Food plot tractors

[onmyway]

I have a 2013 Kubota L3200 I bought used in 2020ish with 200 hours for $15K-ish. I probably overpaid, but I wanted it and it was clean. In my area (Northern IN) all the new tractor lots look like they have surplus inventory. Take that with a grain as I'm looking from the road. Cant say enough good about the a hydrostatic trans, 4x4 and the overall Kubota quality.

 

[Deleted member 8-15-23]

Jd, 4wd, 55 hp, with all the attachments.

 

[mbania]

Ill be running a Kubota L2501 for food plots this year, athought still plan to use the ATV for seeding and spraying.

 

[wind gypsy]

I love mine. The only thing I wish it had was the shuttle which came out on the 40 series

That looks like a big disk for that tractor and with turf tires. Does it pull it alright? My L3560 is about the same same size but has loaded ag tires and 3 less HP and the dealership convinced me to get a 5' disk with it. I don't use it much but would be nice to have a little more width when I do.

 

[Pony Soldier]

The trend is bigger and more expensive. I bought a Massy Ferguson used in the early 2000s. I looked at a 50hp 4x4 but got a 95 hp 4x4 because that was what wss affordable.

I used an old ford 35 hp for years but found it struggled with cultivation. A 5 ft disc tended to bruise the sod I plowed and took many trips. I eventually got an old 10ft tandom disc that was more effective. A big issue is not the hp but the match to the implements you have. My big tractor pulls my haying equipment fine but the bigger tires tend to hide my view of my pull behind swather and the bale pickup on my bale wagon.

It's tough to find a match to availability, affordability and utility. I started with a small tractor and have struggled to grow with a limited budget. I find the used market is very limited in the size I need and prices tend to force me to find a second job.

 

[RockinRam96]

I have bought a Firminator to plant, 6’ brush hog and a roller crimper for it and use it all the time on the property.

Bringing this thread back to life. How do you like the Firminator? I am thinking of buying a 6' model for food plots on my property. I have been plowing, discing, broadcasting, then cultipacking. Works okay, but thinking I could save some steps and be a little more effective with an "all-in-one" piece of equipment.

 

[MallardSX2]

I have an MX 5200 and I have for sure gotten my moneys worth out of this tractor. The only reason I didn’t go with an enclosed cab is because I have the backhoe attachment and I didn’t want to deal with it. If I would have done it over again, I would have just bought a cheap mini and gotten the enclosed cab on the Kabota..

Great tractors for what you are looking to do.

 

[Mtnmilsurp]

My setup is dragging tree tops behind my antique army jeep as a harrow.

 

[waresmike]

Can't beat a kubota M7060 12 speed.

 

[boperleb]

The Kubota's are great, after 40 years of foodploting and hunting I ended up with a 6060 Kubota, probably overkill for what you are doing, we run 480 acres with 20 acres of foodplots. I had a 45 HP New Holland hydro for a bit but I couldn't get used to the hydro transmission. It didn't stay long. I grew up on a dairy farm in the 70's running the old 2 cylinder JD's 520, 630,720 and couldn't make the leap to hydro. It seemed difficult to find the proper power vs speed setting, old dog new tricks thing? Good Luck with your search... you'll be looking for a skid steer also eventually!

 

[PineBrook413]

I've got a compact tractor, Ford 1900 (30hp) 4x4 w/ loader and a Utility Tractor Kubota M5700(62hp) 4x4 with loader.

The Ford is a compact tractor and can handle a 5" brush hog, smaller 5' disc and any drag ive tried to use. Its great for mowing, trail work & is very nimble and maneuverable. Totally adequate for couple acre plots.

The Kubota is a Utility Tractor....NOT a compact tractor. So much heavier in every way. Can pull a tandem 8' disc no issue, still pretty maneuverable in the woods/trails. Far superior for move pallets around and heavy lifting. Much better for moving logs, loading trucks etc etc

If budget allows I'd look for Utility Tractor in the 50hp+ range 4x4 with a quick attach loader so you can have bucket, forks, maybe a grapple. If not a 30hp 4x4 compact will totally do the job and can easily be found for sub 10k used in good working order.