How would you attack a small fenced field?

[bdog]

I have an area that is 240’ x 240’ square and fenced on all four sides. It adjoins a larger 15 acre field and has been getting plowed and planted every year along with the larger field. I struggle with how to best traverse this field. By that I mean with my 15 acre field it is four times as long as it is wide so I run the tractor in the long direction, turn around at the ends, and when done make passes across the areas where I turned around which end up being about 30’ wide. It seems like it goes quickly as a lot more time is spent working vs turning around.

if I take a similar approach to the small field I have 60’ wasted on turn arounds, and am only working 180’ per pass. It works but I end up turning around roughly 35 times and spending a ton of time on just 1.3 acres. Is there any more efficient way to go about this?

 

[Diggin It]

Why is it fenced? To keep what out or in? What kind of fencing?

What I'm going for is to consider being able to open it up during ground work, then close it again if necessary. Livestock panels could be rigged as a sort of gate for example.


Another though would be to back in from whatever gate you have to the distant end, then plow forward. Move over to the next row, back down to the distant fence, then plow forward again. Lot of back and forth, but you'd get closer to the one end and no turning around.

 

[bdog]

It is fenced with welded pipe fencing. 2-3/8” posts every 8’. It is a property boundary on two sides and my driveway on another. The other side is basically the divider between this field and my front lawn. We open the gate between this field and the 15 acres and graze cattle on the crops we plant.

 

[MossRoad]

I have an area that is 240’ x 240’ square and fenced on all four sides. It adjoins a larger 15 acre field and has been getting plowed and planted every year along with the larger field. I struggle with how to best traverse this field. By that I mean with my 15 acre field it is four times as long as it is wide so I run the tractor in the long direction, turn around at the ends, and when done make passes across the areas where I turned around which end up being about 30’ wide. It seems like it goes quickly as a lot more time is spent working vs turning around.

if I take a similar approach to the small field I have 60’ wasted on turn arounds, and am only working 180’ per pass. It works but I end up turning around roughly 35 times and spending a ton of time on just 1.3 acres. Is there any more efficient way to go about this?

Big equipment in a small area is gonna mean less efficiency. What are you planting, if we can ask?

 

[Tx Jim]

I'm old school in that no matter the size/shape of a field I normally start process on the outside perimeter & go round-round to the middle of the field. There are exceptions but very few & normally I'm not going to waste my time on swooping turns on each end of field going back-n-forth. I custom bale hay & my 14 wheel rake(27' ft wide) has no problems going round-round in a small field.BTDT

 

[Tinhack]

I have a couple of areas orphaned by trees. I don't even try to make sharp turns while mowing--Even in the big fields. I make wide turns and move over ~ 4-5 widths of the cutter. I make loops like this for the whole cut. I only have to make a couple of tight turns at the very end. So what if I recut the ends of the loops. It still takes less time than trying to slow for tight turns or having to backup to stay "in-line". I'm cutting a field, not plowing.

 

[Hay Dude]

I never plowed in loops......

 

[MossRoad]

I never plowed in loops......

I was thinking that as well. I mow my yard in loops. I don't think a planter would work so well for crops in loops. Or a combine when harvesting.

 

[bdog]

Big equipment in a small area is gonna mean less efficiency. What are you planting, if we can ask?

I’m not sure what you mean about the big equipment. I was referring to a 7’ implement in my example. If it were 3.5’ wide I have to turn around 70 times but if if we’re 14’ I would only have to do so 18 times.

I am planting hybrid sorghum-sudan or winter wheat depending on the season.

 

[bdog]

I never plowed in loops......

Correct. It is not good to turn when ground engaging implements are in the ground. Mowing the field is a lot easier I can make loops and overlapping here and there is no big deal.