Do You Need A Walk-Behind Tractor?

Today's video is all about a walk-behind (also called two-wheel) tractors. Are they worth the money?

In it we discuss:are walk-behind tractors good? What can walk-behind, two wheel tractors do? And more!

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[mrpeace]

My family has been in large scale agriculture for over 210 years, I am a 6th generation farmer in north central Montana with a farm foot print of a little over 6400 acres. But I also have a large scale garden space for everything from fruit trees to veggies for the house hold. I can attest to the value of small farm equipment like the walk-behind tractors, we have multi $100, 000 equipment all over the farm included by not limited to a 2017 Jon Deer S790 combine, to a 8RT Tractor. Honestly though, I almost prefer working on the garden than one of our large 200+ acre fields. Getting down and dirty with your grow plots is just so satisficing to me. It brings back prospective of what my great grandparents had to work with when they started this farm back in 1889. Small farm tractors like these are awesome if used in the right way for the right job. Like he stated there is no "perfect" tool just the "right" tool for the job needing done, unless you're talking about my father who taught me everything about farming over the last 49 years, he was the perfect tool for every job.

[MynewTennesseeHome]

My daughter has an old Gravely walk behind. She loves it.

[wendygreenfield]

We consider the BCS 739 one of our best investments. My dad found a sickle bar attachment and snow blower for $50. Scrolling Craigslist does pay 😂
We have a Kubota for turning compost, cleaning chicken coops and the big field tasks. I wouldn't want to be without either one. Invest in yourself, your health and good equipment... better than a 401k

[oldmangravely]

I’ve been using a walk behind gravely L model since I was 12 years old I’m 72 now. You are right the rotary plow can be a real workout

[ainabearfarm]

We use the BCS with the dual action sickle bar mower for converting thick pasture grass to mulch for a food forest. It has been an absolute game changer! 🤙

[patrickmortenson]

T post puller:

Look up a video on how to pull a t post just using your post pounder.

You basically wedge the pounder against the notches on the post to leave leaver out of the ground

[FujiFinest]

The „walking behind”, physical effort is an advantage, not a disadvantage. Healthy exercise

[markprescott]

Hi Jessie!! I have a BCS 749 and I love it. I have your book and it is great too. My implements are rotary plow, flail mower, tiller with roller(which I no longer use), a potato plow, and disks for cultivating soil(limited in effectiveness and I broke one disk)
Starting my 4th year in 2023. Last year I applied bark mulch to my walkways to my in ground raised beds. This year I used the rotary plow to move the composted bark mulch on top of the raised bed rows. Placing bark mulch offers tremendous benefits reducing erosion of the soil in the raised beds, capturing excess moisture and holding it for dry periods. And they compost in place. Here in southern Virginia, we have heavy clay soil so starting out with a broadfork was a way to difficult to start. I am hoping to broadfork in the fall of this year. Trying to transition to No Till. I have crimson and Balsana clover, forage collards, and Sunn Hemp cover crops planted. I have 2 silage tarps prepping a wildflower buffet for the honey bees in my Langstroth and Layens hives.
Keep up the good work with the videos.

[jvin]

It might be cool to find out a way to mount walk-behind-tractor implements to a riding tractor like the antique Ford N-series or Ferguson TO-series that some of us were lucky to acquire for the price of a down payment on a new walk-behind or riding-tractor. Farmall Cub/100-series and Allis Chalmers B/C/CA-series are good choices too.

[alexpowell]

I got a BCS 749 when I started my farm last year and it's been great. I have a flail mower and a sickle mower attachment and of those two I prefer the sickle mower - it's way easier to maneuver, much lighter, and if you don't have to replant immediately it leaves a nice thick mulch on the ground/beds. I also use the rotary plow to build beds and the rear tine tiller occasionally...though striving for minimal till so that one doesn't get too much action.

[plantguy]

Any Small scale operation needs a BCS! The versatility and reliability saves the back and increases efficiencies!

A scythe sounds great, but it can flail mow, harrow, spread, snowblow, mulch/chip or split wood.

[jeshurunfarm]

So, when you get all your new walk-behind, just throw the BCS in the mail, to my spot.
Respect from Africa 🇿🇦

[bradleysoule]

Love your videos. Educational and the nerdy sense of humor is so good 😂 had to stop and explain the "no perfect tools" joke to my partner, who wasn't impressed, but I thought it was great. Thanks Jesse!

[FeralEarthGardens]

I got about 35k in my sit on 4x4 tractor/loader/backhoe and other attachments. It's a bit more than double a walk behind but I'm obsessed with permaculture landscaping my own and other people's properties so I'm glad I got it, but yes tough to pay for. I can create and maintain the garden beds with it, but not as easy or precise as a 2 wheel tractor!! I know this because I've clocked many hours behind an awesome little diesel BCS at my friend's organic farm :) I do aspire to get a BCS when my sit on tractor is paid off, they are great, use less fuel and cause less harm to the land when mowing paths, etc...

[MistressOP]

I'd love a walk behind crimper that had a small amount of steam. So the steam could bust the cell wall but also give a bunch of crimps as well. Also, some of the smaller Japanese, Thai, Korean, small/meduim scale riding tools and harvesters. Then flip some of it to electric. That asian stuff is really use to weird size plot sizes and also very good about uneven ground. In a way the USA stuff doesn't care to really think about until lately on a smaller scale. We underrate some of that overseas stuff.

[scottbehr]

We sold our full size tractor because it didnt fit in with our plan....bought a 739with a utility cart and 30"tiller.... We love that machine. Cost was a big factor for us....the BCS was a lot cheaper than a compact tractor with attachments. As far as a lifting attachment...we have two shovels!.😅

[ronbell]

Jumping in! I have been using my Grillo tractors, G-85d and G-107d for over 7 years now. For working steep fields, smaller plots, the walking tractors are "the way to go". Implements that I use, rotary plow, tiller, sickle-bar mower, bush hog, driven wheeled trailer (turns it into a 4-wheel drive truck), CAEB dump cart (basically a powered wheel barrow), Molon rake, CAEB round baler, finish mowers, power harrow, chipper/shredder. Yes, I do a lot of work with these machines. I try to scale my work to fit these machines, I have 2 four wheeled tractors for other doings on the farm. I just enjoy using the smaller stuff as I get older working on a smaller scale and getting the exercise. For example, my 4 wheeled tractors have sat in the barn for the past 3 weeks. My walking tractors have been used on an almost daily basis. The CAEB dump cart just makes the little G-85d a handy dandy hauler for harvesting, weeding, and watering around the garden. Some of my friends have paid more for their bicycles than I have for my machines with the tools! I still ride my 20 -- 45 year old steeds!

[DonDufresne]

I'll add my voice to the several others who have already commented. For the "budget challenged, " with wrenching skills, there is an active community of Gravely collectors and vendors maintaining these older robust tractors. I have a Commercial 12 walk behind (12HP) and a 16-G (16 HP) riding tractor and they, along with some attachments, allow me to manage an under 2-acre homestead that is dedicated to growing food for ourselves. I never quite reached the level of finances to acquire my dream of a Grillo or BCS suite. I still dream of that, but have gotten by. Obviously for any commercial operation, new, modern equipment is the more efficient solution. I have 2 much older Gravely walk-behinds retired waiting to pass along. Facebook has several active Groups with great members that graciously offer assistance and advice.

[eddieslittlestack]

I sure would love to get a power harrow for my BCS. Also the stump grinder & wood chipper…. & generator!

[rikthings]

1:59 The bests are the Valpadana: I have one, it was bought by my grandpa in august 1979 and to this day, it starts at first pull andhas also got an estonishing 18hp for its dimensions and weight