Rough hayfield

The guys in NY would hit the fields in spring just as frost was coming out, with these self propelled rollers. I think Bob M has a few photos of these. Someone in NY is bound to have one.

The advice you already have on plowing is by far the best solution. The other folks have given you good advice. Getting rough fields smooth is much like grading gravel roads, you've got to cut it below the deepest hole. Pay particular attention to Allan, his dad probably taught him much the same as my dad taught me. If the seeded hayfield wasn't smooth enough to get his 57 or 59 Chevy sedan up to 50mph, someone screwed up on tillage. Believe me that was damn smooth, that old 59 Chevy would bottom out if a wheel dropped in a tractor tread mark.

I'm only suggesting the M roller as a short term solution. Maybe you only want to plow a small percentage each year. These rollers were popular in high rainfall areas where some rutting was unavoidable in wet years. I doubt if Allan has experienced that.

Kind of a variation on what Allan said is that you never work the field the opposite direction of what you would plant and harvest it. Especially primary tillage, but even when working it with a field cultivator, I will work at a gentile diagonal, but never opposite.

Paul

I was raised on a flood irrigated farm so this just comes naturally.

Every blessed operation has to be done so that the ground is left smooth as a pool table. You learn very early on that you never, ever make two passes in the same direction on the same field. Always be changing the angle of the work and each implement you use has to be set correctly to leave the ground smooth.

Like the other guys say, your only recourse is to plow 'er up and start all over.

Allan