Disc Harrow Disc for 100hp tractor

[TNRifleman]

I am relatively new to all of this and need a lot of guidance.

I have a very hilly piece of property, about 550 acres. There are several small fields (2-4 acres) at different locations that I am wanting to foodplot primarily for deer. These fields have not been turned in a long time and I am trying to get them prepped for planting right now without buying the wrong equipment out of ignorance.

From what I am reading, hearing and watching on the internet a disc harrow is the most essential piece of equipment. All of my fields have been sprayed thoroughly with round-up and are good and dead. I am hoping a serious disc will break up the top adequately and I will not have to have a moldboard plow. I have also heard this is desirable to leave the ground un-plowed for stabilization against erosion especially on slopes.

I would like to hear thoughts on the possibility of not plowing.


My real question is about the disc because I know I have to have that piece of equipment. Most of the disc that I am looking at online that look like they would be adequate and maneuverable in smaller fields are rated by a max HP much lower than my JD 5100E. Disc rated for tractors in the 100hp range look really big, complicated and expensive. I have to access some of these fields with existing logging roads that my 10' cutter will barely squeak through.

Are there 3 point disc that are appropriate for 2 acre fields and will not break behind a larger tractor? Any experienced input is appreciated.

 

[bcp]

Welcome to TBN.

In my opinion, disc power ratings are related to what is needed for the disc's weight and width, not that a larger tractor will overpower it. I don't think there is much danger to a disc by pulling it with a larger tractor.

Sort of like asking if a F3500 truck can pull a little, lightweight boat trailer without hurting it.

Bruce

 

[Creamer]

There are lots of choices in discs and it depends on what you want to do. For discing 4-5 inches deep your tractor should be able to handle a 14' tandem disc very nicely. If you want to go deeper then you will need to go smaller. Offset discs - where the front gang is all angled in one direction and the back gang in the opposite direction - are more like plowing in that they will work deeper and pull harder. These are more comparable to a moldboard plow versus a disc harrow which is used lighter and shallower.

For what you are asking about I would recommend a disc harrow and working about 4" deep.

Personally I see no reason to plow in today's world and would not own one. Even if you plow you will have to disc it (or something else like a cultimulcher) before you seed it.

Also, I do not believe a 3 opt mounted disc floats properly and threrefore recommend a pull behind.

 

[TNRifleman]

OK, thanks. I was jst going to ask about the pull types. I see landpride has a pull behind that is 10 or 12' wide. I should be able to get that through all my roads. It is also rated for 45-100 hp.

 

[TNRifleman]

Should I be using all notched disc?

 

[jeff9366]

I would buy a Disc Harrow with 22" diameter pans and a Category 2 Three Point Hitch in whatever width you desire. Generally for food plots, where most operators maneuver between trees, a Disc Harrow a little narrower than rear tires is desirable. With gang angles adjusted about mid-point in aggressiveness, such a Disc should cut about 4" deep. The bed behind the harrow should be reasonably smooth. If you adjust such a Disc very aggressively (no need) it should cut 8" deep but the bed behind the tractor will be rougher.

No surprise: Notched pans cut considerably more effectively than round, un-notched, pans. After glcophosphate the crop residue/fallow grass, will still be in place. Go notched.

A Three Point Hitch mounted Tandem Disc Harrow is highly maneuverable. Towed Disc Harrows cannot be lifted; they require considerable headland to swing around.

If your food plots are 2-4 acres why consider a 10' to 12' wide Disc Harrow?

FYI: The key metric is implement pressure bearing on each pan. Fifty pounds weight per pan is a good beginning, sixty pounds per pan is nirvana.

 

[aarolar]

I agree with Jeff a pull type harrow is going to be a headache trying to turn in a 2-4 acre spot. A 3 point type you can use the brakes to turn in your tracks in the length of the tractor.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

Based on the info that you have given, if I were you, I would be looking at the 9 footers here.

Assuming that you don't want to waste time, I personally would not even consider anything under 2000lbs. But that's just me.

 

[aarolar]

Based on the info that you have given, if I were you, I would be looking at the 9 footers here.

Assuming that you don't want to waste time, I personally would not even consider anything under 2000lbs. But that's just me.

An offset is great but he's going to need to follow with another implement of some sort to finish the seed bed, a tandem could do both potentially.

 

[Handloader109]

Your talking about 2-4 acres total, or several times this? Growing up we managed about 50 acres of tillage. Small farm of my grandfather's. We would plant 10-15 acres of millet for hay and to be able to shoot dove over. Usually 5-10acres of corn, and when really working like a true farm, 30-50 acres of soybeans. Two 90 hp tractors, 8' pull behind disk. Usually would plow twice, row up and plant..... Ground had clay, no rocks. For your purpose, I'd find a 6to 8' plain disk, probably a simple harrow to flatten back down.. Go used, disk will last decades as long as it wasn't too abused.