Drill seeder help

[olPete]

Most years we get a wet spring that's why we get one good cut. After that the only thing that will grow is weeds. :confused3:
I guess they don't need water.:confused2:

Weeds never need much..
I will do some research and pondering on this.
What sort of weeds are the problem, imagine they have deep roots.. you could try plantain/chicory/red clover maybe. That's why I'm looking at chicory, nice deep roots to make the deep minerals available, and rob the Cali thistles of nutrients and moisture. Although my aerway style machine gives them something to think about!! Apologies for going off topic

 

[Turbys_1700]

All model B drills had galvanised seed box

Thank you Jim for the clarification. My dad sold Allis Chalmers for over 25 years from 59-84. He and my grandfather had 2 small cattle farms. We used the B for years on oats, soybeans, wheat, etc. I remember standing on the rear floor board while dad drilled the crop in checking to make sure all the openers were working properly. Good old days and great memories. Lots of old B's still for sale and in use. Those with the small seed box have pretty high resale prices.

 

[cat fever]

Thank you Jim for the clarification. My dad sold Allis Chalmers for over 25 years from 59-84. He and my grandfather had 2 small cattle farms. We used the B for years on oats, soybeans, wheat, etc. I remember standing on the rear floor board while dad drilled the crop in checking to make sure all the openers were working properly. Good old days and great memories. Lots of old B's still for sale and in use. Those with the small seed box have pretty high resale prices.

When I was looking for a drill, I found lots of junk that I wondered if it would work at all. I really wanted the small seed box but the drill I got was in such good shape I couldn't pass on it. But, yes those with the small box in good working order can ask whatever they want for them. If you don't buy it, the next guy will.

 

[svenlylethor]

That seems super risky with alfalfa because the grain has bigger seeding gears so even if you taped the hole smaller and put in a smaller seeding rate, it would very difficult to measure the lbs/acre. On top of that the alfalfa will get drilled into the ground so it'll probably get buried a few inches underground. My dad has a newer drill with tubes for the alfalfa, they're supposed to go down right behind the drill but he put the tubes in the drill, they seeded a few inches underground, and then only a small amount of the alfalfa grew and he harvested about a ton/acre for the whole season instead of 4-5 and didn't know why. Once I pointed that out he learned his lesson. The grain and hay boxes are different for a reason.

Not sure how many acres you're seeding but I'd probably pay the neighbor to seed your field for you.

 

[cat fever]

From talk here on TBN I've decided to not even try planting alfalfa with my seeder. I appreciate all the feedback.

I am looking forward to planting in the next week or so with the mix I mentioned earlier.

 

[Texasmark]

I have a John Deere Van Brunt drill seeder. As you can see from the picture it does not have the small seed box.

View attachment 489219



Here's my question; could I duct tape the seed outlet mostly closed and then seed with alfalfa? In my head it would work but I'm not sure it would in the field. :laughing:
Hopefully TXJim see's this post and replies.:thumbsup:

I have that exact drill and yes there is a chart under the right hand lid. I setup all my equipment to run on 6' widths so I blocked off the ends to get the 6' dimension. I used thin sheet metal from a piece of junk lying around and held it in place with RTV. Has worked fine for many years. On partially blocking off a hole from inside the hopper, I don't know if that would work for you or not. I have repaired worn places on mine, from the underside with the same thin material....soda pr beer can works great, and RTV so that I could use the minimum settings.

 

[Texasmark]

Thank you Jim for the clarification. My dad sold Allis Chalmers for over 25 years from 59-84. He and my grandfather had 2 small cattle farms. We used the B for years on oats, soybeans, wheat, etc. I remember standing on the rear floor board while dad drilled the crop in checking to make sure all the openers were working properly. Good old days and great memories. Lots of old B's still for sale and in use. Those with the small seed box have pretty high resale prices.

I got new springs for mine off ebay. Also JD still stocks some of the parts, for example, the spring inside the drop mechanism to name one, chain and sprocket for one drive also, I think they had springs too but needing 12 (as I recall for my reduced 6' drilling width) was priced over what I wanted to pay.

 

[cat fever]

The weather has been warm and dry for several days now. Fertilizer was put on Friday. I was able to get my field and another field across the street from me ready for seeding. Plan to get that done on Monday.

 

[kevin37b]

I like that field cultivator and harrow . Much nicer job than a disc .Wow , what a view !

 

[ovrszd]

Don't know how he gets anything done. I'd be gazing out the cab window at the mountains and run thru the fence.....