Welcome! Please use the navigational links to explore our website.
PartsASAP LogoCompany Logo Auction Link (800) 853-2651

Shop Now

   Allis Chalmers Case Farmall IH Ford 8N,9N,2N Ford
   Ferguson John Deere Massey Ferguson Minn. Moline Oliver

Tractor Talk Discussion Forum

A few farming questions

Welcome Guest, Log in or Register
Author 
JohnDeereBMan

03-24-2004 22:43:28




Report to Moderator

Hello! I am a beginning farmer, and I am looking for a large size tractor. I will be off from college this summer, and would like to restore a 100 HP+ tractor so i can use it in a couple of years when i get my own farm. I think the best value for my money would be a 1066 since i am in IH country (Central NJ), plus my father worked for IH. What are the advantages/disadvantages of a 1066? Seems to me like i can pick up one pretty cheap, theres one in the lancaster farmer with a smoking motor for 3500 if i remember right. The parts on it are considerably less than a Deere (dont mean to bash deere). Also, if i purchased one, could i put on the coleman/ellwood MFWD units on it? I know @ work we have a 1086 with a coleman unit on it, and it is pretty sweet. Alright, last question. Say i have a theoretical 400 acre farm. 100 acres each in corn,beans,wheat,and hay. Do you think that a 1066, Massey Ferguson 90, and lil tractors for haying such as a Jd A's and B's and utillity fords could farm the land while having a full time job? Thank you for your help, i greatly appreciate your advice.

PS.....Just got a summer job @ farm credit so i can deal with farmers all day....sure does beat working with stuck up people @ Morgan Stanley

[Log in to Reply]   [No Email]
John Deere Green

04-05-2004 10:22:57




Report to Moderator
 Re: A few farming questions in reply to JohnDeereBMan, 03-24-2004 22:43:28  
I really think that a John Deere 4020 Diesel would fit you just perfect. It is rated at 100 hp and is just the right size to run most implements. The nice thing about the 4020 is first it is a diesel. The diesel gives you a fuel efficiant engine and also a easy stater in the winter. (If you plug it in). The 4020 you can use on the plow, disk, baler, the drill, the planter, the digger, the manure spredder, and it is small enought to fit on any other smaller implements around the farm. You can purchase a Year-around cab, a Hinkercab and take it off in the summer and have it on during the winter. We use one on our farm and it is a great tractor. Another great tractor to have around would be John Deere 2 cylinder. They make an easy fix because of the simplicity of only having 2 cylinders to worry about problems with. The tractor to have would be a late syled A, or mabe a Numbered seiries, the 50, and the 70 are excellent tractors only rating at 50-60 hp.

I hope this helps

Minnesota farmer

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Bill Smith

03-27-2004 12:36:32




Report to Moderator
 Re: A few farming questions in reply to JohnDeereBMan, 03-24-2004 22:43:28  
I own 40 acres, rent another 150, manage 200 acres of brome CRP, and put up hay in water ways on 3 different farms. I mainly just do hay and cattle. Of coarse the CRP is just weed and tree management (spraying, mowing, or burning problem areas), but I did put half of it up for hay when the government released it because of drouth. Right now I got 17 cow calf pairs, 15 acres of alfalfa, 100 acres of pasture, the rest is hay meadow and a little dab of row crop ground that I own but just rent out. Work full time job on the side (with no woman to deal with). There would be room to do more if I could utilize time better. Rainy week ends and stuff like that just kills ya. Ussually end up burning vacation and sick time when I get in a pinch and have to get things done on the farm. Done alot of winter time chores after dark. Seems like it never fails that you have a break down if trying to run on holidays and you can't get parts. Been forced to fence in the rain because that is the only time you have to get it done. Having dependable ready to roll equipment is important. Getting things done adequately and on time when you have the chance is also important. Having a job where you can take days off when you want is also important. I had to change jobs once because I wasn't getting time off when I could use it on the farm. Right now I work full time for an incorporated farmer, so I guess I pretty much farm every waking minute. Eat, breath, and sleep farming. Kind of takes the fun out of farming on the side for yourself.

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
ntmcj

03-25-2004 23:35:41




Report to Moderator
 Re: A few farming questions in reply to JohnDeereBMan, 03-24-2004 22:43:28  
Have you considered other brands other than IH or JD? I bought a Minneapolis Moline G-1000 off of this site 2 years ago for 4400$ and couldn't have found a better tractor anywhere for the money. The hydraulics had been completely redone and the engine had only a couple hundred hours on a rebuild. The tires were even in excellent shape. As for parts, the local NAPA can get many parts cheaper than a dealer can. You just have to know how to look for them. The six cylinder diesel can be a little hard on fuel if you run it hard, but you can't kill it.

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Chris-se-ILL

03-25-2004 18:38:34




Report to Moderator
 Re: A few farming questions in reply to JohnDeereBMan, 03-24-2004 22:43:28  
An IH-1066 is a good tractor for what you are wanting to do. However, I have reservations about whether you can hold down a full-time job and farm that many acres. I farm about 350 acres of corn, soybeans and a little hay {used to farm 500 acres} by myself and cannot hold a full-time off-farm job {I do work winters driving a semi, hauling propane}. And yet the 350 acres is not enough income, without off farm income. I own an IH 1066... too bad you are not closer to Illinois... {but, since it is not a "smoker," the price would be higher}. I am looking at get out of full-time farming {I've been farming for 20 years} and I have already made arrangements to rent my ground out.

The 1066 will pull a IH-496 {22' wide} disc, but I bought an IH 1566 for the heavy pulling (chisel plows and 24' field cultivator). One constant problem I had with the 1066 was that the brakes would burn up if I did a lot of turning in small fields, and used the brakes a lot. The brakes are a "dry" brake and {IMO} are too small for the tractor. I got rid of a bunch of my smaller fields and solved the problem.

I am fixing up an IH-986 {reupholstering the interior of the cab} to sell now. But, it is "really under-powered" compared to the IH-1066 or the IH-1566.

Things to check out on the "smoker" 1066 other than the engine (which can cost $4K to $5K to fix)....
*1).The IH '66 steering system is poorly designed! {The "steering cylinder capstan bushings," steering cylinder rod-end-block, and bolster bushings... all can be badly worn!}
*2).Check the hydraulic filter for metal flakes and pieces of metal. {the rear-ends are not the best for constant heavy pulling field work. A rear-end rebuild can cost $5K... voice of experience!}
*3).Check the spool-valve assemble located under the driver's seat {there was an update for the assembly to solve a leaking detent problem}

All said... Will the "$3.5K smoker" {in the long run} be less expensive and as reliable if you have to fix all these things???

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
kyhayman

03-25-2004 15:37:43




Report to Moderator
 Re: A few farming questions in reply to JohnDeereBMan, 03-24-2004 22:43:28  
Sounds like a good plan, not a lot different than what I did. I'm in hay and cattle country, not much space for row crops. In college (back in 1987) I had a chance at a 225 acre farm well worth the money. It was a great investment. In '99 I was able to add 100 acres across the road from it. My dad's place is 8 miles away with another 200. What you propose is not easy though, my grades suffered in college and grad school, and for 10 years I didnt have any money. Been working a full time off farm job since '91. The other post was right, not every spouse will understand. It would be way better for me to live on the farm but that was one line she drew in the sand. We live just out of town. Guess what I'm trying to say is it's doable, just takes some doing and understanding.

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
paul

03-25-2004 10:08:22




Report to Moderator
 Re: A few farming questions in reply to JohnDeereBMan, 03-24-2004 22:43:28  
Your tractor choice sounds good. I'd pick a TW-20 Blue, 1086 Red, or JD 4440 Green - just for a workable cab on them. The 1066 will be a good puller basicly the same as the 1086, they do not have the best tranny for a chore tractor, but good cheap hp for pulling moderate size implements.

I'd say you can do 200-300 acres pretty well, 400 acres is really going to pull at you. 100 of hay is a major operation needing a lot of time - I think that will be the biggest challenge to you for time.

You'll need your equipmnent in real good shape to run 400 acres on a limited budget & limited time. My concern is that you want to buy a smoker, & then run about the maximum acres that animal can handle. Could be a little much.

Can you do minimum till in your area? That would be a _great_ direction for you, if it works for you. Here I can't get in the fields until June if I don't till, but sure would cut down on time without it.

--->Paul

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
VADAVE

03-25-2004 04:09:06




Report to Moderator
 Re: A few farming questions in reply to JohnDeereBMan, 03-24-2004 22:43:28  
Looks like your starting down the track I'm on. 1) Tractor size--you can farm with even a very small tractor (30 hp) its all in the time you have to spend in the seat.
2) 400 acres? Well are you going to live on the farm and can work nights? Are you willing to work most of the night? If the answers are no then 400 acres is too much. Remember you are also going to spend 8+ hours each day at a paying job. If you have a wife or wife to-be she really has to be committed--no vacations, sitting in the tractor/combine too. I live 2 hours from the farm and the 60 acres tillable is all I can do on weekends.

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
[Options]  [Printer Friendly]  [Posting Help]  [Return to Forum]   [Log in to Reply]

Hop to:


TRACTOR PARTS TRACTOR MANUALS
We sell tractor parts!  We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today. [ About Us ]

Home  |  Forums


Copyright © 1997-2023 Yesterday's Tractor Co.

All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of any part of this website, including design and content, without written permission is strictly prohibited. Trade Marks and Trade Names contained and used in this Website are those of others, and are used in this Website in a descriptive sense to refer to the products of others. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy

TRADEMARK DISCLAIMER: Tradenames and Trademarks referred to within Yesterday's Tractor Co. products and within the Yesterday's Tractor Co. websites are the property of their respective trademark holders. None of these trademark holders are affiliated with Yesterday's Tractor Co., our products, or our website nor are we sponsored by them. John Deere and its logos are the registered trademarks of the John Deere Corporation. Agco, Agco Allis, White, Massey Ferguson and their logos are the registered trademarks of AGCO Corporation. Case, Case-IH, Farmall, International Harvester, New Holland and their logos are registered trademarks of CNH Global N.V.

Yesterday's Tractors - Antique Tractor Headquarters

Website Accessibility Policy