Trying to Match Tractor Horsepower to Acreage (It's Not Easy)

[@bank80]

It's important to distinguish between how much land you own and how much land you have to maintain.

[@Formulabruce]

Very well said and the sales persons Job to lock down.

[@coypatton3160]

Mike a second comment. As you read his letter, he has woods. That is still vague in my opinion and needs to be explored in more depth and could be a major influence on what size of tractor he needs to consider. Trying to maneuver in woods can be major issue with larger tractors. Personally, I want lots more info from him before I give any suggestions.

[@scotttatroe7282]

It’s not how much land you have , it’s what are you going to be using it for

[@lordchaa1598]

I’m in complete agreement with your breakdown. No matter what you will always want a bigger tractor in the future. I will say these new small compact and compact tractors are incredibly versatile and and easy on fuel costs. We have many varieties of brands and sizes of tractors on the farm, but I still find myself doing the majority of my work on the lx2610. It’s smaller, can get in and out of tight spaces and it cuts my fuel consumption by more then half by using it over some of our bigger options. Don’t get me wrong our big ag tractors have their use, but only during certain times of the year, hay season /corn /soybean harvests and planting. Those are only a handful of weeks a year, the rest of the time I have found smaller is better, at least in our little operation (120 acres).

[@justindavis1546]

I went one up on the size tractor that everyone said I "needed". Just made sure that the size was small enough to use around property and haul with what I had.

[@comlbbeau]

I think you covered just about all of the salient points. Life is about compromise. Tractor size/weight (particularly if you're going to transport it), implement type and size, operating cost, repair expense, dealer choice, price - all factor into considerations as to what fits the bill best. For the new tractor buyer, the dealer that isn't asking questions isn't doing you justice. Approach your purchase with eyes wide open.

[@mikecude4167]

I think how patient a guy is, when doing tractor work is the biggest component. Our home is on 60 acres of wooded land, with a good amount of pushed over dead trees from the previous owner. Initially I bought a 75hp wheel loader with a grapple to clean up the property. With owning 400+ head of cows out on a lease place and always being in a rush I felt like it wasn’t enough equipment for this small 60 acres and I wasn’t getting enough done. We droughted out and sold the cows in January, and I bought a Kubota B2320. I fell in love with little sub compact Kubota, and is plenty of tractor for the 60 acres, with exception of three jobs I do regularly, move hay, auger post holes and pile up trees. Otherwise, I’ve slowed down a lot and that’s it, being patient. I have upgraded to a 2022 Kubota L2501, which is perfect for all my chores and the size of the property. Also, I’ve got most of the trees piled up and burned. It’s a lot slower than the 75hp loader was, but I’ve become more patient. I say, at a minimum you need to cover your regular lifting chores and beyond that, be patient and enjoy the ride😁

[@eddiep5676]

Great info! I think the “Woods” issue is an important one, if applicable to a guy’s situation. I have a 50hp tractor with a 6’ rotary cutter and 5’ front end bucket for maintaining trails in thick woods. I also cut 5 acres of grass with that setup. Anything bigger would make it difficult to maneuver in the trees. Bigger not always better…….😂

[@1gleamor1]

Just got a chance to watch this today so I'm a little late. But I bought my tractor last year, a JD 4044m, using the acres x hp thought process. Last week I took it in for post break-in 200hr service and traded for a 2022 5 series (got a smoking deal on a 5075). Why I traded up was twofold 1) wanted a cab 2) 44hp wasn't nearly enough for ground engaging implements. Anything bigger than a 6ft rotary cutter or tiller the 4044m was just not capable/powerful enough for the 40 acres I have here in southern Colorado. Growing up I always heard "1hp per acre" which I now think was the minimum hp per acre. Lastly, but certainly not least, thanks Mike for the most informative tractor videos on KZbin IMHO

[@drbungee1]

I have been researching tractors for a long time and figure 30 to 32 hp will be sufficient (7 acres). When I spoke with my local John Deere salesman, he asked where I lived and what I planned on doing. After answering his questions, he immediately took me over to a 3038e. Same tractor size, more hp. The biggest reason for his suggestion was due to me living in a hilly area and him knowing that area well (he lives in the same area). I haven't bought yet, but now I keep that in mind.

[@Formulabruce]

That tractor has probably THE BEST in ground clearance as it doesn't do Mid mount implements.

[@jimquinalty8631]

Mike I like your videos. I have learned a lot from you. I bought a new tractor about a year ago. I have 2 1/2 acres where I live and 40 acres on another property. When I talked to the Kubota salesman and told him what I wanted to do he recommended a L4701 hydrostat drive. I bought that tractor and added the third function. I bought a new grapple and already had some used implements. After using it for a year I am very happy with it. Maybe this will help someone else. Thanks again for all the good videos.

[@JCWren]

Just remember when you're talking acres, it's the acres you can work with the tractor, not necessarily total acreage. E.g., I have 38 acres, but 8 of it lawn, driveways, and other things that aren't "tractorable".

[@BarryHull]

Mike, I live on 50 acres. I already had a tractor but I wanted a skid steer. I thought I wanted one with tires, but when I called the local Bobcat dealer and told him what I wanted to do with it he adamantly refused to sell me one with tires, he said I needed tracks, which I did. I thank him to this day for his refusal to sell me what I thought I needed.

[@rpmpat]

Love the content Mike. Keep them coming. I just bought a JD 4066r for my rolling 42 acre property and it’s so much more user friendly than my 3520 Deere.

[@troypriest4014]

Enjoy your videos Mike, God bless you and your family!

[@davidnelson677]

I never thought of acers to the the size of the tractor but what I wanted to accomplish with the tractor. Moving dirt, pulling stumps, hauling logs, mowing brush, etc. Which is what you pointed out.

[@hammer1togo]

Hi Mike, In my opinion you are pretty much spot on. A few years ago, I bought a 35 hp tractor with a F.E.L. for about 10 acres of land that I owned. It does everything that I want to do and maintain my property. Now I'm not putting up hay with this tractor. I do move a few round bales with it but I have someone else with a bigger tractor with hay equipment put the hay up for me. I also live not far from you and have mostly level ground. I have been really happy with my choice of a compact tractor and it does all that I need it to do. Everyone has to consider what implements and how hard they want to work their tractor.

[@mochacuppa]

Aloha Mike, I agree with everything you said, and would like to add the slope of the land and the amount of rainfall as two additional considerations. I am a first time tractor owner with 15 acres on the slope of Mauna Kea on the Big Island and use a 25hp 4WD Kubota. It felt very tippy, especially hitting holes dug by wild pigs while mowing on a slant. Reversing the rear tires bought me an additional 8" of width, and helped with stability. However, we get 18'-22' of rain and with our clay soil the small front tires really struggle getting any traction going uphill or making sharp turns. In hindsight I would've bought a 50-60hp with larger front tires that would greatly help with both issues.

[@Formulabruce]

The misconception with power comes from The EPA and the 25 hp tier 4 deal. Keep in mind that ALL Horsepower IS, in FACT, Estimated, NOT measured. Torque IS measurable. A John Deere 25 hp engine you may see listed on series 1, series 2, and series 3 frame sizes. The 1 and 2 series ARE the Exact same Engine WITH Same torque. The 3 series is over 100 cubic inches and WAY more torque, which is must have to move the great weight around. So Mike, as you say, the HP isn't the be all/end all in this conversation.. Great Video!

[@PineyGroveHomestead]

Definitely not a "one size fits all" answer that many people seek. I think it's wise to look at implement size and what the tractor will be used for. A good case can be made that a 40hp compact tractor can do just about anything the average land owner will want to do on their property and even if they have 2 acres, they won't feel "over powered". The appeal of the sub-compacts may be price rather than anything else, but looked at over 20 years, the compact is the better value.

[@cbrookb]

Great info Mike. For me, I measure my tractor based on what am I going to be doing with it. Land size can come into play if the need is agricultural or frequency of use is high. The gentleman's question is hard to answer. Especially because no two needs are the same. No two pieces of land are the same. No two budgets are the same. We do the best we can don't we.

[@michelebeckham3474]

One of the best explanations i have heard. Agree with you 💯 % . The only thing i would add is I have never wished I went smaller, I have wished I went bigger.

[@sgtaaronp]

I watched your videos for 2 years, along with several other great channels to try and understand what I needed, my MF 1825E is simply the best decision I made! Shoud have got some remotes but all well! Thanks Mike!!

[@knowhereman1]

When I was shopping for a tractor I hated when the dealer asked me about acreage. I had done a lot of research and knew what I needed.

[@blessed7fold]

Mike I am in total agreement but one thing you may have missed or didn't mention that I will point out is obstacles. The bigger the tractor the harder it is to manuever around obstacles.

[@brucewiley5252]

You are exactly right. I would ask in the future if he is planning on using a grapple front end for cleaning brush up. Hydraulic remotes are important, more than most realize.

[@tombarnes1871]

Good information Mike!!!

[@bobjohnston8316]

Great advice. I inherited a small property of 14 acres and decided to retire there. It was a working farm many years ago but the rest of the acreage was long since sold off. I rent about eight acres to a farmer who does his thing and keeps those acres in crops. The Kubota dealer steered me away from the B series and I would up buying a 31 HP L3010 (this was quite a few years ago). It turned out to be great advice. IF the farmer gives up and sells out for development, and it may happen, I have enough horsepower to bush hog the eight acre field.

[@kevinperry581]

You’re spot on. Most peoples first tractor is the wrong tractor. We guys will most always want bigger and more remotes. Whatever he gets, he needs to fill the tires and get wheel weights. In my opinion ,you can never have enough weight. I always go with filled tires , weights and the heaviest box blade I can find. I even fill the front tires. It helps with pulling a big box.

[@hughhead9079]

Thank you for your service to the landowner Mike! It's the implements that do the work that matter. The tractor spec follows these requirements. Think about how that loader and 3 point hitch will have to work for the area the jobs are in and then think tractor width, weight and horsepower. After owning a 45hp and a 25hp machine, the reality is the comfort of a cab, a really good hydraulic system for the loader and rear hydraulics and the ability to still be able to TRANSPORT the machine to jobs for family and friends makes my difference. You can maintain your place with a 25hp subcompact... but maintaining the world is something else!

[@jeffstrains4014]

My 2 cents sub compact tractors out in the unknown are a little tip over happy, vs that larger frame. I live on a downsized family farm what we call our small tractor is a 50hp Kubota I have taken that sized tractor as the benchmark of what’s needed for most AG related jobs. You have 2k maybe little more on front loader, 3 on back. It’s enough to get into random tree cutting pulling jobs etc

[@johnstobbscpa8081]

Mike, this is great info. Thanks. I wish I would have heard this 5 years ago when I bought some land.

[@123hotdog111]

Great video Mike. I've seen em all. At the 8:14 mark where you get into transportation is what was key for me. My tractor was bought for my property but I also wanted to be able to transport it and do a little work with it to help offset the cost of the tractor. I would tell people reading this that if you have that in mind, it takes a long trailer when you are transporting a brush hog. (a 14 foot trailer just for a subcompact with a brush hog)

[@123hotdog111]

Mike you are spot on. My subcompact does a fantastic job on my five acres (and around my neighborhood I might add). I do have a customer that I bushhog 7 acres for 3 times a year and I can tell you with my subcompact tractor and 4 foot brush hog, it is nearly an all day job.

[@tractortyme]

Before one buys a tractor, US the buyers needs to ask ourselves a million questions, you will most always find more stuff to do as you have become a tractor owner, started looking 4-5 years ago about getting a tractor. Beginning objectives was snow removal in Montana, and some property managment, So I looked at 25-35 Compact tractors, after watching your channel, Outdoors with the Morgans any many others, I started looking beyond my initial areas of use. So I bought next fram/HP size up, and I now have grapple, forestry winch, flail mower that I earn money on the side with. And I think I hit the Goldilocks zone on my 1st try, totally satisfied with my choice of a TYM T474 (48.3Hp) Cab and HST.

[@tfisadog5260]

Be looking for you at the Farm show again this year. Keep the videos coming

[@TractorMike]

I breezed through on Thursday before it started because we went to Roots N' Blues in Columbia which is usually in September. I hated missing Farmfest but there were just too many good bands playing at the show. Maybe next year!

[@crappieginger2362]

@@TractorMike Sounds fun I had to stay an extra day since I bought a grapple from S&H Rented a U haul and pulled it home. Then looked at a TC45D in NE Iowa 950 hours almost show room condition used to push snow only and brought it home. I know I will be happy with it. Will be calling you for advice. Looked for an hour to find the fuse panel since the tail lights didn't work finally found it under the dash panel. I hope the guy finds the book on it.

[@MrDdaland]

For myself, I thought quite awhile and thought about what I wanted to use a tractor for, both currently and possible future usage. After lots of thinking and consideration I decided that something in the 35-40 hp range most closely met my needs. Also decided that I would be more comfortable with a older tractor that still has good parts availability. So, when I found a Ford 841 at a local auction for under $1000, I didn't feel like I would be out much in case my thinking was wrong

[@jaorte10]

My jd2038r is perfect for my 10 acre veggie farm in NE Florida. And i can haul it up to Georgia to my hunting land with my F150. Plus the small frame fits through pine rows to get to my food plots. It easily turns my 72" rotary tiller. Perfect for my applications. So I totally agree with your analysis. Thanks

[@restoringbonaire]

The same thing happened to me. I bought a used 25 horse category one tractor with industrial tires and it just did not have enough gonads to do the work on my 43 acre hilly farm. I traded it in for a category 2 55 horse tractor with ag tires and it has made the work so much easier. More power! Argh, argh, argh

[@bradw3313]

Good advice and thanks…..for me I watched these videos before buying. I made the following list before sizing. All jobs I need to use tractor for a routine basis (repeat jobs each year). What equipment I needed to have to do these tasks. What are needs vs wants based on above (aux hydros front or rear, 4x4, HST vs Gear, Cab vs Roof) I have a small place but have to lift round bails off trailer and feed. Land is flat jobs usually are short in time. I went bigger than needed as I got a deal on like new used so got a 52hp CUT (Kubota MX5200), gear drive and 2wd.

[@mikewatson4644]

When I retired from farming, I kept an older 100 hp tractor to use where I live. We have 35 acres of farmground that we rent out, but I maintain the field edges, and 1/4 mile of gravel drive way. I planted some trees and I pull a trailer with a 200 gallon water tank to water the trees. I feel very safe pulling that weight with that size tractor. A newer, smaller tractor would be easier to get on, probably be easier on diesel fuel, but I don't think I would feel as safe pulling that kind of weight on some ground with a slope. For the things that I do and the places that I go with a tractor, I made the right decision for my circumstances. As other people have said, asking lots of questions is key to ending up with a tractor that you will feel safe with. At the end of the day, safety is the most important consideration.

[@tomdamon7208]

My 32hp/28ptohp mows my 4 acres with a 6ft finish mower o.k. . It works so-so in snow . Takes me about 3 hours to mow , that's because it's rocky in New Hampshire . Great vid !

[@yrualeg1]

Mike great advice, my Dealership said you need to maximize the time you're on your tractor. With 40 acres we went with a Kubota M6060 and pull a Bush Hog 2310. It has been the best decision we made.

[@jimmeyer777]

It doesn't matter how many acres you're working. What matters more is do you have enough PTO horsepower to operate the equipment for the job you need to get the job done and how much weight you can lift and how high you can lift it safely. I'm looking at this as an owner of an equestrian center.

[@m16ty]

I'd say you did a pretty good job of figuring this out. That being said, I own 45ac but only really upkeep about 15-20 of it. I've got a 90hp tractor and a 15' cutter. I've also got 3 other tractors to do various task. I just like tractors and don't want to take long to get done. All of my stuff is older though and I bet all my tractors together wouldn't equal the price of a new 40hp tractor.

[@kevchard5214]

Mike today there are smaller hay implements for the hobby farmer with compact 24+ hp tractors. They will only produce small round bails and the the cutters and rakes are mostly 4 ft but they are out there today. I agree with your enology of Hp doesn't correlate to acreage. I have 22 acres and a Kubota 24hp compact tractor but only 3 acres are accessible with a tractor since its in the Ozark mountains (the rest is accessible by goat only) so you are correct.

[@PKBees]

Size of tractor is important, too. My 10 acres are filled with huisache and mesquite. These trees grow in the shape of a vase, and I'm glad I didn't go any bigger than a 3025e. I don't dare get any implements wider than the tractor, or I might get stuck between the trees. I've already knocked off a light, and the tool rack I bought from you. Both have been replaced, and my lights are now mounded inside the ROPS, rather than on the outside.

[@earlyriser8998]

I am a newbie at this but have a 60 hp Kubota with cab for 3 years. I have not yet wished I had bought a smaller sub-compact yet for my 110 acres. I am moving dirt (land plane, box blade and offset rear blade), moving logs w/grapple, repairing roads (tooth bar added to bucket), brush hog, pallet forks, chain harrow to smooth fields, and work basket (Titan , very nice). Big enough we could make hay on our 30 acre hay field but no plans yet. I wish I had the air ride seat. Maybe for Christmas.

[@RedIron1066]

As a former tech for one of the largest Deere compact tractor dealers in the Midwest, I can tell you I’ve seen way more tractors torn up by trying to do more than intended than anything else. I should also say my Hp/acre ratio is currently sitting at 54:1. 😊

[@rfb7117]

Mike, I think the questions is more what he is going to do in the woods and on the open land rather than just acreage size. We have 145 acres, a friend farms the open land and I do deer food plots, trails in the woods, clearing brush etc etc,. The key for me was not getting anything too large that is tight in the woods, but having enough hp to work the ground for food plots. I purchased too small hp initially and worked my way up to a larger JD hydro 50 hp tractor. I have had it 15 yrs and it does everything I need, including moving snow with a 6' blower and the hydro makes it very easy to maneuver in tight areas.

[@rogerr1296]

Got a 50hp for about 30 acres and plan on getting a flex wing cutter so glad I have a bigger one. Disadvantage is that I am not able to maneuver through the woods to do cleanup work with the grapple, front end loader.... like I would like to. So, I guess there is always a trade off, you just have to decide what it the most pressing or important job(s) you need to get done.

[@galactusfantasticus4814]

47 acres and I have a JD 3046R (46HP) and a 1025R (25HP) - property is mixed terrain with a large amount of old growth forest, - we orcharding apples in the front, and I am clearing land in the back. 3046R so far is perfect size for property and handles forestry work, brush hogging, tilling, grading, loader work. 1025R is used for snow removal, work in tight spots with low power needs, and general property maintenance including fencing. Both work in their roles just fine. I have kept interoperability of attachments between the two tractors in mind as much as possible. HOWEVER - I agree with you Mike - I still cant help wanting that JD 5 series, especially for logging large oak and maple or moving large volumes of material even more efficiently.

[@richardalesi2798]

Very well put. I inherited a 27hp Ford/New Holland that runs a 5' brush cutter. My goal is to buy in the 50-70 hp range for myself in a year or 2. I've got 20 acres of pasture land that has some hairy spots to cut with that smaller framed tractor. Additionally my little tractor has a pinned on bucket, therefore it really struggles with a round bail of hay with clamp on pallet forks. (Absolutely not an ideal setup.) Great video!

[@adamm2716]

i'm 27hp 22hp-pto for 10 arces pretty happy with everything. would be great to have a batwing but it is what it is. as long as i mow each week i can mow pretty quick

[@dwayneloftice2326]

Right on target with your tractor size, HP and applicable attachments relative to tasks, time expended and acreage! For comparison, I have 6 acres of which I brush mow about 1/2 of it with a larger frame compact 26 HP tractor. Just over a year of ownership and use (189 hrs on the clock) and haven't had a single thought about needing something larger!

[@markchoate9021]

Mike, you have good break points for the acreage, etc, but personally, I think you are a bit light on the tractor size. Example: Your "chart" would have a fella at 12 - 15 acres with a 25 - 35 hp tractor. In my humble opinion that is just too light. He should have a 40 hp at least. Just my 2 cents. Thanks for the video.

[@mariosancartier2537]

I have 6.5 acre and my tractor is a new holland t2410 50hp love it 😀 not to small not to big 👍

[@peacocklandmgmt3719]

I my case I've come to need 2 tractors, even on 22 acres. The sub compact is mainly a mower and a sprayer these days and rarely is the loader mounted on it anymore. The real work is done with a full size 85 hp cab tractor and "heavy duty" implements that all weigh over 1,000 lbs.

[@barrymulharan8637]

I have a kioti ck3510. I have 6 acres of food plots that I plant every year.. Like you said, I wish I had gotten a 45 horse!! Seems like I need more power on occasion!!!

[@rdaugherty52]

I bought 21 acres of flat beautiful land never before thought much about a tractor but I knew I would have to mow this eventually so I began looking at tractors I found a used John Deer 5045 with 3 hours on it and had never been in the dirt I couldn't pass this up so now I have to get a trailer and on and on it goes. A bigger tractor means a bigger trailer and a bigger truck to pull it with right down to bigger chains. Now I am finding out that my tractor is really 50 hp and it will do just about everything I want I am really happy with it. Just remember bigger tractor and everything else has to be bigger.

[@dpwhitaker7088]

My brother and I maintain 250 acres with a Ford 8N and a Kubota 33 L. In fairness only 10 acres of this needs brush hogging and food plot maintenance. We like the size of these tractors as they are very maneuverable in the timber as well. We don't skid logs but do use the Kubota to move fallen trees and stumps.

[@paulfranklin599]

Always buy as much tractor as you can afford,because he’s right you’ll always want bigger! At least that’s been my experience.

[@markcdeyoung3118]

I've got 20 acres here in Southeast Missouri .. most of it forested I use a 30 horsepower land track 300 DTC 4x4 ...30 horsepower pulling a 5-ft bush hog is perfect for getting around those tight space trees ... My little 1801D Mitsubishi does just fine also👍

[@jamesmorrison1884]

Hello Mike dont matter how many acres you have its what your doing with it. What your plans are in the future. You also have to be wise that the dealer may want sell you a smaller tractor now knowing that you will up grade therefore making more money. This is what you need to base things on. Have a great day

[@mikehaines6176]

Good video and good points. I wouldn't have felt bad about ol' Bernie since he didn't tell you he was going to be haying. That's utility tractor work because you need the weight against the implements and the added power created by the tractor's size. I have a 4052 and I'd pull a rake with it but I'd never hitch it to the baler -- not heavy enough for that. There's no feeling like having an implement push you and your tractor down the hill.

[@billmounce458]

My first tractor was a 60's model Kubota L260 and an old John Deere bush hog. I have 18.5 acres in western Louisiana and about 2/3 is cleared. I cut some insane brush, small trees, etc. with that setup until the tractor died. I now have a 80's model Kubota 4030su and it is so much better with the higher HP. Go big as you can for the most part.

[@GWBoen]

I have 20 acers of shredding under pecan trees so I have a small (short) 45hp with a 5f shredder I have a lot of hills and I shredd tank dams. It all depends on what you are using the tractor for and your terain.

[@larogersii1]

Mike I agree with you but I am not that experienced LOL. I own a Ford/NH 1920 and pull a 6 foot brush hog fine. I have a 6 foot bucket with loader and that works great. This tractor I bought in 1998 and dont plan on ever buying a new one. I of course like you said would love a bigger one but no need. I may want to put read hydraulics and a grapple on this but need to add hydraulic value upgrade. Billings, MO here

[@TractorMike]

BILLINGS??? Wow, my family settled there in like 1837, out west of town. Our family name is on the mural on the east side of the bank building as one of the original settlers. Good to meet another SWMO guy!

[@mikefrank7299]

Good info

[@MusicandMachines]

Just bought 50 acres in East Tx. I have probably 10-12 acres that are open and able to be brush hogged. The problem is I also found a used Brown Tree Cutter to keep clearing more land with. AMAZING implement, but needs a good bit of hp to run it. Upgraded from a Massey 230 to a 253. I think it’s the perfect size. Stout loader, heavy tractor, nimble, SIPS diesel since it’s a turbocharged 3 cylinder Perkins. It is HARD to find a tractor this size in the used market.

[@TractorMike]

Those 253's were excellent tractors. I sold those new and I don't know that anyone ever didn't like a 253.

[@kylerayk]

I have a 50hp Kubota M5660 on 2 acres and I think it's just right. Full disclosure, I use it to maintain my mom's 40 acres in a neighboring town 60 miles away. I've never longed for anything smaller.

[@dwalke26]

I’d say you’re on it, but like you said it’s more about what you intend to do with the tractor both currently and in the future. I’d say for with type property something like the new 4M/R Deere’s would be good because you’ve got the power to handle a 6’ cutter, good hydraulics, good stability on hills, but still maneuverable.

[@stanleyconrad4234]

Hi Mike. I like others will turn this into all about me. About 40 years ago I was wanting an 8N to play with. I have 7 acres, consisting of mature trees, a significant stream/drainage, some steep slopes associated with the stream and bordered by a major river. Not what you would consider farmable. Being cheap and impractical I went with well used Case 411B due to live power and an independent PTO. It came with 3 16’s, a 10’ transport disc, back blade, etc. All cheaper than a good but bare 8N. I redid the head and it ran well. Turns out it might have been just a touch too large for my 1.5 acre garden 😳. Who knew!! Bigger is not always beater, nor is it a good deal because it is cheap. I 8N idea was not practical either. Ended up with a tiny Yanmar that I still own. It is too small to garden with, that’s what a Farmall Cub is built for.

[@wildearpsadventures4991]

In short figiure put the largest frame size you can use, heaviest weight you can pull with your truck and then get the largest HP that fits inside those parameters. Like you said you'll always want bigger, if you get the strongest you can out the gate it will suit your needs for longer.

[@Varietywork264.]

When I was gorwing up when I was 2 years old my dad had a ford 1720 that he ran for 10 years had a ford jubilee prier to that and he has ford 951a special brush hog that he used on his 1720 and just a couple years before dad traded his 1720 in he had 2 six foot finish mowers and a 7' mower. The 1720 was only a 28 horse power tractor then dad bought a ford tc35 when i was 12 years old and never had much problems with the two tractors im compairing. I like in a single wide trailer with like not even a acer of land and I have a 1948 ferguson te20 and i used it to move stuff around and works great prier to that i have a 2 n series fords and I ran 2 6' finish mowers with it and works great though i never ran a bursh hog with any of the 3 tractors. The 3 tractors ive owned are 28 hp engine speed. All the rambling i'm doing in short term is what kind of tractor do you feel you are comfortable with and what you can afford.

[@ebudrow1]

I maintain a couple different pastures about 4-5 acres ea. I use a Ford 9n with a 5’ bush hog. But because I also feed round bales to our cows on those pastures I also have a MF TO-35 (35? hp)with a loader and a Fordson Super Major (53 ? hp) with a loader. Both the bigger tractors have mowers but I rarely use them because the 9n is so fun! And fast enough for me to get the fields clipped. But even if the 9n had a loader I wouldn’t use it to feed round bales as it would be too small on the hills I’m on. Need the bigger machine for stability. Long answer to say, Yeah, you’re pretty close Mike.

[@Tritamer]

I have a Kioti RX7320 (73 engine hp) on 24 acres that needs some serious attention, but so far have only mowed heavy brush in my firebreak of 3.5 acres with a 84” Woods brushbull. Sounds like overkill I’m sure, but if I didn’t have all the acreage and just the 3.5 acres, I wouldn’t have gone a lot smaller than what I’ve got now. I know that doesn’t sound right, but love the power and getting the job done fast!

[@williamorton7600]

Mike in Richard's case, he said he wanted a front end loader. So lift capacity is also a question. I bought forks for my Mahindra 2538 and quickly found out it wouldn't lift a pallet of landscape block that it should have been capable of handling. Like you said, I upgraded to a larger frame tractor to get the lift capacity for future projects. Although its bigger, it does fine in my big garden. If he gets a log grapple, think about capacity.

[@Noah_E]

This isn't a dig at them (I own a YT347) but Mahindra, Yanmar, and brands other than JD and Kubota tend to list lifting capacity at the pivot point. The actual lift capacity is roughly 70% of that figure. That's why you'll see specs like A at pivot, B at 500mm (20") out from the FEL and X at pivot, Y at 24" behind the 3PH. B and Y are what matter and many Mahindra don't list them at all to make comparison with other brands harder

[@Noah_E]

Start with the largest HP and lifting requirements for what you need. For me it's 35 PTO HP for an inverted snow blower. That means a 40-45 HP tractor. I ended up going with a Yanmar YT347. I have 28 acres at home and 49 acres with a cabin an hour away. It handles tasks at both with ease

[@FlatFifties]

The main factor for me was: what tasks do I want to do with it?. When I was looking at Kubotas I knew that over the long term the L2501DT would be big enough for me, however one of the first tasks I wanted to accomplish was to dig out and move the huge boulders that were the foundation boulders for an old barn that I burned down. I knew the L2501 would not even begin to lift those boulders, so I stepped up to the L4701DT which was barely able to do the job. Now that the boulders are gone, the L2501DT would be more suitable for my needs, but I am keeping the L4701DT.

[@jamesrigler]

I have a manhindra emax 20s the bucket is 5 ft it is rated at 19.85 horsepower I'm pulling a 5ft titan 3 blade finish mower so far I've had no complaints and would buy it again

[@LedgemereHeritageFarm]

The little tractors may have enough ooomf, but they’ve got to be heavy enough to hold it back going down hill and then pull it back up again. I have a Mahindra Max 26XLT for yard and garden and cleaning out underneath the barn and a 1635 for most everything else and then a pile of antique tractors going from a Farmall Cub to a John Deere A. My 40 HP John Deere A will haul anything I need it to and it weighs 5000#

[@snapmac5547]

I'd like to see you do a video on atv/utv for farm use. Any thoughts?

[@stephengmeiner3264]

I agree with everything you said. However, I had a 33 hp tractor for about 20 acres of land. We moved to 6 acres of land just 2 miles away and I have since sold my tractor. Now I would like to buy an excavator. The land is so different. I don’t even need a tractor. So my point is acres aside, what are you doing with the equipment? HP is a factor but not the most important one.

[@wildearpsadventures4991]

I bought a 30hp because its largest i could afford used (during covid). Wish I had 50 or 60, but i didnt realize at the time that my new land was so hard to work. It gets most of what i want done just struggles and takes more time to do it.

[@arthurslife1881]

Love the content unfortunately graph doesn’t quite reach me 600 acre family farm

[@CptBlackbeardlives]

We farmed 180 acres with one Ford 7700 tractor. 5 bottom plow, 14 foot disc, 4 row planter, that one tractor, 100 PTO hp did it all.

[@John1911]

In my opinion, it seems like there are two groups of people who use the word “tractor” but aren’t really talking about the same thing. Most of the tractors Mike talks about are more geared towards home owners. Of one stripe or another. And they own “tractors”. The other group of people are actual farmers. Could be big farmers or small farmers. When they say “tractor”, they are really talking about Ag tractors. For them, it all really starts at 100hp and a heavy frame. Even if those folks get a 70-80-90 hp tractor, they are fully aware how much, or little, they can do relative to the 100hp number. And for the folks who read this and don’t understand the point, let me use our tractor as an example. We run a private gun range. Our tractor is 75hp and weighs 11,000lbs. Maintain gun ranges. Keep trails open. Moving downed trees, etc, etc. We have a tenet farmer who just hays a small field. His “everyday” tractor is a 130hp model. The big farms around us, their “main tractors” all start around 280hp. They use the 100-130hp tractors as the “go-fers” and run-around machines. My rule of thumb is, anyone looking to get into any meaningful Ag work, and not glorified gardening, needs to be as close to 100hp at possible. Which is what, not surprisingly, you have. Sure, I could “get buy” with my 75. Maybe even tune up the HP a bit. But it wouldn’t be too long until I was looking at a 100hp upgrade. Which for the money, would likely mean I’d be in a 130hp unit. This is especially true for haying. Regards, Marky John1911.com

[@larrywelch4979]

Till we downsized row crop and upped the herd we farmed 240 acres with a 560 ,72 horse and a SM. Pulled a 14 aw with duels.

[@earlkozak6538]

Great informative video Mike! Did you ever get a chance to look at the email i sent you about the second set of RBI lights that arrived damaged? Let me know what your thoughts are Mike!

[@TractorMike]

Hi, Earl. I just left you a voicemail message. Call me when you can and we can discuss. Thank you for your business!

[@redneck5356]

Don’t forget the new tractors over 25 horse power. Have all the wonderful regen. Depending on how much use to how often it’s going to regen.

[@ke6bnl]

I think some consideration has to go with what other equipment you have. I like my subcompact but it compliments my skidsteer

[@jasonbabcock2742]

Also considering tractor and implement size with how many things you'll have to mow around. Do you have an orchard, vineyard or other areas with narrow passages?

[@d.a.ballou9740]

I think your breakdown is probably accurate, although I don't have enough experience to be a good judge. As a recent tractor shopper, I HATED being asked what I was going to use my tractor for. My uneducated answer was "for tractor things" 🤣. I didn't know there were so many "limitations" on tractors based on what they were being used for, i.e., ground driven implements, haying, etc. So I think the buyer and the salesperson both need to be more forthcoming on the details of what types of things the tractor will be used for. I ended up purchasing a Massey Ferguson 1742M tractor and I own just under 13 acres of mostly wooded flat land and I really like my tractor. 😁👨‍🚒

[@bjholbrooks434]

I sized mine up to the next HP because I decided on a hydrostatic transmission VS a gear. To get more PTO HP. So my ration is 60:12.

[@johanrunfeldt7174]

The operating weight of the tractor decides what it can do, and the power decides how quickly you will be done. If you don't want to be done quickly - because you love to farm - the upper limit for animal power has been stated as about 200 acres. (type "Draft Animal Power" in the search box) Tractors, even pretty small ones, will be quicker than animal power. IF we continue on the track where we look at what our predecessors got away with, not very long ago proper utility tractors had power ratings only found on compacts today (

[@ronevans852]

I have 22 /A of land and I’ve had 5 tractors and never been happy with any of them. I think I should Have gotten a skid steer n a tractor to cut the pasture and to have a garden, then maybe I could have made all that work like I wanted. If I only new.

[@sameoldmphymel]

The other consideration it's not only how much of your time you spend on the tractor but a smaller tractor is going to accumulate more runtime hours on a large piece of property so in the long term you have that to consider

[@pyroman6000]

One other point, is do you need a compact or compact utility- or an actual utility tractor. The smaller ones are about the same size, but totally different animals. MUCH heavier built, larger pumps, heavier cat 1 hitch, etc. There is overlap in hp, too. Usually a gear tranny too. That utility will be more useful for haying, dirt work, pto impliments, etc. Thats what they are for - no frills, daily driver work tractors. I was very surprised to see just how close the deere large 4 series and small frame 5 series tractors are in size. The 4066r has 11 more hp than the 5055e, but is nowhere near as heavily built. The 5 series cab is more roomy, too. Havent specced em out, but judging from physical build, id bet tje 5055e can lift more higher, pull harder, more hydraulic flow, and will feel way more secure hooked to something heavy in hilly terrain. All you really give up is the hydrostat trans, ans some of the fabcy doo dads. Itd make a good woods tractor, too, as its still small and agile but has the mass and power to lift and pull.large ligs. Kubota and nh make similar units if you prefer a different paint color.

[@boomerau]

as you say it depends on what you are doing. this all assumes you are just mowing open fields with no gardens. with woods, paths, gardens, etc. an articulated loader would have been a better choice - but hydraulic attachments are just expensive. Mine fits in the garage with 1 finger height gap so "just". A skid steer is too expensive too heavy and too destructive. Everything is a compromise! Also they are mainly construction engines so they do need to be run so too little run time is as a bad as too much load. Also make sure you can fix it as they run like a British car - leak, break and take maintenance.

[@jvin248]

I wouldn't want a 4ft brush hog sub-compact tractor for mowing five acres, I have a 60in commercial zero-turn mower to get 2.5acres mowed in an hour every week for the last decade where I started with a 42in 'consumer grade' zero-turn that took three hours, just too long as I don't keep the lawn as a hobby. One of the old Allis Chalmers (or maybe Farmall) vintage dealer videos from the 1950s/60s had several charts for different farm tasks like plowing, fitting, chopping corn and so on. I'd link but I didn't find it quick enough. From memory it was something like effectively 10 hp to plow an acre in a day, so a 30 hp tractor and matching plow could plow 30 acres in ten days, which would get fiftyish acres in two weeks for a hundred acre farm half in row crops. Disking was faster as was planting so plenty of time to do all that between thaw and planting time for that size farm.

[@stevenpepper5581]

Hi Mike.. I own 7 acres of all woods and. I have a portable sawmill for lumber to build out buildings,etc. I need a bucket and a chipper. What size tractor would i need without killing the tractor.. My name is Steve from the Adirondack mountains in New York state. My land in flat with loads of assorted trees and lots of rocks..can you help me..?