no till seeding for this fall winter

[okiemom]

We are needing a seeder to overseed our pastures. There are two pastures with different needs.

1
This type of pasture has been reclamed from strip mining. it has some limestone rock on the surface. the pasture is getting better but we want to be able to plant for winter forage. the dotted rocks keep us from digging. We are working on getting the rocks up but won't be for a LONG time. 150ac


2
I have maybe 15ac that are basicly rock free. I wouldn't want to till it but is is fairly deep and would be a great hay meadow. I would like to keep it planted for hay and winter forage

I looked up seeders and found a few in our area that looked like they could be good. There is an international 510 that has close spacing 7" and press wheels instead of disks. I thought disks would be more inclined to break or cause the seeds to not fall correctly. Would this be a good beginning seeder?
prices run from $900-4500 for this model
What parts break or wear? Would an international be able to be repaired?

Our tractor is a 75hp New Holland and we have a New holland 33hp. We have a 3pt rotary seed/fert spreader nothing to harrow the pastures.

My ideal thought would be to rent one but I am not sure there are any rental places for ag eq.

Any ideas?

[oneokie]

Check with your local USDA/FSA office. They may have an implement to do what you are wanting. Run an ad on Craigs List, in the area penny pincher shopper. If you are wanting to purchase, HayVan and UFT both make no-till seeders. A regular grain drill will work if you are careful about downpressure and ground speed.
A harrow/drag can be fabricated from used tires and chain or cable to tie them together.
One more thought, check with local ag equipment dealers, you never know........

[Windy in Kansas]

Understanding a grain drill a little better.

The discs and the press wheels perform two different functions. The discs open the soil creating a furrow where the seed is then placed through drop tubes. The press wheels follow and press soil over the seed firming it which makes for quicker germination and a higher percentage of germination.

Openers are generally discs; hoes, aka shovels, aka shoes; runner openers (mainly on planter and not drills); and double disc openers. The latter of frequently used on no-till drills.

Some drills, more on the order of grass drills, simple drop the seed onto the ground without it going into furrows. They generally do use firmers with them often being of cast iron very similar to culti-packers which are often pulled behind other implements

The IHC was a good grain drill but I can't comment about it being used for grass seed. I don't know about parts availability but you could call a Case-IH dealer and inquire. I don't know how long the model 510 was made but think my dad bought his in the 1960s. For our drier climate we used 10" spacings and planted deeper and eventually went to a hoe drill which allows one to plant deeper yet.

Does your county extension office rent drills for grass seeding? Some do.

Oh, disc openers tend to ride up and over small obstructions. Don't know about the use on rocky ground. Newer replacement discs or less worn discs means a larger diameter which goes over things better.

[Bearfootfarm]

Anything that doesn't do Some sort of "tillage" isn't a planter or a drill.

You can get good results planting cereal rye by just broadcasting and dragging with a harrow IF you get enough rainfall to make it germinate.

If you want to plant small grass seeds, it requires a special box on the drill/planter

Personally, I'd disk it 1-2 inches deep to break the crust, broadcast the seed and then drag or lightly disk it again just before a good rain

[okiemom]

What about the 100+ac that have the rocks I can't till it. The owner before id have a no till and it worked great but I was worried that I would be more apt to break the disks when they hit rock. Do the disks break easily?

[oneokie]

Originally Posted by okiemom

be more apt to break the disks when they hit rock. Do the disks break easily?

Breakage of discs would depend on the ground speed. A faster ground speed would most likely lead to more breakage of discs, and other damage to the implement. A drill with double disc openers would, IMO, be the best choice for rocky conditions.

Your choice of crop that you are wanting to plant determines what type of drill/seeder would be needed. Seed with Awns, (common ryegrass, Oats) can be surface sown and they will work their way into the soil. Clovers and Vetch can be surface sown. Going over the field with a drag after seeding will help, but is not required. Wheat, grain rye, fescue could be incorporated by heavily stocking with livestock and letting them work the seed into soil contact with hoof action.

ETA http://books.google.com/books?id=N-q...ed=0CBYQ6AEwAQ

[Bearfootfarm]

The owner before id have a no till and it worked great

Even a "no-till" drill or planter has disks or cutters of some type to open the soil.
They just do it exactly where the seed will be placed

[uncle Will in In.]

You can save youself a lot of money and headaches if you wait until Febuary and broadcast the seed with a little spreader that fits on the rear of your tractor. There are several models and prices. You might even find a used one before that time. That is called frost seeding, and works very well. The freezing and thawing in late winter makes tiny cracks in the soil where the seed takes root. You can use these seeders to spread fertilizer if that in the plan.