There are several ways.

Hose breaking on raised loader, fuel fire, wheel falling off pinning the victim, wasp nests under the hood, set booby trap and on and on.
 

Bret207- Great ideas - all doable. Thanks so much. Still not sure how one would hide in the tires though.
 

Now we're talking! Thank Larry EC-OH, great ideas. I don't have the tractor killing someone (maybe that's the next book), but I do have it burning in the barn towards the end to make the drug cartel think their drugs got burned along with it. I can also use the bee idea, for when someone goes sniffing around where they should be. Nice stuff, thanks.
 

Now we're talking! Thank Larry EC-OH, great ideas. I don't have the tractor killing someone (maybe that's the next book), but I do have it burning in the barn towards the end to make the drug cartel think their drugs got burned along with it. I can also use the bee idea, for when someone goes sniffing around where they should be. Nice stuff, thanks.
 
For large volume drugs like
pot the tires are great. For
small volume drugs like coke
or meth the air cleaner would
be excellent, you could hide
several pounds even in a small
air cleaner and quite a few
thousand dollars cash would
fit as well.
 
(quoted from post at 13:09:21 10/21/19) For large volume drugs like
pot the tires are great. For
small volume drugs like coke
or meth the air cleaner would
be excellent, you could hide
several pounds even in a small
air cleaner and quite a few
thousand dollars cash would
fit as well.
Click to expand...

Air cleaner, nice. I'll look up that part to see more details. Creative, thanks.
 
(quoted from post at 12:16:16 10/21/19) He?s just messing with you. It?s a tractor that exists in the
minds of old tractor guys , but was never a reality. It shows up
in the Tractor Tales forum as an item of discussion every now
and then. Let us know the title of the book when it?s published.
If they?re hiding drugs in a tractor I would suggest the inside of
the rear tires.
Click to expand...

Princeton Bill - Think I'll use that "old tractor guy tale" when to of them are talking on the porch! Talking about better days to come.
 
Hi. FNB's wife (also a writer) here.
I remember the John Deere 3010 and 4010 we bought cheap at FHA dispersals around 1980. The seat cushions were thick but the seams were blown out, patched with duct tape. If I had a bag of dope to hide in a tractor, I'd rip the seam in the seat cover, hollow out a nest inside the foam cushion, loosely whipstitch it shut, and top with a little cruddy duct tape.
Linda
 
On second thought, forget the duct tape. Might call attention to the surgery.

I'm pretty sure I plowed with the 3010 and a 2-bottom plow in the early 80's. Low budget. :)

Linda
 
4020 is a very recognizable and common model that everyone will know what it is. It was built from 1964-1972 95hp 6 cylinder diesel. It would have been a popular 10-20 year old model to own in the early 80's It was replaced by the 4230 in 1973 and that would have been a fairly valuable newer tractor. 4430s were more popular, but likely would have been too big for an 80 acre farm. 4030 is smaller and also a good option.

Places to hide cash and drugs? Well air cleaners have been mentioned. 4020s have a rockshaft toolbox that would be a quick place to stick a stack of cash and bag of blow. It would especially be a good spot if the tractor had an aftermarket cab on it. That toolbox is roughly 4" wide 8" deep and 14" long. 4230 or 4030 open station would also have a rockshaft toolbox like that. If the tractor has been broken down for a period of time, the fuel tank could be cut open in a sneaky way to store large amounts of stuff. Or a battery could be cut open and the empty case used to hide stuff.

4-16 plow is a good catchall for the 4020 or 4230 at about 3 acres an hour
 
WOW! I was just happy when we could get 10 cans of a 12 pack in the inside passenger side air vent box of the ?73 Dodge pickup.
 
(quoted from post at 10:29:02 10/21/19) Tractor info needed, Can you help?

I'm a fiction writer and I have a character that lives on a cotton farm in the southwest (around Yuma - Az / CA border). It takes place around 2004.

They own a tractor for plowing their small 80 acre farm. I've done tons of research on tractors and plows attachments but I'm so ignorant, I'm not really sure what I'm looking at.

Can you suggest a tractor that could have been used in 2004, but was bought in early 1980's (probably slightly used when purchased from a farm going out of business in 1980'ish). Something that a small, very poor farm would use. Plow width very small.

Name of tractor, and any pertinent details about the tractor and plow would be very helpful (links good too). Also any info on how long it takes to plow an acre with your recommendation would be helpful. my research shows width x MPH - do you think that works for your recommend tractor (the estimated vary widely). Land is flat, ground is hard but has been farmed for decades.

The tractor ends up playing a pivotal role in the mystery, so the more details I can find about it, the better. My hope is to make it as accurate as possible.

Any experts out there that can help me?
Click to expand...

If I was buying a used tractor in 1984, and on a very low budget for 80 acres, but still serviceable in 2004, we should be looking for a 50-60 HP tractor with 3pt hitch etc.

It should an an IH in my opinion (John Deere is too cliche) and one that was maybe 1974 or older.

I'd pick a 574 row crop diesel (1973/1974) hang a 3x14" plow off the back of it. A 574 would be well used in 10 years by a bigger farm and traded in.

How long it takes to plow an acre depends on lots. I've spent an hour an acre with a 3 furrow plow and 70 HP tractor, small irregular shaped piece with obstacles. Wide open spaces, i.e. a 20 acre field perfect rectangle you might get 80% efficiency.
 
To make all the YT guys happy, as long as the ending has the druggies and guys with long hair that don't beat their kids and the city folk
driving BMW's and those who live in California (even in the backwoods) suffering for their remaining days on this earth, then happiness will
prevail. Just kidding .... maybe !!!
 
I still use a case 830 and
1030 as my main tractors
today. They are 1967 and 68
models. My newest machine is
my 1970 lawn tractor. Many
local farmers are still using
that vintage tractor, a
neighbor was using an IH 706
to rake hay yesterday. That
would be similar vintage.
 

I'm not a farmer but if you want to add a humorous twist you can have the character driving a Zetor, produced in Eastern Europe and occasionally finding its way onto farms here. Mostly sits in the field for lack of parts and didn't run that great to begin with. I always liked the name. Probably best you stick with a more mainstream tractor, though.
 
It?s a book . If they want to make a profit they whoever they are would do better to flip burgers at McDonald?s
 

Actually going by your time line one could pick up a fairly late model tractor pretty cheap at that time.
During the 70's lending companies were encouraging farmers to borrow money for land and newer equipment, many did.
Then in the early 80's the ag economic crisis hit, interest rates shot up, land prices dropped, grain and livestock prices tanked.
Lots of farms were foreclosed on with land and equipment sold off at auctions, anyone with a few dollars could buy land and equipment cheap.

For a 80 acre farm a tractor in the 50-60-70 hp range would be a good choice, for a one tractor does all I'd go with the 60-70 hp range to pull a 3 or 4 bottom plow.
Off brand tractors weren't real popular during that time so stick with one of the major brands available at the time.
Allis-Chalmers 175-180-185
Case 830-870-930-970-995
Ford 5000-5600-6600-7000-7600
IH 574,674,666,766,756
John Deere 2520-2530-2630-3020-3030
Massey 175-180-185
Oliver 1550-1555-1650-1655-1750-1755

All capable tractor and many still going today.
I have a number of 60's-70's tractors that I farm with everyday.
 
A buddy always said the a Zetor was the only tractor that
would load the manure back in the spreader when you put it in
reverse. I think his neighbor had one.
 
I don?t know how the dealership base was for some manufacturers in the desert south west, but we could aid her with some others. Minneapolis Moline 670, Massey Ferguson 175, 185, Oliver 1655, 1755, or even Cockshutt 1655, 1755. Then to embellish and add some color there are the nicknames. For instance a Minneapolis-Moline emblem is MM. It got tagged with the nickname Modern Misery as a spin on its slogan ?Modern Machinery?. Like wise the Massey Ferguson emblem featured a three lobe triangle emblazoned with MF so they got tagged ?Mad Farmer?. And the Cockshutt... well you can?t make that stuff up. It?s been years since I?ve been to the south west, but recall John Deere, Ford, International Harvester, and Massy being the most prolific breeds in that area.
 
If you are a writer you will know the
importance of editing and redacting.
A couple of mistakes I noticed was it
should be experienced - with a d on the
end. It's also two - with a w and not
to. Just a couple that made me grimace
from a quick perusal of your posts.
 
(quoted from post at 14:23:25 10/21/19) Hi. FNB's wife (also a writer) here.
I remember the John Deere 3010 and 4010 we bought cheap at FHA dispersals around 1980. The seat cushions were thick but the seams were blown out, patched with duct tape. If I had a bag of dope to hide in a tractor, I'd rip the seam in the seat cover, hollow out a nest inside the foam cushion, loosely whipstitch it shut, and top with a little cruddy duct tape.
Linda
Click to expand...

Thank you Linda. Great idea.
 
(quoted from post at 04:27:03 10/22/19) Not mentioned so far I think is that single wheel front end are/were very popular with cotton growers.Known as Cotton wheels in SE VA and Eastern NC.
Click to expand...

Very helpful Traditional Farmer! New idea, love it.
 
(quoted from post at 15:49:35 10/21/19)
(quoted from post at 10:29:02 10/21/19) Tractor info needed, Can you help?

I'm a fiction writer and I have a character that lives on a cotton farm in the southwest (around Yuma - Az / CA border). It takes place around 2004.

They own a tractor for plowing their small 80 acre farm. I've done tons of research on tractors and plows attachments but I'm so ignorant, I'm not really sure what I'm looking at.

Can you suggest a tractor that could have been used in 2004, but was bought in early 1980's (probably slightly used when purchased from a farm going out of business in 1980'ish). Something that a small, very poor farm would use. Plow width very small.

Name of tractor, and any pertinent details about the tractor and plow would be very helpful (links good too). Also any info on how long it takes to plow an acre with your recommendation would be helpful. my research shows width x MPH - do you think that works for your recommend tractor (the estimated vary widely). Land is flat, ground is hard but has been farmed for decades.

The tractor ends up playing a pivotal role in the mystery, so the more details I can find about it, the better. My hope is to make it as accurate as possible.

Any experts out there that can help me?
Click to expand...

If I was buying a used tractor in 1984, and on a very low budget for 80 acres, but still serviceable in 2004, we should be looking for a 50-60 HP tractor with 3pt hitch etc.

It should an an IH in my opinion (John Deere is too cliche) and one that was maybe 1974 or older.

I'd pick a 574 row crop diesel (1973/1974) hang a 3x14" plow off the back of it. A 574 would be well used in 10 years by a bigger farm and traded in.

How long it takes to plow an acre depends on lots. I've spent an hour an acre with a 3 furrow plow and 70 HP tractor, small irregular shaped piece with obstacles. Wide open spaces, i.e. a 20 acre field perfect rectangle you might get 80% efficiency.
Click to expand...

Thank you 495Man great specifics I can use.
 
(quoted from post at 16:39:07 10/21/19) I still use a case 830 and
1030 as my main tractors
today. They are 1967 and 68
models. My newest machine is
my 1970 lawn tractor. Many
local farmers are still using
that vintage tractor, a
neighbor was using an IH 706
to rake hay yesterday. That
would be similar vintage.
Click to expand...

Thank you Jon f mn -- i had now idea how tough these tractors can be. Great to know.
 
(quoted from post at 17:01:50 10/21/19)
I'm not a farmer but if you want to add a humorous twist you can have the character driving a Zetor, produced in Eastern Europe and occasionally finding its way onto farms here. Mostly sits in the field for lack of parts and didn't run that great to begin with. I always liked the name. Probably best you stick with a more mainstream tractor, though.
Click to expand...

RedMF40 - it sounds intriguing, I'll check it out and see if I can find a picture of it. Thanks.
 
(quoted from post at 14:57:11 10/21/19) 4020 is a very recognizable and common model that everyone will know what it is. It was built from 1964-1972 95hp 6 cylinder diesel. It would have been a popular 10-20 year old model to own in the early 80's It was replaced by the 4230 in 1973 and that would have been a fairly valuable newer tractor. 4430s were more popular, but likely would have been too big for an 80 acre farm. 4030 is smaller and also a good option.

Places to hide cash and drugs? Well air cleaners have been mentioned. 4020s have a rockshaft toolbox that would be a quick place to stick a stack of cash and bag of blow. It would especially be a good spot if the tractor had an aftermarket cab on it. That toolbox is roughly 4" wide 8" deep and 14" long. 4230 or 4030 open station would also have a rockshaft toolbox like that. If the tractor has been broken down for a period of time, the fuel tank could be cut open in a sneaky way to store large amounts of stuff. Or a battery could be cut open and the empty case used to hide stuff.

4-16 plow is a good catchall for the 4020 or 4230 at about 3 acres an hour
Click to expand...

Would one of these rock shaft toolboxes work on a 1967 JD3020? - so far that's the one I'm zeroing in on.
 
(quoted from post at 14:23:25 10/21/19) Hi. FNB's wife (also a writer) here.
I remember the John Deere 3010 and 4010 we bought cheap at FHA dispersals around 1980. The seat cushions were thick but the seams were blown out, patched with duct tape. If I had a bag of dope to hide in a tractor, I'd rip the seam in the seat cover, hollow out a nest inside the foam cushion, loosely whipstitch it shut, and top with a little cruddy duct tape.
Linda
Click to expand...

Hey Linda - nice to meet a fellow writer. Great idea to use what's old, and then patch it up to look old again - hide in plain site. Thanks.
 
(quoted from post at 14:59:17 10/21/19) Three bottom plow, either pull type or mounted. would plow approximately 4 ft wide at a time.
Click to expand...

Thanks Ray. Three bottom plow, pull is where I'm headingat least so far.
 
(quoted from post at 17:01:58 10/21/19) It?s a book . If they want to make a profit they whoever they are would do better to flip burgers at McDonald?s
Click to expand...

HA! I'll see if I can work the in. The farm at this point in the story is all gone.
 
(quoted from post at 21:05:37 10/21/19) I don?t know how the dealership base was for some manufacturers in the desert south west, but we could aid her with some others. Minneapolis Moline 670, Massey Ferguson 175, 185, Oliver 1655, 1755, or even Cockshutt 1655, 1755. Then to embellish and add some color there are the nicknames. For instance a Minneapolis-Moline emblem is MM. It got tagged with the nickname Modern Misery as a spin on its slogan ?Modern Machinery?. Like wise the Massey Ferguson emblem featured a three lobe triangle emblazoned with MF so they got tagged ?Mad Farmer?. And the Cockshutt... well you can?t make that stuff up. It?s been years since I?ve been to the south west, but recall John Deere, Ford, International Harvester, and Massy being the most prolific breeds in that area.
Click to expand...

Great stuff here! I never thought about them having nicknames. Love the Modern Misery! Thank you.
 
(quoted from post at 18:29:20 10/21/19)
Actually going by your time line one could pick up a fairly late model tractor pretty cheap at that time.
During the 70's lending companies were encouraging farmers to borrow money for land and newer equipment, many did.
Then in the early 80's the ag economic crisis hit, interest rates shot up, land prices dropped, grain and livestock prices tanked.
Lots of farms were foreclosed on with land and equipment sold off at auctions, anyone with a few dollars could buy land and equipment cheap.

For a 80 acre farm a tractor in the 50-60-70 hp range would be a good choice, for a one tractor does all I'd go with the 60-70 hp range to pull a 3 or 4 bottom plow.
Off brand tractors weren't real popular during that time so stick with one of the major brands available at the time.
Allis-Chalmers 175-180-185
Case 830-870-930-970-995
Ford 5000-5600-6600-7000-7600
IH 574,674,666,766,756
John Deere 2520-2530-2630-3020-3030
Massey 175-180-185
Oliver 1550-1555-1650-1655-1750-1755

All capable tractor and many still going today.
I have a number of 60's-70's tractors that I farm with everyday.
Click to expand...

Destroyed 450 - thank you! Great info. I have been reading a lot about the late 70's and 80's in farming. Some of which is in the back story as the grandparents of the hero ran the farm during that time. Solid info. Thanks again.
 
(quoted from post at 20:42:30 10/21/19) A buddy always said the a Zetor was the only tractor that
would load the manure back in the spreader when you put it in
reverse. I think his neighbor had one.
Click to expand...

I'll check it out. thanks.
 
(quoted from post at 01:26:12 10/22/19) If you are a writer you will know the
importance of editing and redacting.
A couple of mistakes I noticed was it
should be experienced - with a d on the
end. It's also two - with a w and not
to. Just a couple that made me grimace
from a quick perusal of your posts.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the feedback! Alway appreciate a good editor. First drafts are always rough and with forums like this I tend to type too fast, and hit the enter key even faster, but I think the communication still gets through.
 
Well he would have to remove the tire or at least break the
bead so the drugs could be put in the tire. Most farmers could
do that by the way. There are not a lot of ?spaces? on a tractor
to hide drugs like on a car or pickup. The air cleaner as
mentioned would work. I suppose you could put them in the
fuel tank, but your hard scrabble farmer would have to have
something to protect them from the fuel. However even Barney Fife would look in the fuel tank first thing.
 
Once your book is published, there's plenty of people on here that'll tell you what you got wrong.

And they'll all buy a copy so they can do that.

But, it's your book and your farm and no two farms are the same.
 

I bet i'll get lots of feedback! I would expect nothing less. I'll post the section that relates to the tractor so you don't have to read the whole thing. It won't be published until mid next year. So don't hold your breath!

Thanks for all the support. Great group of people here.
 
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