Machinery Advice

ezra_

Hello,

We have a few acres (about 18), and finish off cattle for a family member over the summer.

We are looking at getting a small tractor to help with some of the jobs instead of having to borrow family machinery.

The jobs would be:

Topping, rolling, moving silage bales for feed, fertiliser, tedding hay, box work (timber and other odd jobs).

We are looking at something small, with a cab, and cheap. Something like a MF135, Davey brown 800 or 900 series, ford 3000 etc.

Work would be sporadic, and mostly in summer / autumn.

Would these machines be ok for this? There are enough old implements in the family place that we could borrow so buying implements shouldn't be needed for a while.

I'd be looking for something that runs, but isn't that pretty. We'd have half an eye on doing it up as well.

How does this sound?

ezra_

I can't seem to edit the post, but I meant to say something with a trip loader. Any silage bales being moved would be on the back.

PoorFarmer

Most of the options you have mentioned above will have trouble dealing with a silage bale from a modern baler. You possibly will get away with it during the winter but you'll be slinging them along the ground more often than not. You can forget about it during the summer though, you'll have the plastic ripped to shreds bringing them in. Something like a DB 995 here:

https://www.donedeal.ie/tractors-for-sale/david-brown-995/35726309

or this 784 might be better equipped to deal with bales and still do everything else you mention above

https://www.donedeal.ie/tractors-for-sale/international-784/35836777

Depending on your budget, you might be better off getting something that is in decent shape rather than a rough old yoke

ezra_

Much difference between a DB 880 and a 990/5?

PoorFarmer

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121624787#Comment_121624787

Wouldn't be too sure really. Might find some info here:

https://www.tractordata.com/farm-tractors/tractor-brands/davidbrown/davidbrown-tractors.html

ezra_

Thanks - to be clear when I meant moving a bale, I meant with a bale spike on the back.

However, as we live in horse country, I've a hankering to do up some square bales. We normally produce about 100 excess round hay bales per year which aren't needed in the big farm, and I've a mind to try square bales.