Setting Up a Homestead Property in Mississippi: An Equipment Checklist
3/6/2026
Spring is the most demanding season on a Mississippi homestead. Between clearing winter growth, preparing garden beds, grading access roads, and getting pastures ready for summer grazing, the workload can pile up fast. Having the right equipment lined up before the season hits means less scrambling and more getting things done.
Whether you're setting up a new homestead or adding to an existing operation, here's WADE, Inc.’s practical equipment checklist for Mississippi properties.
Your operation is only as strong as your tractor. For most Mississippi homesteads up to 25 acres, the John Deere 3 Series is a great starting point. The 3025E handles lighter property maintenance, while a larger model like the 3033R or 3038E will take on heavier rotary cutting, tilling clay soils, and sustained loader work.
If your property is under 5 acres with modest workloads, the 1025R is a capable and cost-effective option. But in Mississippi's heavy clay soils—especially after a wet winter—more horsepower will pay for itself quickly.
Best For: Choose the 3 Series for homesteads from 5-25 acres with a mix of mowing, tilling, and loader work tasks. For smaller lots with lighter and less frequent tasks, consider the 1 Series.
A front loader is the single most versatile homesteading implement you can add. Moving brush piles, spreading gravel, hauling compost, shifting hay bales—a loader handles all of it. John Deere's 300 Series loaders are designed to pair directly with the 3 Series compact tractors with minimal setup.
For spring, you'll want a loader to clear winter debris, move garden bed soil, and spread gravel after wet months.
Mississippi pastures come out of winter rough—overgrown fence lines, uneven growth, and downed material from winter storms. Before summer grazing begins, your pastures need attention.
A heavy-duty rotary cutter is non-negotiable for homestead pasture work. For the 3 Series, a 5- or 6-foot cutter handles thick brush, briars, and uneven growth efficiently. If your pastures haven't been maintained in several seasons, expect to make multiple passes.
Spring rains are hard on dirt roads, gates, and low-lying areas across Mississippi properties. A box blade is designed to re-grade these areas, fill in ruts, and level uneven ground—no need to call in a contractor. A box blade is one of the most practical implements for year-round homestead upkeep.
If you're running a market garden, food plot, or large home garden, spring tillage is your most time-sensitive task. Mississippi's clay-heavy soils require more aggressive tillage work than lighter soils further north.
A rear-mount tiller is essential for breaking up compacted soil and incorporating amendments before planting. For clay soils common across North Mississippi, look for a tiller with adequate tine depth and width to match your tractor's horsepower rating.
For new homestead properties or areas with significant compaction—common on properties with a history of heavy equipment traffic—a subsoiler breaks up hardpan layers that a standard tiller can't reach. One pass with a subsoiler before your first season of tilling makes every subsequent year easier.
Spring in North Mississippi means rain, and rain means drainage issues. Before summer arrives, assess your property's low spots, standing water areas, and any erosion-prone slopes.
For minor grading and drainage work, your box blade and tractor can handle most of it. For larger drainage projects—ditching, pond maintenance, or trenching—a compact excavator like the John Deere 17P or 26G is worth considering, either as a purchase or a rental for the season.
Homesteading needs vary from property to property. That means the right combination of equipment depends on things like acreage, soil conditions, existing equipment, and future growth plans.
Talk to your local WADE, Inc. before spring hits. Bring your property layout, acreage, and a list of your planned projects, and our team will help you prioritize your equipment investments for maximum return this season.
For properties up to 5 acres, the John Deere 1025R is a capable and cost-effective starting point. For most Mississippi homesteads between 5 and 25 acres, a John Deere 3 Series compact tractor is a common choice, with a wide range of models to match your workload.
A Mississippi homestead should have at minimum a front loader, rotary cutter, box blade, and rear-mount tiller. If you're working new or heavily compacted ground, add a subsoiler before your first season of tillage.
A compact tractor and box blade handle most minor drainage and grading work, but for larger projects like ditching, pond maintenance, or trenching, a compact excavator like the John Deere 17P or 26G is worth considering as either a purchase or seasonal rental.