Mowing cover crops

[bsaltzgiver]

Hi folks,

I'm a proud owner of a Grillo G85D which I use currently only for soil working, with a Berta plow and a 27" tiller. I'm a small scale market grower that utilizes cover crops in my rotation, and am interested in getting a mower attachment to chop some of these up before I incorporate them into the soil. I've watched videos on the effectiveness of the Berta Flail mower, but that comes with a rather hefty price tag. How well would one of the rough cut/bush hog mowers that Del Morino produces work for chopping up some cover crops before tilling? Obviously, it won't chop them up as nicely as the berta, but for $600.00 less, I could accept a slightly less performing mower.

I do know the berta plow can take down cover crops, but I grow in a somewhat permanent bed system that the berta plow makes a total mess out of if I want to add organic matter into the beds from a cover crop.

Let me know what you think!
-Bruce

 

[deerseeker001]

Welcome from Wisconsin

 

[zionview]

I have a 4 foot Del Marino rear discharge heavy duty finish mower that I use for mowing off cover crops. It works well if you take your time. I keep the blades sharp and ground speed slow. My only knock on it is that it tends to windrow the cut material to one side. I have used 4 -, 7-, 15- and 20-foot rotary mowers on everything from weeds to corn stalks with good success. Most folks run heavier rotary mowers a little dull on purpose, but if you sharpen them, they also do a nice job. I agree a flail would be nice, but I can't justify the price, either.

 

[motownbrowne]

We use a flail mower or a bush hog to mow cover crops on our market garden. I've looked at the two-wheel tractors a lot (we have a 1986 Troy-Bilt Horse that is fine, but not amazing) and I always turn away after seeing the implement price. Of course three point implements are expensive too, but the difference is that they are always available used. We bought one of our 8ns with a back blade, a 3pt disc, and a nice 6 foot flail mower for $2400. The rotary mower should be fine for your use, especially if it's sharp.

 

[farmerboybill]

I think you nailed it. The Berta is about the best rig you can buy for mowing cover crop or trails. There's really nothing that does better. Palladinos do almost as good a job as well, though. Joel isn't stocking them anymore, but will continue to stock parts. He has a couple remaining 18" units for $1080. it won't cut as wide a path, but you'll be less likely to run out of power.

Unfortunatley, I don't think you're going to be happy with a 26" flail mower OR rotary mower in heavy cover crops. I assume your G85d has a stock 10 or 9 hp engine. Along with the chippers, the flail mower is the most power hungry attachment you can buy. 9 hp will run it, but it'll work it hard. My KD440 diesel 850 can be put on it's knees with a 26" flail in heavy going. The 18" might be best suited for your needs.