What Kind Of Tractor Do I Need?
Using a front-end loader to move a piano.
When starting a small farm, one of the first investments you may want to consider is a tractor. The right tractor is a Swiss army knife of the farm. You can simplify many chores with this machine. If you’re creative, you’ll solve many problems you wouldn’t have imagined using your tractor for. This can be an intimidating purchase for those who are not familiar with these awesome machines. I hope to simplify your shopping experience and explain why certain options may be better for you than others.
How Many Horses Do I Need
I have often heard farmers say, “no one ever regretted getting a tractor that’s too big.” I believe those farmers are now broke. Tractors can get real expensive real quick as you increase in size and horsepower. I would recommend getting the smallest tractor that will do the largest job you regularly need to do.
If a 25 hp tractor will do everything you want to do, you get the added benefit of not having the additional emissions equipment legally required. This equipment is often the source of problems that are difficult to fix on your own and increase the initial purchase cost of the machine. If this works for you, I would recommend getting the largest frame tractor you can get. Size is weight, weight is traction, traction is pulling capability. The downside to extra weight is the compaction you put on the soil beneath the tractor.
Regardless of the hp, you probably want at least a mid-size tractor, not a glorified, sub-compact lawnmower. Keep in mind that larger tractors require more storage space and larger trailers.
Front-end Loader Or No Front-end Loader
Using homemade loader attachment to lift and place high tunnel trusses.
I’ll make this one easy for you. If you are getting a tractor for a small farm with many different enterprises, you want a front-end loader. In a way, it’s like owning a swiss army knife. You may have a hard time describing all the things you use it for but you will find yourself using it often. A front-end loader can be used to move soil, mulch, gravel, pallets, barrels, feed, and water. We have even used ours to move a piano and created extended forks to raise high-tunnel trusses.
About the only downsides to getting a front-end loader is cost and the fact that you will always have loader arms sticking out at least 4 ft in front of the tractor. It may not seem like a huge inconvenience but something you will have to be very aware of when maneuvering around obstacles.
If you get a front-end loader, you definitely want the skid steer style quick attachment. This allows your to easily change between loader attachments such as a bucket and forks. For example, this allows me to switch between loader attachments in about 2 minutes.
Do I Really Need 4-Wheel Drive
Much like the front-end loader topic, the answer is almost certainly yes. If you decide that you want a front loader, you definitely want to invest in 4-wheel drive. Don’t blame me, blame Sir Isaac Newton. Think about it. If you are carrying a load out in front of the tractor, that puts less weight on the rear tires (2WD tractors are RWD) and more weight on the front tires. When doing loader work in 2-wheel drive, the rear tires often slip preventing you from going where you want to go. This is not what you want.
What Are The Best Tires For A Small Farm Tractor
Traditionally, most tractors came equipped with Ag tires. Ag tires are narrow with very aggressive tread. These tires are great for traction but compact the soil and can create deep ruts on the ground when the soil is soft. If you are doing conventional row-crop farming, this is still a popular choice.
The other extreme is turf tires. These are wide tires with minimal tread. They excel when you are trying to do the least possible harm to the turf and soil below. Turf tires are usually used when the tractor is primarily used for lawn maintenance.
Industrial tires are the Goldilocks. Initially designed for use around construction sites, these tires provide good traction with marginal turf damage. This is the most versatile option and the one that I would recommend for most small farms.
Manual Or Automatic (Hydrostatic)
Manual transmissions are typically less expensive up front and require less maintenance. They require more skill to operate effectively but thrive in long duration tasks that require minimal speed changes. When rotary cutting a large open field, I am happy to have a manual.
Automatic transmissions are great when your tasks require lots a speed changes such as loader work. When I am moving mulch around the farm, I really wish I had an automatic.
This choice will come down to personal preference but for noobs, I would probably recommend investing in the automatic.
Farmer Matt’s Recommendations
I don’t much care what color your tractor is, I think a lot of companies make a good tractor. I would highly consider brands that have dealerships/shops close to you. If a particular brand has multiple shops close to you, that may be the way to go. That way, if you have a bad experience with the service at one, you can just take your business to the other shop without having to drive to the next state over.
For farms between about 5-50 acres, I think most people who are starting a small farm or homestead would be happy with a tractor with the following traits:
25-40 hp
Diesel
Mid-size frame (compact but not sub-compact)
Front-end loader with skid steer style quick hitch
4WD
Industrial tires
This will give you a very flexible machine that won’t break the bank. A new one will cost you around $15k-$25k. If you’re lucky, you can find a used one in decent shape for about half that on craigslist or tractorhouse.com. Of course every farm will have different needs and budgets. For example, if you have 100 acres of woods, you may be better off getting a skid steer; however, that may run you upwards of $60,000. Only you can decide what is right for your situation but hopefully this guide gave you some new things to consider.
