what size tractor for 30 acres of corn/soybeans

What I hope to gain with this question. Recommended makes and models that are affordable and that will last the 5 years of introductory farming.

Thank you

30 Hp you got to be kidding of course.

Neighbor ran 80 acres of land with an 8N here - corn & soybeans & oats. That's a lot to put under one N in our wet weather. His only job tho, full time farming - back then.

I bet this fella might have a regular job & need to wedge the farming into a few hours now & then. :) Need to get something done when he has the time to do it. Nebraska grows a lot of corn, but under irrigation & big pivots I thought. Surprised he can grow it on a 30 acre field.

Besides, the bigger tractors sell for less these days than the little ones. He needs cheap hp.

Thanks for the story. :)

--->Paul

If you are farming it on weekends & evenings, 50 hp will do.

If oyu are married & want to do other thangs as well in spring, you want 70 hp.

The good news: 30 hp tractors are all the rage with the 5 acre yuppies as well as collectors, and are over-priced.

You can often buy a 70 hp tractor for the same money. They are kinda big for the yuppies, and too small for the real farmers. I'd look in the 60-80 hp, diesel, 1958 or newer. (Cool features you will want started appearing in the mid 1950's....) Avoid the 'glitzy' options, such as Ford's Select-o-Speed, or other things that have faded away again. While some of these things worked ok in their day, after 50 years of service they tend to be more trouble & expense than worth.

--->Paul

It's also why we've got a 14' hydro-swing haybine to cut 30 +/- acres of hay each year. Only had it for a little more than a year, but put it behind the 285 (or 1855, depends on the mood, and fuel in the tank) and I'll never go back to cutting it with our 9'er that we keep for cutting swamp grass to chop for bedding.

Anything that's a deisel, and has 60-85 Hp, would be on my list, but I'm also partial to Massey & Oliver. Someday I may get me a 16 series deisel to go with the 1600 gas. Basically the same tractor over the years, just some minor improvements made over the years like HP. My 1600 has been overhauled with 1655 pistons & sleeves...

Donovan from Wisconsin

A 30-40 HP tractor is all you really need but as they say bigger is better.

This is as cheap as possible. The Farmall CUB (8 hp) was designed for farms less then 40acres, but I cant really see that happening.

The H was designed for farms up to 160acres. There is No 3pt hitch on them.

If you want a 3pt tractor, get an 8N. About the same price, just a smaller frame and a few less HP.

These tractors are the right size, and I am POSITIVE this is what to get. Trust Me.