Single row planter on toolbar?

[e.myers]

I think I'm looking for a single row planter that is mounted on a toolbar that hooks to a 3 point hitch. Idea is that I can reposition the planter off of center so I can make two passes from opposite directions to get two rows behind my tractor at 30"+/- spacing. Later, if I want to add another planter I'm thinking I could just add it to the toolbar.

Needs to have a fertilizer box attachment.

I think I also need it to be "floating?" so that it can handle my relatively uneven terrain? (Not sure I know what I'm talking about here)

From what I'm gathering, there are three "attachment" type options....
1. 3 point hitch directly mounted (JD71 Type)
2. Mounted directly to a cultivator
3. Mounted to a toolbar.

Who makes these? Any recommendations?

 

[DJ54]

To answer this along with your other post, sounds like it may be easier to find a good used 2 row planter, then find something like in the picture below to cultivate and side dress.

That being said, a lot would depend on your tractor. Is it a row crop tractor..?? ie: are the rear wheels, and front axle adjustable..?? If not, then you need to adjust your planter, and cutivator, to the wheel spacing on your tractor, rather than the tractor wheel spacing to your rows.

And you need to know that these fertilizer units should be disassembled, cleaned, dried, and some sort of rust prevention applied, if you want it to last most than several years.

These smaller units are still around, just have to watch older small farm sales, dealer lots, good ol' Craigslist, some brand specific tractor forums, etc. A buddy of mine found a like new 2 row mounted planter for his A-C CA, and like new set of cultivators, and utilizes them in his small truck patch operation. Don't think he has over $400.00 in both. He's pretty meticulous, and spends more time cleaning them up, than he does planting, and side dressing. But when it's time to hook up, they are ready to go.

With the organic style produce making a comeback, farmer's markets, and CSA's sprouting up everywhere, these items are bringing a premium.

Last year in mid-winter I found an ad a guy posted who was getting out of the produce roadside market business, he and his wife had for like 15 years. Had some decent equipment, for really reasonable prices. Tried to steer my buddy into buying a couple of items he had, and he passed on them. last fall, he was kicking himself.

You don't give your location, or type of tractor. Your location can be a big key in finding equipment the size you are looking for. In my area, and to the SE it's not to hard to find these size items. Condition they are in, is another story. It all depends on how good of care someone took of it. A few years back I saw a, what would have been an almost pristene 2 row Ford planter, except for the fact they did not empty the fertilizer hoppers. Completely rotted the hoppers, drive chains, and rusting the frame below. It brought $15.00.

 

[Spindifferent]

Maybe try Buckeye/Yetter?

Buckeye Tractor Online Catalog Page 10-01 Seed Planters

- Spindifferent

 

[Reyer Farms]

The yetter is identical to the John Deere model. Even called model 71. Buckeye has awesome stuff. I still want to twin row on a 32" bed and see how it does down here.

 

[e.myers]

DJ54-
Showing my ignorance here.... but that cultivator set up has a planter attached to it correct? I mean, if it was just a 2 row cultivator with fertilizer attachment, all the parts in the middle would be missing, right?
Yeah, after thinking things through somewhat, I'm kind of thinking that I don't really need a fertilizer attachment on my planter, and as you suggest, maybe the fertilizer attachments on the cultivator makes more sense. I'm assuming you can still use that type of cultivator without dropping fertilizer?

Spindifferent-
That's what I'm looking for (it's mounted on a toolbar).

Reyerfarms-
So the 71 can be mounted on a toolbar also? Thought they were 3 point hitch and not adjustable side to side.
Because of my tractor wheel center spacing, I'm considering trying setting my to be purchased planters up for twin row. What are you thinking? If I do typical 30" centers for say corn, then I'll only have about 4" between my tires and the plants after they are planted which would be hard to cultivate around. So, was thinking if I moved my planters closer together on the toolbar, I could set up for twin row and at the same time get rid of some of my cultivation issues. Any ideas how twin row works with corn? Why do you want to try it? Do you know how close together you can go between the twinned rows and still be able to cultivate between them effectively? For the 32" bed you want to try, how close together would the twinned rows be? Pros? Cons?

 

[DJ54]

That's a 2 row cultivator with side dressers. No planter... The outside row when you start would have fertilizer just on one side, unless you went back and hit in between the center section. But once you start, and come back the next two rows, fertilizer would be dropped on both sides, from there on across the section of planted rows.

Yes, it can be used without the side dressers. Don't have one, but assuming you can either fold up the drop tubes, or they are easily removed. Loosen the chain tension sprocket, and remove the drive chain. Actually, you'd only be side dressing one time, about the time corn starts silking up.

How many times you cultivate, basically depends on weed growth. And a lot of that depends on rain to make them grow. Might be once a week, or every two weeks. But it's best to get them when they are small, and I mean when the first two leaves of a weed are the size of pinheads. You don't really want it plowing deep, just sort of scratching the surface well, enough to turn the roots up on the weeds. There are more than several Youtube videos on cultivating.

I know one thing about 3 pt. cultivators... Once you get set on the row, don't look back. One slight turn of the wheel, and you've plowed out some corn. Especially if you do get set up with the tires 4" from the plants... If you have very much sideways slope, it's going to be tough to hold it on the row. Seems the tractor wants to drift down hill.

You don't say large of an area you intend to plant, but you could broadcast spread the fertilizer on. The crop just needs a starter to get it going. Maybe not as potent as having the fertilizer directly on or beside the row, never the less, it will pick up the nutrients. Better in my opinon, making the roots seek the nutrients forming a better root base.

 

[Reyer Farms]

E- I responded to your other post about twin rowcorn but it has disappeared. Apparently there is a conspiracy I use some buckeye tractor co equipment. They have s raised bed cultivator, I saw it and liked the way it worked. I did try ( twin corn) it last year. It did very well. If I do raised bed twin rows I will get more plants to the acre but I don't want to sacrifice quality or have our humidity give me problems with less air flow. Yes the jd 71 or yetter 71 are square tool bar mounted. They ate adjustable and a very slick slim unit. They are what I was looking to use for twin row. I got an old Covington this year and adjusted it to 30". I am behind but hopefully I can have some good weather to plant corn very soon. There are no set rules. I experiment and see what happens. Getting started is rough because you are doing it all at once. I did not look to see where you are but good chance you need to be hustling now are you are going to be ready next year. I would really go to buckeye tractors website and look at their new hobby small farm line it is pretty cool. Equipment is designed for low HP and narrow spacing. It will probably give you some guidance also. Their info is great about soil management etc. it's good horse sense stuff from their many years of experience.
Jody

 

[Reyer Farms]

Btw- a cutting torch and welder can adjust all things steel look for older obsolete row crop stuff!

 

[Spindifferent]

Also wanted to mention that the Buckeye folks are great to work with. I purchased some hilling disks and clamps from them and their customer service and shipping were great on my order. There is a wealth of good info and products on their website as well.

All the best on what you end up with!

- Spindifferent

 

[e.myers]

DJ54- I still don't understand the way that thing works. Why does it have a coulter (or whatever it's called) on the front middle? I mean, why are the sides and middle different? I'm assuming it has something to do with driving the chain and sprockets for the fertilizer hoppers.
Do you come back on every row or every other row?
Do the outside cultivators line up with the rear tire centers?
I know. I'm thick!
Wow. didn't realize people cultivated that often with a tractor.
As far as broadcasting goes, I have a spin type broadcaster. Out of curiousity, if you were to broadcast for field corn, would you broadcast at planting or wait until the plants had germinated. My problem with broadcasting these days is that all the readily available N is so volatile..... always praying for rain!
Reyer- Thanks for the insight. I'm going to try the twin row too. Maybe half and half this year. Also started looking for the JD71's that are tool bar mounted.
Buckeye/reyer- will look at the Buckeye site.