Please advise on Tractor and Combine to purchase

[sody21]

Hello, I'm going to start farming and need some advice on what size tractor and combine to purchase.  I will be farming corn and soybeans in Minnesota.  I will have approximately 400 acres. 

What size should the tractor and combine be? 

Two or four wheel drive? 

Is there such thing as a wear-out life in hours?

How many hours is considered an average annual use?  (I suppose it is acreage dependent)

Can you recommend resources where I can find out more info on starting up an operation such as equipment needs or anything else? 

[behog]

I would buy a Case IH Steiger 600 and a Case IH 9120 combine.  With these machinces you will not have to worry about having equipment that is too small.

[protrader]

I have to agree.  With equipment like that people will recognize your desire to expand and will come running to you offereing to rent you ground for $400/acre

[behog]

And when they offer you the bargin price of 400 an acre, dont take it.  You would not want to ripp them off.  This will ruin the reputation that you have built with your new big equipment.  Just tell them you will pay them 450, because you are so good that you can make money at that and you will be able to sleep at night knowing your landlords are getting what they deserve.

[dominicmiller · Accepted solution]

or for serious replies, no reason for a 200hp tractor for 400 acres.  no reason to pile up debt starting with a new combine either....  we're all at least a little brand loyal so I'd expect to see a lot of answers.  IMO combine depends on what you plan to grow.  And what tillage practices do you plan on?  I mean, you could no till 400 acres of corn and beans easily with a 140 hp 2wd tractor and transport grain with it as well.  And at that acreage, there's no serious need for more than say a Deere 9500 series, AGCO R50- ish, or Case 1660 sized machine.  Everything can wear out.  How you treat and maintain it and a small amount of luck will decide how long it lasts.

[Jim Meade / Iowa City]

Check with your local University of Minnesota Agricultural Extension Office for some suggestions on what size equipment you need.  Some of it is cheaper to rent or custom hire, especially when starting.  They probably have many publications with information for you to consider.

2WD tractor, 100 hp is enough if you are going to no-till, with the exception that that's pretty small to pull an NH3 bar, so rent that done.

Combine to handle 6X30 rows for corn and 20' grain table is plenty.

There are some hours on various machines in regard to overhaul times.  Kind of goes by machine.

Strongly consider machinery with local dealer who can provide maintenance and setup support.

http://www.extension.umn.edu/agriculture/

http://www.extension.iastate.edu/

http://www.uwex.edu/ces/

http://www.sdstate.edu/sdces/index1.cfm

[sody21]

Thank you Mr. Meade for answering my question.  I will check out the resources you listed. 

[littlestarterfarmer]

I know this answer has been "solved" but just to give you an idea. I farm 875 acres, i have a 125 horsepower 4430 JD with a 15' no till drill, 14' disk, 25' cultivator, 15' undercutter, all the spraying is custom done, though we are looking at a sprayer. Being that we are mostly no-till and do around half and half fall and spring crops, we get everything done with what we have. Its not the fanciest equipment but our costs are low. For a combine we run a 1460 International with a 25' flex header and we cut around 7.5 acres an hour harvesting 50bu acre wheat, again its not the fanciest piece of equipment but it gets the job done very cheap. All this equipment is very simple to operate and maintain, and we can do most of the repairs ourself saving in labor costs. Just starting out don't get concerned with how the paint looks or the age. If its a good running tractor or piece of equipment and you can keep it that way you are going to save your self in the long run. Then in the future you can step up to better equipment. I have only been farming for 5 years and im not in a hurry to the BTO in our area, i like what im doing and will continue to by keeping costs low. 

Only thing i would change in my operation now is adding my own sprayer, get another tractor that is around 140 horsepower and upgrade to a 24' no-till drill. But those things will come and im in no hurry.

[petasucks]

I farm 400 acres along with having a full time job.  I have a Massey Furguson 1805 that pulls a 1165 Earthmaster and a 30' field cultivator.   A 2705 Massey does the planting with a 12 row vertical fold IH 900 planter.  I hire the elevator to spray.  I have a IH 1460 to harvest with a 6 row corn head and a 20' bean head.  I have a 15' MC stock cutter for following the combine in the corn.  I have a A&L 705 to catch with and a 450 bu J & M wagon.  I have a couple smaller tractors to run augers and pick up rocks / move snow . misc stuff.  In all I have about $85,000 in equipment.

As long as you keep up with maitenance and realize that there will be some breakdowns,  it works really well for me!

[sody21]

Excellent, thank you sir.