Help flatten our fields!!!

[jcaron2]

Only the 1 is showing for Me also jcaron2 . Bob

Thanks, Bob.

Here are the pictures from above now attached directly rather than linked.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Like the others said, use something heavy like a old I Beam behind your disc. This should smooth things our some.

Chris

 

[Ct Hydroseeding]

I was thinking a Harley rake would be ideal for the area for the horses and for re-grooming.

 

[Builder]

I was thinking a Harley rake would be ideal for the area for the horses and for re-grooming.

I was going to suggest the same thing.

My 90" Landpride power rake would make that field smooth and leave about 2-4" of soft soil ideal for planting grass. It'll also churn up all the weeds & grass on the surface.

You can rent a harley rake to get it done.

 

[rambler]

One or 2 good diskings. If you do more than one, run at different angles to each pass. Don't follow the planter rows, go at an angle across the field. Instead of due south, go 15 degrees off of south.

Do not disk too much. _That_ creats a very hardpan zone about 4-5 inches deep. You don't notice it, but those disk blades will stop the same depth all the time, and pack the ground very hard.

Then go over the field a time or 2 with a harrow, aka drag. Some will use a pole or rr tie or I beam or chainlink fence or bedspring. A real drag will be better, the other stuff works if you have time.

Again, the most important thing is to drag the field at different angles. 45 degree ange or so, head to the south-west, if you drag it a second time drive to the south-east.

Going at different angles is the key to getting a field level. The disk will loosen a few inches of dirt.

The harrow will move the loose stuff into the low spots, but will do much better at it if you are going in slightly different direction to whatever direction you were going the last path.

A packer is wonderful for going over the field after you seed it. The packer distributes it's weight over all the ground, and makes a firm seedbed in the top inch, which is exactly what grass & legume type small seeds want. It is not good for leveling the ground, nor will it compact the soil. It just makes a perfect seedbed once the seed is on the ground.

--->Paul

 

[tlbuser]

Excellent! I think we're on the right track now. Thanks so much!

the attached link has videos of how the different attachments work, disc, cultipacker, etc.
Tractor Field Disc Harrow

 

[FoxTailsManor]

Thank you all!

Thanks to these posts, we have determined that our disc harrow (adjustable as previously described) would be sufficient to knock down the ridges, followed up by a cultipacker, or similar smoother (drag harrow with additions, etc.). After discussions with more "people in the know", however, we've sort of "sold out" and found a kind hearted soul willing to help us with the use of a 250HP tractor and much larger implements. He'll be doing essentially the same thing, but save us an incredible amount of time. With all of the expense and time spent getting this place back in tip top shape from years of neglect, we need all the help we can get.

I cannot express how much we have appreciated your help and suggestions! For a newbie, the pictures and detailed explanations were extremely valuable!

 

[have_blue]

I've never seen anyone dragging stuff across a 30 acre field around here. Maybe you have to if you have rocks. The guys around here just disk with big tractors and 21' and bigger disks. Disking across the rows helps a lot. Pulling the disk at high speed fluffs, spreads, and levels the soil up just great.

A 50hp Kubota is a little light to do anything serious to a 30a field. You're talking about 3-4 pretty long days just to disk 1 pass.

 

[N80]

I would also agree with everyone that a disk would be your primary tool, and Rambler is exactly right about over disking. It will compact too much.

However, I have found that my disk is not sufficient to give what I'd call a smooth surface. At least not in my type of soil. And after discussing this same issue with the smart folks here at TBN I have also come to the conclusion that a cultipacker is just what I need. I think two or three passes with a disk and then a pass with the cultipacker will work great.....at least for me.

 

[The Haymaker]

I was thinking a Harley rake would be ideal for the area for the horses and for re-grooming.

I'm quite happy someone finally found a good use for a Harley! You may want to drain the oil first so it doesn't leak....... Unless you need dust control!