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Your tractor changes over the years

D

DavidT1

Member
Curious what tractor models people started with and how many acres they farmed with them and how they progressed to current tractor(s) and acreage.
 

I started by buying and completely restoring a 37 JD A as my first tractor. Of course, I haven't used it for any work other than pulling parade floats. My second tractor was a 44 Farmall M that I built for tractor pulling, and also sees no real work.

For farm tractors, I began with a 51 JD A that pulls the firewood trailer, hay rake, grain drill, plow (sometimes), plow snow and various jobs.

I bought a 1066 IH a few years back when I started grain farming, but didn't work the tractor much.

Before I sold the 1066, I bought a JD 720D that will pull the drill and hay baler (this tractor is for sale now).

My latest tractor purchase is a 4440 JD that will mow hay, bale hay, feed round bales, pull the planter and any tillage work that is needed of it.

I also use my in-laws tractors as needed for other jobs farming - namely a 4230 JD and 6610 Ford. Of all these tractors, I think my favorite to run is the 51 A.
 

As for acreage, I started with some small hay fields around and have grown to almost 100 acres total tilled and hay ground. I am looking at purchasing my own farm soon. My wife and I are currently looking at a 69 acre farm that touches my father-in-law's farm. Of course, I am looking to expand my grain crop acreage this year.

Pretty small-time, but when I began, I had nothing and have worked my butt off for everything I do have.
 
We started with a JD 2155 with loader for 30 acres. Now I still have the 2155 , JD 2520 ('69 model) JD 520 a JD A and a MF 1233 for 80 acres.
I still prefer the older machines for most jobs.
 
Dad started farming 240 acres in 1947 with a new 47 Deere A. That was the exclusive tractor on the farm till 1950 when he bought a 35 A to do light jobs. Traded the 47 A for a new 51 A in sept of 51. Bought a new 630 in 1960 and the A was put on loader and cultivator duty. He planted with a neighbor's SC case in exchange for planting the neighbor's 80 acres. I still have the 35a and 51a and both of them could do a days work.

I started farming 560 acres with a 1070 case in 1974. Traded it for a 1086 IH in 1979. Farmed 700 acres with the 1086 until three or four years ago when it was retired to loader/sprayer/planter duty and now it is on loader duty only.
 
I started out with a LA for fun then I got an MT for fun. I then was able to pick up a small plot of land and started growing pumpkins using the MT. We got up to 1 acre of pumpkins this year and 1/4 acre of organic vegetables last year. We now have a 1020 and in 2016 plan on doing 2 acres of pumpkins and the 1/4 acre of veggies. I also now run a small orchard which has a 2555, 2440, 2550 and a 2240 that I am trying to bring back from the dead. Looking to add some hay and a few beef animals this year in the orchard as well.
 
Did 20 acres of hay with a 1940JDA and a #5 mower and 336 baler in 2008. Next year got a JD830 Self Propelled windrower, had that for 2 years and got a Hesston 1091 pull type. Got an IH806 in 2009 to run the baler. Got a 530 round baler in 2014. Sold the 806 and got a 1486 in 2014. Do about 150 acres now.
 
I came by tractor collecting a little differently than most. My uncle had a farm and lived with Grandma and Grandpa. As a kid we would always go and visit every weekend. I would end up riding around on the tractors and doing whatever. I have bad allergies so hay about killed me but I'd still ride along on the tractor and suffer at night. When we moved out of the city to the suburbs on 14 arces I was then 13 and restored a mounted plow for a JD H. Which I still have along with the tractor. That started a lot of restoring, buying and selling 2cyl and parting them out too. For mowing odd jobs and lifting I started out with a late B and 3pt. boom then upgraded to a model 50 and then added a # 45 loader, then a 440 crawler loader backhoe in the mix,then a 500tlb then a 4020 gas with 158 loader and 115 rear blade which Dad still has along with a JD750 compact we bought new. I now have 3 acres and downsized to a dozen old JD tractors a F725 mower that gets used a lot ! and a JD5105 with loader for if I need to move something.
That's the cliff notes version of 40 years of major green fever. I'm 52 now.
 
I started farming in 2005. I had a 60 with a 4 row cultivator that I drug out of a fenceline, and I borrowed my FIL's and dad's tractors. I bought a 4010 that turned out to be a huge money pit in 2008ish. I bought the farm in 2010, and got my FIL's 4430 open station and 317 skid steer with it. After the 4010 finally, mercifully broke for the last time in 2014, i borrowed my dad's 3020 to replace it for that year. In 2014, I bought a 1977 4430 cab tractor. I also bought a Ford 7700 and a 1944 B. The Ford got sold this past year.

So right now, I have the 1955 60, which I use weekly, the 317 skid steer, also used weekly, the 1973 4430 open station, and the 1944 B. I'm looking to sell the 1977 4430 to replace it with a 4640 or 4840. Oh I also picked up another fixer upper B that is in the "fix sometime" column. I think I'm going to give it to my son for his 7th birthday in two weeks. $I'd also like to find a 1955 70 with power steering to put a 6 row cultivator on it.

the 4010 is sitting in a boneyard getting stripped for parts. Once I finish it off, I'm gonna hang the shifter in my shop and a forever reminder....
 
I wouldn't mind another 3020, one with power shift if I could get it right. I wish I would have bought one some time back though, they have about doubled or more.
 
32194.jpg
32195.jpg
 
I think the 4020 is a 67 and my Dad bought it as a demo in 68, I was 8 and drove it home from the loading dock.
 
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