Implement Question

[Captg]

Any thoughts on what would be a good 3-point implement for reconditioniong of approx 30 acres of field? I am debating a one row cultivator vs a disc harrow. A tiller is out of my price range.
I would like something to loosen up the soil and then add lime per my soil test then re-seed with pasture/forage/ hay mix grass.
I have a 40 hp diesel TYM scorpion tractor. (very impressed with this tractor what a work horse!)

[michiganfarmer]

if you are breaking new ground, and want to plant hay I think you need to plow the current growth under, drag and culli-pack it, seed it, then culli-pack it again.

Unless you have access to a culli-mulcher. Here is a culli-mulcher:http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/w...4724_200104724
Im sure you can find them cheaper if you go to a farm auction. Culli-mulchers are made exclusively for preparing ground for hay to be planted.

Even still, I think new ground needs to have the tall growth chopped off, and plowed under, or spray it with round up, wait for it to die, and lie down on the ground, then plow it under. This type of plow is a moulboard plow:http://www.greengablevillage.com/auc...r/Oliver_2.jpg

[DaleK]

Try to find somebody with an offset disk to disk it custom for you, then you can finish the job with a cultivator. What's a 1-row cultivator? Sounds next to useless to me. Otherwise you can plow then cultivate or cultivate MANY times.

[agmantoo]

I would hire as DaleK suggested and I would find an old cheap pull disc that is worn but with some remaining life, it doesn't matter whether you can lift it or not. After the hire work is done and the soil settles a bit use your cheap disc to work the seed bed. Broadcast the seed then set the used disc to lightly cover the seed. Then have someone to take a torch and on the front gang of the worn disc have the disc blades cut to resemble a sheriffs badge with sharp points. This modified disc will be your future tool to aereate the field and will be your tool for "plugging" the field for over seeding in the future.

[vallyfarm]

A one row cultivator would take forever, assuming it didnt break. It is'n made for sod! I'd plow. It is really the only way to get the job done right without spraying a bunch of chemicals all over the place. If this is a one time thing, probably hiring it out would be the easiest way to go, if you are planning on doing this type of thing often, a good set of trailer plows will make you're live much happier than 3PT ones. Mike

[Old Vet]

Well I am old fashioned. I would use a mold board plow then I would use a disk or an old bed spring or a piece of chain link to make it level. The bed spring or chain link will take a lot of trips but it will be worth it.

[haypoint]

Not enough information. What is your intended purpose? What is on it now? What kind of soil are you dealing with? Is the soil dry or wet? Rocks or stumps? After years of trying to get heavy clay soil turned into a smooth hay field, I discovered a big tiller in the dryest time of the summer works best. After 40+ years of sod, shallow plowing wouldn't cover well. Deep plowing clay takes a lot of power and fuel. Clay won't plow if it is too dry. Plowed wet, it forms clods the size of bowling balls and it takes a disc harrow many passes to break them down. Two passes with a tiller and I am ready to plant. It was costly, but so is a plow, disc, spring tooth drag and many rounds with each.

[rambler]

We don't have enough info really, depends on your soil type & what is growing there now & if you just want to interseed to add to what is growing, or you want to start over from scratch.

A one row cultivator sounds like a rather light, small, and useless tool for working over old sod. (Edit - did you mean a single shank chisel plow?)

A small disk might do some good, but for a 40 hp tractor they also tend to be light, and compact clay ground more than they work it up.

Plowing or tilling it, then working it smooth with the lighter tools you mention would give you good results.

--->Paul