mml373
Well-known member
I am a new farmer...and the past few years I've had someone else cut hay for me, which I keep for winter stockpile for a modest sheep operation I'm running. I am having an awful time getting someone to cut hay for me this year, and am considering just biting the bullet on a tractor and implements.
Unfortunately my farm did not come with a nice, enclosed shop with concrete floor where I could store a machine and implements. Having such a shop constructed is not in the budget for at least another few years. I do need a way to cut my hay and do other farm chores such as spreading fertilizer, so if I had that money available it would go to a tractor. I'll probably end up setting aside some acreage to produce hay for market to help pay down a tractor loan, though may need to improve pastures a bit to produce hay that's more marketable. (My sheep and cows love my grass...but maybe something different is more marketable? I need to do that research).
Is it acceptable to house a shiny, new, $80,000 tractor in an open-face shed for a few years till I can afford to have a proper shop built? Building already exists on the property, and I can afford to do fix-ups to help keep things dry and out of the weather, as much as possible. My main concern about leaving the tractor in a relatively open building is rodents chewing on wires/plastics. I have cats. Wondering how I can further mitigate this and what other issues I need consider. No climate control in the facility--it's a rock floor but is subject to temperature and humidity fluctuations as weather changes. Thanks for any helpful replies.
Unfortunately my farm did not come with a nice, enclosed shop with concrete floor where I could store a machine and implements. Having such a shop constructed is not in the budget for at least another few years. I do need a way to cut my hay and do other farm chores such as spreading fertilizer, so if I had that money available it would go to a tractor. I'll probably end up setting aside some acreage to produce hay for market to help pay down a tractor loan, though may need to improve pastures a bit to produce hay that's more marketable. (My sheep and cows love my grass...but maybe something different is more marketable? I need to do that research).
Is it acceptable to house a shiny, new, $80,000 tractor in an open-face shed for a few years till I can afford to have a proper shop built? Building already exists on the property, and I can afford to do fix-ups to help keep things dry and out of the weather, as much as possible. My main concern about leaving the tractor in a relatively open building is rodents chewing on wires/plastics. I have cats. Wondering how I can further mitigate this and what other issues I need consider. No climate control in the facility--it's a rock floor but is subject to temperature and humidity fluctuations as weather changes. Thanks for any helpful replies.