need to clear small and medium sized rocks from pasture. What is the best tool?

[nybirdman]

My Northern NY place has been farmed since the 1850's.I have miles of "rock" fences and I am still picking tons of rocks every year.

 

[David Wayne]

4 teenagers looking for spring work

My grandpa always said to expect, one teenager-a days work, two teenagers-half days work, three teenagers-no work.
If it were me, I would try using front loader & landscape rake. Keep your eyes on craigslist for a used one, when done sell it.

 

[oosik]

About 6-8 years ago I hand picked one of my smaller meadows - around an acre. Then I disked it - BIG mistake. Exposed 2X to 3X as many rocks as previously picked. That small meadow has been left to go back to nature.

 

[TerryR]

It was asked how many acres, approx. 10 acres pasture and trees. It was sub harrowed years ago when it turned up a lot of rocks. Many were already present. The rock sizes very from small to very large. Any disking will turn many back up to the top.

You describe them as very small to very large. To me that means from 3 inch to 6 foot diameter. Is that what you are dealing with? Or something very different?

 

[bigtiller]

You describe them as very small to very large. To me that means from 3 inch to 6 foot diameter. Is that what you are dealing with? Or something very different?

I'm interested it the answer to that aswell. Awhile back in another thread, the author described small to medium as 1 to 3 inches.

 

[TXgreenjeans]

You describe them as very small to very large. To me that means from 3 inch to 6 foot diameter. Is that what you are dealing with? Or something very different?

1" to over 1 foot diameter. There are some larger ones, which could be six feet by the top of one I see. Large ones are much easier to get.

 

[CCWKen]

They grow in middle Tennessee. Every year is a new crop.

Yeah, they grow like tatters down here. There's a fresh crop every year. Even had to get the dozer out in the field a few times to move some in the 2-3,000 pound range. I can't imagine how those things float to the top. I have those saved under a tree for use in later landscaping, maybe. Those rascals can be hard on equipment. You can't push rocks back into the ground--They just pop right back up like corks along with new ones.

When you have 'em, you gotta pick 'em. Use whatever tools you have or can get that works in your soil. Except for the big ones, a tiller and rake works down here. Then scoop them up with a loader.

I've added to the pile since this picture was taken.

 

[breadtrk]

Yeah, I agree that the whole push them back down is ridiculous, ain't even a reasonable solution for someone who want's to solve the problem. Bring them up, however you can, pick them up and remove them however you can, plan on doing it again in a couple years.

 

[TomSeller]

They make a good deep roadbed if you do haul them out.

 

[quicksandfarmer]

You describe them as very small to very large. To me that means from 3 inch to 6 foot diameter. Is that what you are dealing with? Or something very different?

To me "small" means one person can move it, "medium" means a tractor can move it. "Very large" means it's a named feature on topographic maps or is visible from orbit.

 

[olPete]

Those FEL buckets designed for lifting out fodder crops like sugar beet work really well. The bottom is just made out of rods approx 6in apart so the small ones and soil drop through.
Unlikely to be worth buying one for the job, but if a farmer nearby has one...
We chisel plowed about 100ac and then scooped all the stones up before cultivating it and sowing grass. The small ones roll in better than baseball size and up

 

[Xfaxman]

Up here it is called a Rock Bucket. They are available with different tine spacing.

 

[jenkinsph]

I use a rock bucket to gather the larger stones over 3 inch and it works okay but you need to be working with dry soil to get good results. With 3 inch spacing in slightly damp soil the rock bucket will still hold more soil than I would like.


I have considered adding a vibratory shaker driven by the hydraulic aux circuit on my fel to aid in getting the dirt out. Just have not acted on it yet. I suspect the isolator/vibration mounting would be the bigger issue to make. Don't want to vibrate the whole fel mounting.

 

[kevin37b]

Big is 4 - 8" . Is it pasture or rowcrop ? Are you going to plant corn or just mow it ? All these rock picking devices are quite elegant in dry sand . Not so much in dirt . Either get an excavator to root them out or mow over them .

 

[cat fever]

When I get real bored, my wife and I will hook up the little trailer to my four wheeler and go picking rocks. We have been doing that for 20 years now. After reading this thread I know why I still have rocks. It's those of you who are pushing them back down, they are coming up in my field. STOP NOW :laughing:

 

[TomSeller]

When I get real bored, my wife and I will hook up the little trailer to my four wheeler and go picking rocks. We have been doing that for 20 years now. After reading this thread I know why I still have rocks. It's those of you who are pushing them back down, they are coming up in my field. STOP NOW :laughing:

Oh, sorry about that!

 

[FTG-05]

When I get real bored, my wife and I will hook up the little trailer to my four wheeler and go picking rocks. We have been doing that for 20 years now. After reading this thread I know why I still have rocks. It's those of you who are pushing them back down, they are coming up in my field. STOP NOW :laughing:

How far do you live from Sodo? I could start dropping them off there.

Or better yet, someone PM me Shield Arc's address; I have a special gift for his next door "friend".