Selecting a Tractor for the Small Farm

OK, you bought the farm, and you have moved onto the property, with excitement, and anticipating new activities in your farming ventures.  There are a tremendous number of activities that need to be done on a small farm, regardless of the size.  For the new or beginning farmer, one inevitable hurdle to overcome is how you will power your farm activities? You can farm with a number of power sources, such as walk behind small scale 2 wheel type machines, or with tractors, or you can custom hire work that needs to be done.  If you decide that having a tractor fits into your operation, read on. This article will be the first in a series of how to select, acquire, operate and maintain smaller scale farm machinery. Often people ask me “What tractor should I buy?”, and “How much does a tractor cost?”  As with all things agricultural, the answer is “it depends”. One of the first things that I ask a new farmer is “What do you want and need to do with a tractor, and, how much can you afford to spend?”  Each activity mentioned in this article will require certain machines in addition to a tractor and will be addressed in later articles.

This is a an older 65 horsepower tractor that would be a good choice for a new and small farm. All photos by Rich Taber

This is a an older 65 horsepower tractor that would be a good choice for a new and small farm. All photos by Rich Taber

The following is a list of activities which might be occurring on a farm or homestead at any given time of the year and requiring specific tractors and machines:

Brushhogging meadows and pastures for grazing management and to prevent the fields from growing back into forest.  This is one of the most critical jobs on a small farm, as nature can be relentless in working to restore forests. If fields are let to grow for more than about three years, small trees and brush will begin to take over, and then can be extremely difficult and expensive to correct.

Haymaking, which might be either small square bales, or large round bales of dry hay or baleage. The process can require mowing, tedding, raking, baling, wrapping high moisture bales, and hauling and unloading hay.

Tillage activities, such as plowing, disking, harrowing, planting, and of course, picking stones.

Planting crops such as forages, row crops such as corn and cereal grains, fruits and vegetables, and possibly food plots for wildlife.

This is a three point hitch implement that is an important tool for mowing brush and pastures.

This is a three point hitch implement that is an important tool for mowing brush and pastures.

Pulling a variety of 2 and 4 wheel wagons around on the farm for diverse activities, such as hauling crops and hay, firewood, and giving hayrides to people.

Harvesting crops other than dry hay, such as chopping high moisture hay for haylage or greenchop, and vegetables.

Front end loader work for snow removal, manure handling, feeding animals, moving materials around the farm, and loading and hauling hay and other crops.

Working in the woods skidding logs, hauling firewood, and hauling maple sap to the sugar house.

I am going to make some assumptions before I begin to suggest which tractor might be a good choice for you. Assumption one: right now, you are going to try to do as many operations as possible on your farm with one tractor, while you’re getting started.  As you build equity and experience, you may someday need another tractor or two, because as you will find out, not all tractors are suited to all purposes, but for now, we will focus on getting you this first tractor to do as many things as possible.
Assumption two: you only have a given amount of money to spend, and that you might be looking for a good used tractor.  New tractors can be prohibitively expensive; if you can afford one, good for you.

Assumption three: you may be looking for a smaller to medium size tractor to get everything done; leaving the big tractors for those who truly need them.

Table 1

Table 1

So just what should we be looking for in a good used tractor? There are a myriad of features that we need to consider. To accomplish what we need to do, will our tractor have the features listed in Table 1?

Live hydraulics and pto (power take off) are important; older tractors made in the forties and fifties frequently did not have “live” features, which meant if you pushed in the tractor’s clutch, the pto or hydraulics stopped working.  This can be quite annoying when you are in thick crops and have to use the clutch, and have to start up again from a dead stop.

Now that we have all of these features to think about, I will describe my version of a tractor that if I could only have one tractor, this is the type that I would look for, for my first tractor on a smaller farm.

1.  I would want a tractor made in the latter part of the twentieth century, at least from about 1970 onward. Older tractors made after World War II still abound, but lack many of the needed operational and safety features expected today. Narrow front ends from that era were very dangerous and lacked many of the safety features that we expect nowadays. These type of tractors can be very dangerous!

2.   I would prefer having a diesel engine; not many farm tractors come with gasoline engines anymore. Older tractors from the sixties and early seventies with gasoline engines can be quite aggravating to keep running smoothly on a year round basis, especially the ones made before the era of electronic ignition.

A three point hitch is a critical "must have" for most tractors nowadays.

A three point hitch is a critical “must have” for most tractors nowadays.

3.   It is mandatory to have a three point hitch. So much farm equipment exists which requires this feature making it an absolute requirement.  Often you can purchase aftermarket three point hitch assemblies for older tractors but they tend to be expensive, awkward to use, and not very efficient.

4.   I would prefer two sets of live hydraulic outlets (this is required to run many farm machines today).  If your tractor has only one set of hydraulic hoses, a second set can be added if and when your machinery needs dictate.

5.  A front end loader (often the front end loader ties up one set of hydraulic outlets leaving you only one other set to operate equipment).

6.   Not too many hours on the hour meter, preferably under 5,000 hours.  Repairs and overhauls can be extremely expensive!

7.  If not a fully enclosed cab, at least a Roll Over Protective Structure (ROPS) should be mandatory, with a seat belt.  A canopy is a nice addition on top of the ROPS. The ROPS is for roll over protection and can save lives, and the canopy can prevent you from baking in the sun during those hot summer days, and will keep some rain off of you.

This 52 horsepower tractor has a front end loader attached to it, useful for handling many kinds of materials.

This 52 horsepower tractor has a front end loader attached to it, useful for handling many kinds of materials.

8.  It would be nice to have four wheel drive; our long snowy winters and muddy rainy summer months, especially if the tractor has a front end loader, make you able to get into a lot of places you normally would not, and you can easily get stuck.  There are two basic types of tractor operators, those who have been stuck, and those who are going to get stuck.  Getting stuck and having to have the neighbors come pull you out frequently can strain neighborly relations.

9.  Live power take off.  Some older obsolete tractors have “non-live” pto which makes controlling the actions of your equipment awkward and difficult.

10.  How much horse power? There are different ways to describe h.p. but for right now we can simply say that a tractor with between about 45 to 75 horsepower should fit our needs.

11.  How much will this tractor cost? Depending on the age, condition, and features present, you can expect to pay at least $5,000 up to $20,000 for a good used tractor such as I have described in this article. In general, the more features, the more costly the machine will be.

A medium sized tractor with four wheel drive can get through snow and mud quite readily.

A medium sized tractor with four wheel drive can get through snow and mud quite readily.

In future articles, I will discuss where we can find good used tractors as well as looking at some of the numerous machines we need on a farm.

Two very useful websites for those looking for tractors and farm machinery are tractor house and fast line. These two sites list machines for sale all over the country; looking through them will give the reader a good idea on what typical prices for machine will be.

Rich Taber

Rich Taber is the Livestock and Forestry Educator for Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chenango County, New York. He lives with his beef cows and other creatures on a 165-acre farm in the high, remote hills of nearby Madison County. He can be reached at email rbt44@cornell.edu.

74 Comments

  1. Mike on July 20, 2015 at 10:27 am

    Thank you for the article.
    I am in the same situation you outline in your work.
    I would like to find my first, good, used small tractor.
    Is your “future article is available soon?
    Regards,
    Mike

    • Mike on January 26, 2020 at 7:05 pm

      Me Too.Thanks

  2. Carli Fraccarolli on July 20, 2015 at 10:54 am

    Mike,
    Rich has written a few more articles on this subject! His “future” articles can be found here and here.

  3. Nawmi Khan on September 16, 2015 at 7:46 am

    thanks for such article.
    could you please tell more if I want to buy an old tractor?

  4. enahoro on December 13, 2015 at 6:53 pm

    I just acquired a 10 hectare land for cassava cultivation. I’m wondering how much it would cost to get a new tractor.

  5. David on May 11, 2016 at 5:04 am

    Yes,Choosing a good tractor is very important.
    We export tractors and farm implements with high quality and low price for 12 years in China.
    Pls feel free to contact us. Detail photos, specifications and price can be offered for reference.
    David
    Call:0086 13371086805
    Email: Davidzhang716@hotmail.com

  6. JOHN Y. SACKIE on August 19, 2016 at 6:28 am

    I want to know the prices for the different kinds of tractors for small form.

  7. Cindy Tesler on December 9, 2016 at 3:33 pm

    Thanks for mentioning that if you need to bail some hay or mow a field, you probably need a tractor to help you. You also said that a tiller could help you to plow, harrow, or plant your field. I think it’s a good idea to choose farm equipment from word of mouth referrals from other farmers in your area.

    • Nick the tractor driver on December 3, 2022 at 12:03 am

      I just need a small (but not very small) tractor to go into town on, to keep as a pet. Something like a Fordson Major r a Fordson Dexter or even a Ford 3000 or is it a Ford 5000 and to never be used for anything other than running down the country lanes and nipping into the small market town centre where I live as if I were a working farmer for the sole fun of driving the thing, safely and looking the part. Also, nobodyelse in town, owns a tractor and those who do never come into town in them but they just clog up the roads for mile upon mile where motorists have to crawl behind them because they are too selfish to park in a layby and let the traffic past – I dont want to do that at all, I just want to nip and see my friends and tootle back again in a most civilised and totally unnecessary way.

  8. John on December 5, 2017 at 4:01 pm

    Fine article. Maybe in the future also discuss (1) use efficiency, such as buying more HP to take a bigger bush hog, (2) standard vs utility grade, and (3) the observation that older tractors are often so simple they rarely break down.

  9. Ridley Fitzgerald on February 9, 2018 at 6:33 pm

    My wife and I want to buy a small farm to move to. When that happens, we’ll definitely need a tractor. I like how you said to try and find one that was made in the last few decades. We’ll keep an eye out for those. http://pacountryequipment.com/products.html

  10. Mark nyambira on December 13, 2018 at 1:27 am

    Thanks very much I am I dire need of a tractor and I think this is my starting point

  11. Mark nyambira on December 13, 2018 at 1:31 am

    Thanks very much I am in need of a tractor and this is a step to go

  12. Jesse Ford on March 19, 2020 at 5:22 pm

    Thanks for mentioning that there are a lot of activities that need to be accomplished on a small farm regardless of the size. My brother is considering looking at farm equipment for sale because he’s considering buying some land to raise livestock on it and then selling the cattle when they’re grown. It might be a good idea to consider buying equipment from a reputable retailer that has high-quality machinery in order to handle all the farming duties that are required.

  13. Vance Baugh on October 22, 2020 at 2:55 pm

    We live on 40 acres. Used a Kubot BX 2200 subcompact for 1980 hrs. Four ft brush hog, 54 in mmm, FEL, single 14 in plow, 1.3 meter tiller, 2 row corn planter, 3 pt sprayer. Spent only $106 on repairs,I don’t count oil, filters, fluids as repairs. Felt I was over working the little mut so I traded it for a B2710 with 1048 hrs. Used it for another 960+ hrs. Spent $800 to rebuild the injector pump. The previous owners weren’t careful with their fuel. Changed the brush hog to a 5 ft, kept the other implements, forgot to mention the post hole auger. Traded the B2710 for a B3350, only because my lungs demanded a cab and filtered air to breath. The B3350 demands that you know how to live with a DPF equipped tier 4 compliant beast. I have found the Kubota to be reliable hard working machines. They are not cheap machines to maintain as far as fluids, filters and other periodic requirements.

  14. S.Richards on February 23, 2021 at 6:15 am

    What brand of tractors do you prefer?

  15. Golden Exotic Pets. on February 25, 2021 at 4:48 pm

    There is not good like reading a great blog, i was surfing
    the net and i came across you article, very brilliant. Thanks

    Golden Exotic Pets.

    https://goldenexoticpets.com/

  16. kushdispensaryonline. on February 25, 2021 at 4:49 pm

    First i will like to appreciate your blog, very great content,
    i will love to read more from your articles. Thanks

    kushdispensaryonline.

    https://www.kushdispensaryonline.com/

  17. High Purity Coke. on February 25, 2021 at 4:50 pm

    Thanks for creating such a brilliant blog, i though i have
    seen it all but your work is something else very inspiring
    and great content, Thanks

    High Purity Coke.

    https://www.highpuritycoke.com/

  18. Exotic Parrot Store. on February 25, 2021 at 4:51 pm

    I love reading articles but your blog has really
    inspired me, great work and lovely content, people need
    to see and know such wonderful blog, i will visit your
    site again, thanks

    Exotic Parrot Store.

    https://www.exoticparrotstore.com/

  19. Jell Research Chems on August 8, 2021 at 10:28 am

    we’re readers of articles but your blog has really
    inspired me, great work and lovely content, people need
    to see and know such wonderful blog, i will visit your
    site again, thanks

    Jell Research Chems

    https://jellresearchchems.com/

  20. Jell Research Chems on August 8, 2021 at 10:31 am

    Nice Tractors you have here and would like to exploit more of your site..

  21. Lillie on December 22, 2021 at 3:04 pm

    macaw parrots for sale
    Our parrots make a wonderful companion pet. Purchasing a pet parrot online is easy at MyMacaws Home. We sell parrots of the highest quality health and basic ability in their DNA. We have a small selection of macaw parrots for sale, Harlequin macaw parrot for sale, Blue and Gold Macaw parrot for sale and Hyacinth macaw parrot for sale. Browse wide variety of Parrots and Eggs on our Website.

    https://mymacaws.com

  22. ningu junior on February 18, 2022 at 5:06 pm

    I read the services offer by this site and i will wish to say only this important thing concerning agriculture.
    we all have forgotten that agriculture also come with a positive impart of maintaining our natural environment. As farmers cultivate they also tend to preserved and satisfied the population with the enough food for consumption and raw materials for up coming industrial developments. So it is going to be a great deal if we can support this fact in any way we can!!
    we cannot live without agriculture. we all have to say hat is right so for us to get both of this two things together with no destruction of the other we will now adapt to modern farming which use tractors and other modern tools so as not to burn grasses and trees that can lead to massive destruction of our natural environments. the use of tractors in farms and at farm to market roads should greatly help us achieved this goal. all you need to do is to contact the following links to get good and durable tractors for your good farm works all together we protect our environment .thanks.
    website=https://agriculture-tractors.com
    phone=+1 (415) 787-7770
    e-mail=INFO@AGRICULTURE-TRACTORS.COM

  23. ningu junior on February 18, 2022 at 6:09 pm

    PREPARING A SMALL TOMATOE GARDERN FOR HOME CONSUMPTION
    A tomato garden is never difficult to set up here is a step by step process of it
    1 look for a small land that can just be at least 5 meters square this will give you a yield you cannot imagine once you can follow us step by step
    2 There are cyber stores that sell seedlings of tomatoes that means all are prepared and treated and are ready for planting.
    3 if you can’t find such in your area, here is a simple step to do. Just get a fruit of fresh tomatoes and then split it into 2 and then
    you can carefully removed the seeds in them and dry under the sun at about 25 degree. then you can buy a treating agent from any cyber botanic store and mixed it in the seeds.
    4 From here you can prepare your 5 square land to be very soft by tilling so the seed can have ease when coming out during germination
    5 the tomatoes do not need too much of sun or cool so the best place for them to be when places are too dry or hot should be on a shaded area, but will need watering (irrigation).
    6 Fore a wet area no problems you just need to collect your seedlings from you prepared area or from the cyber and sprinkle on your tilled land and also make sure a little ground covers it to for easy germination.
    7 Now all you need to do is to weed grasses and avoid animals from destruction.
    8 GET TO KNOW THE TOOLS YOU NEED FOR YOUR FARM LANDS.!
    OR contact…..
    website=https://agriculture-tractors.com/
    phone=+1 (415) 787-7770
    e-mail=INFO@AGRICULTURE-TRACTORS.COM.
    THANKS IT MY PLESURE BY NINGU.

  24. frank on March 20, 2022 at 6:58 am

    After reading your article, I came to know how to write good quality content.
    Your content learns a lot. The way that you writing is Superb. I like it.

  25. Tractors PK on June 8, 2022 at 10:09 am

    Very appreciable article. Keep it up, Rich!

  26. Tractor Provider on June 25, 2022 at 7:53 am

    So many factors that you need to consider before you select a tractor. While it is not easy to choose the best tractor to suit your farming needs.

  27. M K Singh on June 28, 2022 at 7:44 am

    So many factors that you need to consider before you select a tractor. While it is not easy to choose the best tractor to suit your farming needs.

  28. Ricky on July 6, 2022 at 8:21 am

    Nice Tractors you have here and would like to exploit more of your site..

  29. Ricky on July 6, 2022 at 8:21 am

    Very appreciable article. Keep it up, Rich!

  30. manoj on July 12, 2022 at 6:42 am

    nice !

  31. pankaj on July 20, 2022 at 5:06 am

    After reading your article, I came to know how to write good quality content.
    Your content learns a lot. The way that you writing is Superb. I like it.

  32. AgroAsia Tractors on August 30, 2022 at 7:58 am

    I love this blog. Great info! Thank you so much!”
    https://www.agroasiatractors.com/

  33. franky on October 4, 2022 at 8:27 am

    I love the blog great contents https://exoticpetsonline.com/

  34. Nate AgManuals on October 19, 2022 at 5:52 pm

    This is a great article Rich and probably more relevant than ever. I see you have pictured a Ford 5000 and an IH 584 – both great tractors! I think the Ford 400, Massey Ferguson 135 and John Deere 3130 are also really great tractors for smaller farms or homesteaders. I think many of them after about 1960 would suit most people just fine.
    https://agmanuals.com/

  35. Massey Ferguson Tractors MF290 on November 25, 2022 at 6:35 am

    Your blog made me realized the worth of content in marketing industry. You writing style are awesome the way you describe is so good
    Massey Ferguson Tractors MF290

  36. antminer ka3 on December 11, 2022 at 7:38 am

    antminer ka3 is currently the most profitable atminer in the cypto mining market right now with fast RIO

  37. producta on December 19, 2022 at 11:32 am

    Thanks for creating such a brilliant blog, i though i have
    seen it all but your work is something else very inspiring
    and great content, Thanks

    cocaineforsale-au

    https://cocaineforsale-au.com/

  38. vinod singh on January 1, 2023 at 11:18 am

    You have written a very nice blog, and all your content is wonderful. I think you have written this blog from the bottom of your heart.
    https://ukyojana.com/usb-tethering-on-iphone/

  39. Sasural Simar Ka 2 on January 14, 2023 at 7:26 am

    Sasural Simar Ka 2 Watch Online Desi Serial Hindi Drama By Voot, Sasural Simar Ka 2 All Latest Episodes Online in HD, Sasural Simar Ka 2 Drama Today Full …

  40. Kakek Biru on January 23, 2023 at 11:35 am

    This is my first time visit at here and i am really pleassant to read all at alone place.

  41. digital marketing agency on January 24, 2023 at 5:59 am

    IMISOFTS offer a full range of services from start to finish, so whether you are building your brand plan, developing website,
    want digital marketing or UI/UX for the company’s web presence,
    we make sure the process and the results will work for you!

  42. bonesmarky on January 25, 2023 at 9:05 am

    weed in vienna
    weed in paris
    weed in athens
    weed in budapest
    weed in berlin
    weed in porto
    weed in istanbul
    weed in london

    Welcome to GuideMeHigh cannabis dispensary! Our selection of cannabis products is vast, ranging from beginner strains to unique varieties. We provide both recreational and medical products in a variety of flavors, aromas and potencies, making sure to have something for everyone. Our experienced budtenders are knowledgeable and can answer all your questions, as well as provide expert recommendations.

    Come visit us today at:
    https://guidemehigh.com

  43. Guru on January 26, 2023 at 5:34 am

    You have written a very nice blog, and all your content is wonderful. I think you have written this blog from the bottom of your heart.

  44. Ricky on January 28, 2023 at 3:05 am

    I visit your site for the very first time and I must say that you are proving very good data. very well-written post and very informative to me. you are doing are great work through your blogs.

  45. MF 385 Tractor on February 10, 2023 at 9:06 am

    Lovely information! I would love to hear more from you dear!

  46. James R. on February 18, 2023 at 7:44 pm

    yes check with adhd medications Pain Relief Medication Pills Without Prescription |

    https://adhd30mg.com/

  47. Vegamovies on February 26, 2023 at 2:09 pm

    Vegamovies is a fantastic website for downloading the latest TV series, Talk shows, and films. It is like torrent websites that provide online watching stuff with no money. Vegamovies is a popular online movie downloading website that provides a vast collection of movies and TV shows in different languages, including Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu. The website offers users an easy-to-use interface, making it easy to find and download movies of their choice.

  48. hamza on March 3, 2023 at 10:41 am

    very nice post dear thanks for share this ionformation with us

  49. shivani on March 3, 2023 at 10:42 am

    good post

  50. Monu Singh on March 15, 2023 at 7:19 am

    thanks for such article.
    could you please tell more if I want to buy an old tractor?

  51. Mayank Shukla on March 17, 2023 at 8:18 am

    Very Nice.
    Thanks for sharing this article, It was quite insightful.
    Hoping to see more articles with useful information.
    Well described.

  52. Prakash on March 17, 2023 at 9:41 am

    Your site was very informative and interesting as well. Thanks a lot and good luck.

  53. Sunil on March 17, 2023 at 9:41 am

    I really loved reading your Content I had a wonderful experience

  54. kolahkasket on March 22, 2023 at 12:39 am

    very nice site
    motorcycle helmet iran tehran
    https://kolahkasket.com
    thanks

  55. seriespunk on April 9, 2023 at 12:33 am

    Great work. Thanks for sharing this information. amazon jungle movies list

  56. Dramacool on April 14, 2023 at 3:18 pm

    Watch and download Korean drama, movies, Kshow and other Asian dramas with english subtitles online free. Runasian for everyone!

  57. desicinemas on April 21, 2023 at 6:20 am

    desi movies watch desi cinemas desi cinema and other osm desi movies watch english indi dubbed online free

  58. hdmovies50 on April 25, 2023 at 3:45 am

    i love this site hdmovies50

  59. hdmovies50 on April 25, 2023 at 3:46 am

    HDmovies50 – Download watch latest Bollywood Hollywood Hindi English Telugu Tamil Malayalam Dubbed Kannada Marathi Punjabi movies online free ..

  60. 123mkv Download on April 27, 2023 at 9:36 am

    Download Full HD Movies Free at 123mkv Download

  61. DesktopPrinter Setup on May 10, 2023 at 11:30 pm

    How to Fix Dell Printer OfflineSometimes there is a communication error that may come up on your Epson printer. The Epson printer communication error can be caused by reasons varying from faulty cables to the usage of the older interface of USB cables. If you are a newbie and don’t know how to connect the printer to your desktop then there might be a chance that you may not have paired the Epson printer with your desktop. Thus, the error will be showing “Incorrect Device Selected”.

  62. SMM Panel One on May 20, 2023 at 12:59 am

    SMM Panel One offers the best SMM services that are simply accessible to everyone. Through our genuine SMM panel services, we have assisted many businesses in gaining greater insights. If you choose us for your business, then we can help you develop your online presence across multiple social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, etc. because we believe in 100% customer satisfaction.

  63. motormaan on May 26, 2023 at 8:59 pm

    very nice helmets motorcycle accessories shop

  64. kolahmotor on May 26, 2023 at 9:00 pm

    behtarin froshgahe kolahe imenie motor tehran httos://kolahmotor.ir iran

  65. kolahmotor on May 26, 2023 at 9:03 pm

    froshe lavazeme imenie motor va kolah motor https://kolahmotor.ir best

  66. sesli chat on June 1, 2023 at 8:24 am

    Thank you very much dear teacher for this nice sharing.

  67. satta on June 7, 2023 at 12:14 am

    Very nice blog and post, I found it informative and useful, thank you for kindly share it with us, best regards and take care, visit our website for satta

Leave a Comment