Mowing Disking vs. Mowing

[HangtownMatt]

I'm looking for any good reads and/or opinions on the pros and cons of disking for fire control and weed supression. It seems like just about everbody around these parts (Northern California Foothills) either mows or has grazing animals. I have a section between two roads on a slight incline where disking would seem so much safer than a rotary mower. Would disking be a suitable alternative or are there disadvantages that outweigh the benefits?

P.S. I have a Mahindra 2615 w/26 HP engine and 23 HP PTO.

Matt

 

[Farmwithjunk]

I'm looking for any good reads and/or opinions on the pros and cons of disking for fire control and weed supression. It seems like just about everbody around these parts (Northern California Foothills) either mows or has grazing animals. I have a section between two roads on a slight incline where disking would seem so much safer than a rotary mower. Would disking be a suitable alternative or are there disadvantages that outweigh the benefits?

P.S. I have a Mahindra 2615 w/26 HP engine and 23 HP PTO.

Matt

Biggest negative? Exposed and loosened soil. That leads to erosion.

Mowing isn't going to give you much fire protection beyond lowering the amount of fuel a fire may have.

Hangtown, huh? As in the moto X track Hangtown?

 

[daTeacha]

In serious fire country, the fire most often burns fastest up off the ground -- a crown fire is the extreme example. A simple thing like a powerline cut, a road or a cleared pipeline right of way can slow down or stop a fire if it's wide enough compared to the size of the fire. Mowing removes a lot fuel if done properly and keeps what remains on the ground, so will act to slow the fire quite a bit. Given the seasonal rainfall swings in Cali., I think I'd opt for mowing, but discing might work, depending on your climatic conditions. If you get long dry spells interspersed with heavy rains, I would hesitate to disk it more than very lightly.

 

[HangtownMatt]

Hangtown, huh? As in the moto X track Hangtown?

Yes :>)

 

[Farmwithjunk]

Yes :>)

I'm an old washed up enduro/hare scrambles racer myself. Quit in late 80's.

 

[flusher]

I'm looking for any good reads and/or opinions on the pros and cons of disking for fire control and weed supression. It seems like just about everbody around these parts (Northern California Foothills) either mows or has grazing animals. I have a section between two roads on a slight incline where disking would seem so much safer than a rotary mower. Would disking be a suitable alternative or are there disadvantages that outweigh the benefits?

P.S. I have a Mahindra 2615 w/26 HP engine and 23 HP PTO.

Matt

I mow the weeds on my 10 acres here in Tehama Co, first time in mid April and then in late June. I get the weeds down to about 4 inches on that second cut.

First week in May I'll use my string mowers along the fence lines and around the out buildings.

This year the County sprayed Roundup in the ditches so the weeds there are not a problem.

I'll disk a 10-ft wide strip along my fence lines in early July for fire suppression.

 

[chrisjbell]

I mow my pasture (I'm just outside Auburn), but disking has some benefits for fire protection. I keep the area near the house green but I stopped irrigating most of the pasture because then I have to cut it . If I had a disk, I'd use it around the edges of my pasture for sure.

As far as saftey goes, if you can disk it you can probably mow it. If you're relying on the disks to hold you on a slope you probably shouldn't be on it anyway. But that is just common sense, and as one of my neighbors and I were talking about the other day that doesn't always win .

If you run a couple of passes with a disk you'll get a better firebreak than you will with mowing. Most of the folks around here hit the edges of their property about now - the seasonal grasses are pretty much done growing, even if we do get a bit more rain. Some wait until the end of May, early June to be sure the growing is done (or hit it again).

I used a tiller one year to try and create the same thing. It worked OK. I would like to pick up a disk one of these days, but I have to have a mower. If you have both, I'd suggest doing both...mow first and then disk it in.

For those of you outside this area (that are interested), the way the weather works here is that we get rain during the winter and then it stops (completely, totally and absolutely) over the summer. The start and stop dates vary somewhat, but you can pretty much count on no rain from about May through September.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

I don't know if any of you have been burned out before, but I have, it is no fun. I disk.

 

[HangtownMatt]

Chrisjbell,

The reason I described my property as being sloped was cause I figured erosion would be an issue with disking.

Great feedback. Keep the opinions comming. I really enjoy hearing from the local guys. MtnViewRanch .... Isn't that right around Sheep Ranch Rd and Hwy 4?

Yes, fire is a real concern around here. I spent most of this first winter with my new too me tractor pulling 15' tall Ceanothus out by the roots. The sole purpose of Ceanothis in nature is to spread fire. I had some great burn piles.

Matt

 

[bx23barry]

Disc a "fire break" around your property at least. Mowing won't stop a fire. About now is a good time to disc. The grass is about to go to seed, there is some moisture in the ground and the rain is about done. Erosion really isn't much of a concern since the grass is usually up from the light rains Sept/Oct before the heavy rains come Dec/Jan. I water my pastures but I till around the house and along the road. I like tilled ground better than dead brown grass. I got about half my place tilled last Sat before the rain hit. Too wet now to finnish, maybe next week. What I don't till needs to be mowed 4-5 times.