Plowing

I am going to plow a field for the first time, have only plowed gardens before.

The field is 10 acres and mostly square.

How do I plan it to minimize wasted time?

Use a rollover plow.

Vito

When I plow a field that needs to be plowed away from the fence on the ends I leave about 20 foot by the fence on the sides and plow the ends in a circle all the way around the field. This saves driving without plowing on the ends.

Unless you have a two way plow.

Gary

Start with a back furrow, go a measured 70ft in from one side (measure both ends and put a white flag on a branch or post).
Adjust the plow so it turns a pretty good set of furrows with both wheels on the level. Proceed from about 20 ft from one end to no closer than 20 ft from the other, in a straight line keeping the flag in sight.
Turn around to the right and plow the opposite direction, with the right wheel just edging onto the turned earth from the other set of furrows.
When you get to the starting end, turn into the furrow, the right wheel will be in the furrow.
Stop and adjust the plow to level with the wheel in the furrow. Experiment to get it so each bottom is making equal depth cuts. (may require some digging to make sure.
Continue around and around this "land" (what it is called) till you get as close to the fence as comfortable.
Measure from the last furrow to the next 70 foot back furrow. and repeat the process. When you finish this "land" you will have a "dead furrow" where two furrows are in the same place. No issue, it will be disked somewhat smooth.
Repeat until you get to the far side of the field.
Make the last "land" 1/2 the distance to the side fence so that it will finish off the field.
Then do the headlands. Plow with the earth turning toward the field. Drive back to the other end of the same headland to keep the single furrow on the outside toward the fence. Jim

look the field over real close
see if you can find any old dead furrows
if you find one then start plowing in such a manner that you plow the old dead furrow closed
if the sides have been all plowed in real bad leaving a sizable ledge then start at the outside of the field throwing the dirt out and plow you way around and around until you end up in the middle
Good luck
Ron

Start on the longest straight side there is and work from there.

So do I have to make an extra pass each time to get back without plowing?

No, You'll plow in both directions. I have no idea the shape of the field but in theory you would start exactly in the middle of the field and plow down then turn and plow back right beside where you just plowed down. You can also make your land by making the first pass around each outside but be aware that if you throw the dirt out too far you'll not be able to get it back which is why you often see dirt swelled up against an old fencerow. Plowing to the outsides over and over also leaves a dead furrow in the middle (dead furrow is where two furrows meet).

Maybe you should check out some youtube videos if this is your first time.

Here is an example of plowing to the "outside" (dirt always moving toward the outside of the field)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0COtz46TSbY

At the end of this video the operator turned to the right, driven to the edge of the plowed ground and gone right back up the field. That puts a furrow at both sides of your land. One side for traveling up the field and the other side for traveling down the field.



Here is an example of plowing to the "inside" (dirt always being moved to the center of the field)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nf65AGpc4ww

Notice the land still in between the plowed ground

If you have never plowed before I recommend reading a plow operators manual so that you understand how to adjust coulters and tail wheels/landsides. The key to plowing it to keep the plow level while it is in the ground. That means front to rear and side to side. Get it in the furrow and then level the plow with the ground. The tractor tire will be in the furrow which will cause the tractor to lean to the right side. You'll have to compensate for this unlevelness with you your tractor lift links to level the plow back out. Your top link will level the plow front to rear. If you change depths at any point you will have to make minor adjustments to your front to rear and side to side adjustments again.

OK this is a very old book (But soil never changes) that you can read online but it was THE guide to ploughing in The UK when it was first published in the days of The old Fordson Major!
Ransomes guide to good ploughing

Find an old farmer in the coffee shop and have him get you started.

evilboweivel,
Interesting, around here my husband and neighbors always start a land in the center and plow their way outward from that - plowing on both sides of each round (when coming and going). If it is a large area, they may actually end up starting more than one land - but still work from that center-point outward.

Then on headlands I think he plowed in one year and out the next to keep the dead furrow from becoming a huge drop-off.

Good book Roy, when I left school in 1958 I went to work at J L Maltby ltd of Newark. They were Ransomes dealers and their rep Herbert Shields gave me one of those books he also took me with him setting new ploughs up. Allways loved ploughing and I compete in a lot of matches. I am also a director of the Society of Ploughmen. MJ

Come on guys this is not rocket science here. We are only talking 10 acres not a 1,000. Plow first pass straight up the middle and choose the side of your furrow.. Go to the edge of that side and plow it, when it is complete do the same on the other. Your not in a contest so don"t worry if it does not come out perfect. As you plow you will learn the best way to start and finish that works best for you.

Let me emphasize what Janicholson said about being sure each bottom is going in the same,some digging may be necessary. While most of the fields that I have renovated have turned out fine and are nice and smooth, one did not. IT was smooth for the first 2-3 years but then as the earth settled in over time it became rough to drive across. It may have been due to doing so much of it after dark but anyway, the plow was not level in the ground so one side cut deeper than the other. This can be caused by out of level front to back as well as side to side.

have somebody else do it. Sorry, I couldn't resist bein a smarta$$.

I have my dog direct me...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xACh2jUlSI

Put a rops on that tractor then you won't need the helmet, LOL