No till drills

[deerfarmer4life]

Ive never owned or operated a no till drill.

After seeing some units in person and watching demonstration videos on them i believe this is going to be my next purchase.

Ive got a few questions that im hoping someone with experience can help me with.

Can i used these in virgin ground? Or are these ment to be used in previous planted/worked fields.


This unit will be transported to my cabin and my few hunting leases i have.

I have been looking at the LandPride 606nt pull type.

I own a kubota L3800 4wd with loaded tires and weights will i be able to pull it?

 

[HCJtractor]

I bought a Truax Flex series grass drill last year on Ebay. It has 3 seed boxes for various seeds. I used it for the first time last fall and planted wheat, rye, and oats. I also tried some sunflowers and soybeans. It worked great on the grains. Germination was extremely faster than what I broadcasted and covered. I used it on herbicided fields previously planted, some tilled, others untilled. It worked great on both. I think whether it could be used on virgin soil would depend on the soil condition and hardness.

I am not familiar with the Landpride. Mine weighs over 3000 lbs and can be used by towing with the tongue in place, or with the 3 point hitch with the tongue off. But my 70 horse Kubota was marginal handling the weight on the three point, but with the tongue, did just fine. I think a 40 horse would handle the tongue version. I know the Great Plains is well respected also. You can google the Truax website.

After planting with broadcasting for years, I think this speeds things up. My germination was better, and it uses less seed. I am still learning, but thought I would share this.

To use this to the max, you must also consider using more herbicide prior to no tilling. I think that is imperative to really use the no til to the max. So I build a 275 gallon sprayer to apply glyphosate.

 

[sweettractors]

Used Taylor 5 5 ft No Till Drill with 3 Hoppers Disc Openers Can SHIP Cheap | eBay

Above is the most versatile no till drill that we have had for a long time and we can ship it cheap. It has 3 hoppers and can be a pull type or 3 point type hitch. Ken Sweet

 

[Ted Summey]

The no till is exactly that. Meaning you can use it on land that has not been tilled in a long time or ever. They don't work especially well on tilled land that is too "fluffy". I've had good luck cultipacking before using the no till drill on prepared seed beds. You need to have the vegetation cut fairly short before using the no till drill. They are heavy and the one I have used is a towable. The towable version requires hydraulics to lift to transport position or to lower to planting position. I have not used a 3 pt hitch type.

Most folks use a combination of herbicides and mowing to deal with the vegetation when planting on anything heavier than a few inches of grass.

It saves time, fuel and produces better results than broadcasting. I would love to own one but can't justify the cost when the county rents one for next to nothing.

 

[sweettractors]

Used Brillion 8 ft Sure Stand Overseeder with Cultipackers Can SHIP Cheap | eBay

For seeding a prepared field or food plot the above, Brillion Surestand is the "Top of the Line" of seeders. Ken Sweet

 

[Halftrack]

My suggestion, before you buy, is to check with your local A.S.C.S office (Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service) or your FSA (Farm Services Administration) office to see if they have a rental no till drill. Every county in my area has one to rent for the main purpose of planting cover crops for erosion control. My county had an 8' model which was in high demand because farmers could rent it cheap and plant their no till beans from May through July. They switched back to a 5' or 6' model to return to the original intent of erosion control in rough areas and hill sides. Another possibiliy is to contact any conservation clubs in your area for the same reason. Our Ducks Unlimited chapter had a 5' unit that we could use for free for wildlife, deer purposes but we needed to reserve it and have it back promptly. I think you will find they are out there and may allow you to try one out for size. If not, Ken is the man to talk to. Good luck!!! and let us know haw it works out.

 

[DT86]

...I am not familiar with the Landpride. ... I know the Great Plains is well respected...

Landpride = Great Plains

Edit... I had to look up which was which but Land Pride is a division of Great Plains.

 

[deerfarmer4life]

The problem with renting one is that you have to do it on their schedule not yours. If its raining the day you reserved it and you cant get it for a month cuz its book up your stuck trying to figure out something else.

I am needing it in atleast 3 different locations that are hundreds of miles apart they are expensive but its something that i need to have to get done what i need when i only have a weekend to do it.