Ken Sweet of Sweettractors.com, etc..

[UrbannGuerilla]

You might want to consider a 3 point rototiller for preparing the plots. You could run a 72" behind that tractor. THey do a great job in preparing food plots. They chop the soil up real fine.

That is what we were going to originally do, but the existing plots are approaching sandy. (since before we had this property) The one "new" plot (since last fall) was (and still is) lush and vigorous Milo, probably 5 foot tall right now. The others were very spotty at best. I'm thinking either they have been overtilled/overplowed, or there is a hardpan, or the food plots have been there too long without much replenishing the soil.. or something. Maybe a combo of them. I'm not sure just yet. I'll be getting a soil test done from new plot areas and old existing areas, so that should fill me in on some of the problems I hope.

With that taken into consideration we thought we might do some minimal disturbance plot preparation to try to keep more humus in the soil over longer periods of time, which tilling destroys quicker than can be made. The one new plot from last fall/summer is leaps and bounds ahead of every existing plot there, and it was prepared originally with an ATV and a disc.

We will be making some other new plots in the next month or so when we go back up, and we will be replanting only a couple of the old plots for a comparison. This year we are planting Tecomate Sunstra Hybrid Alfalfa, Red Clover, White Clover, Chicory, T-Raptor Hybrid Brassicas, Oats, Triticale (wheat/rye hybrid), and Nutrigreen Winter Peas.

 

[clemsonfor]

Hes a sponsor on this site and posts here often, never done business from him but would not hesitate from what others say. He probably will post here unless he feels its to weird to post in a post about him. And if he does post im sure all he will say is to thank the ones who have complimented him, he wont jump in to try and "sell" himself, others do and have already done that for him.

 

[MikeInEburg]

Like others, I haven't actually done business with Ken. However, I find his posts on this site VERY informative and reasonable. I suspect that, if you tell him what you're trying to accomplish, he'll provide information on the best solution.
Mike

 

[trac]

This is a very interesting subject that you have started here and has caught my attention. Ken Sweet has alot of great knowledge on tillage equipment. He has a ton of it and it all looks in great shape. His prices seem very reasonable also. He is a very honest business man in my opinion and I would not hasitate to purchase from him. As for food plots, small seeds such as alfalfa, clovers, chicory, and brassicas cannot be planted very deep. I disc the soil to make it firm and level. I then use a culipacker to roll it down. ( I put my seed on with a hand walk on seeder so it is much easier walking) I then roll it again to push the small seed into the dirt. This seems to work very effectly and I have never had a failure. Bigger seeds such as wheat, oats and such are dics in once and then rolled. I also try to seed just before a rain. This works for my loamy ground as well as clay-loam mix. This works for me and any other input is gladly welcomed. Thanks for starting this forum. I also own a AC 5040 tractor and know of a company that sells roll over protection devices if interested. Trac

 

[UrbannGuerilla]

This is a very interesting subject that you have started here and has caught my attention. Ken Sweet has alot of great knowledge on tillage equipment. He has a ton of it and it all looks in great shape. His prices seem very reasonable also. He is a very honest business man in my opinion and I would not hasitate to purchase from him. As for food plots, small seeds such as alfalfa, clovers, chicory, and brassicas cannot be planted very deep. I disc the soil to make it firm and level. I then use a culipacker to roll it down. ( I put my seed on with a hand walk on seeder so it is much easier walking) I then roll it again to push the small seed into the dirt. This seems to work very effectly and I have never had a failure. Bigger seeds such as wheat, oats and such are dics in once and then rolled. I also try to seed just before a rain. This works for my loamy ground as well as clay-loam mix. This works for me and any other input is gladly welcomed. Thanks for starting this forum. I also own a AC 5040 tractor and know of a company that sells roll over protection devices if interested. Trac

I appreciate the replies from you, and the others. The actual seed mixes go as follows. The alfalfa is mixed with clover and chicory, The brassicas are mixed with clover and chicory, we have a clover/clover/chicory only, and then the final mix that likes lower PH (for virgin plots we'll be discing) is Oats, Triticale, Winter peas, clover, and chicory. ALL of the individual species in all the mixes fall into the 1/4 to 1/8" category of planting depth.

The implements we plan on using are a 3pt disc, and a 3pt cultipacker.
Disc, pack, spread, pack - was my plan, so it sounds like I am on the right track.

Also Trac, where would I be able to find and/or look at these ROPS items for my tractor? I'd be interested to see them and check pricing, etc.

 

[cspot]

Most important thing is to get soil tests done and put on the required lime and fertilizer. This is one thing that alot of people overlook and is probably one of the most things. If the PH isn't right for what you are planting, then it won't do well. Same goes for fertilizer.

 

[blueriver]

Heres the deal about Ken .. I do not know him personally nor have I bought or traded with him.

I will say this. It would be suicide for his business based on the number of registered TBN user's if he was not on the up and up ... think about it, TBN is really impressive and the number of folks that just become new members daily not to mention the "visitors" that are not among the users that count on the vast knowlegde of the users, advertisers ... its amazing.

Not all people can be pleased. It seems like to me Ken does an excellent job in sales, service and customer service ... oh ... I forgot ... he even throw a little knowlege in there !!!

Ken ... Thank you from someone who has not even spoken to you!!

 

[dcyrilc]

I will take photos of the tractor this weekend, probably tomorrow so that you can see what I'm talking about. I think the back of the rear axle DOES have a flat spot on each rear facing side between the center and rear wheel that has two vertical holes in it. That could be a ROPS mounting option, but I am not qualified to say.

I will have pictures of the very strange "earlobe" fenders that are on our tractor (and they are faded AC orange like the rest), uncommon to any allis chalmers ac5050 that I have seen. Google Images "Allis Chalmers AC5050" I'm almost positive every picture you will find has squared, flat topped fenders that cover a large portion of the rear wheel tread- Of those you will also see the ROPS that mounts to the flat tops of the "regular" AC 5050's.

Here are what just about every AC5050's Fenders look like.
Google Image Result for http://www.importtractorparts.net/acad.JPG
TractorData.com Allis Chalmers 5050 tractor photos information

The only thing I could find that showed the "earlobe" fenders I was talking about is this picture of a toy ac5050.. OUR fenders look just like this...
Google Image Result for http://oldtoybox.net/images/IMG_1163.JPG
If that long URL doesn't work, here is the link to the toy tractor.. its the next-to-bottom of the first page.
Allis Chalmers : The Old Toy Box, Collectibles

I'll still take pictures of the rear axle this weekend...

I'm not familiar with your tractor, but what you describe sounds similar to my JD 2240.

 

[UrbannGuerilla]

I'm not familiar with your tractor, but what you describe sounds similar to my JD 2240.

Somewhat, but flat, rounded tops (I know that doesn't make sense, but it will when you see the pictures) The rear fenders only cover (I'm guesstimating) about an inch maybe of the inside of the rear tread.

 

[dcyrilc]

Somewhat, but flat, rounded tops (I know that doesn't make sense, but it will when you see the pictures) The rear fenders only cover (I'm guesstimating) about an inch maybe of the inside of the rear tread.

That's how mine is. My ROPS mounts to the rear axle. I'll be at the farm tomorrow. I'll try to remember to get some pix of how my ROPS attaches. Maybe it will help you to make some sense for how to attach one on yours.