Field finishing in fall or spring?

steve in wi · Nov 16, 2016

Hi everyone, my question is ,i plowed up 20 acres bean stubble,5 acres hay moldboard half of everything. Other half chiseled. Being that it's been so dry I thought I would go head and start discing the moldboard fields up and have them level in spring. I am in se wi and any disadvantage to getting it done now than spring? I am wanting to leave it just so at worst go over it with a field cultivator .thanks any thoughts.

centash · Nov 16, 2016

Probably still have to make one or two passes in the spring, plus leveling by discing may allow greater erosion and less surface water infiltration,and less frost penetration to break up any compaction. That applies here, may be different in your area. Ben

RBoots · Nov 16, 2016

We chisel whatever we can get to in the fall. Around here it helps drain off the surface moisture faster and dry out quicker. Then, like you say, a pass or 2 with the field cultivator and plant. We rarely ever disk anything anymore. Probably won't get much chisel plowed this year, it has been so wet, we don't have all of our soys out yet, starting corn soon, but still have a lot of standing water.

Bruce from Can. · Nov 16, 2016

Some of my land is clay, and I don't want to cross it any more than I have to in spring, because It will pack. So on that ground I do as much work as I can in the fall in preparation for spring planting. What is your soil like? High early ground , or low wet late ground? Low ground I would get it worked in the fall for sure. Bruce

steve in wi · Nov 16, 2016

Half is clay ground,the other half nice black upper land.this spring I worked the lower half 4 times before it would loosen up to plant beans. That was after chisel plowing in the fall.think I work the lower end and leave the too end. It's flat enough I shouldn't get to much erosion. I do half,that way I am half right either way I do it...

paul · Nov 16, 2016

Did that once. Worst thing I ever did for field work.

The smooth ground eroded much worse.

It wouldn't dry out because it was smooth in spring.

Had to plant later, and corn still didn't emerge right.

Clay and peat waterlogged soils here.

I won't ever do that again, was a terrible deal.

Paul

Texasmark1 · Nov 16, 2016

2 no(s) to the thought:

1. Leaving it rough invites absorption of winter moisture rather runoff of available precip.

2. Clay soils break down handily by freezing and thawing. Sandy loam, no big benefit there but they are better at absorption so you get double the benefit in answer #1.
In the spring you may be fighting too much moisture to get your land prepared, but you do have it stored for your crop and the process of final prep will be as simple as a good, heavy (like a JD 17' rigid frame batwing I once had), spike toothed harrow and you are ready to plant.

Bruce from Can. · Nov 16, 2016

If your soil is "waterlogged " only cure for that is tile drain . Won't matter a fig when you work the ground if it is too wet to grow a crop .

fixerupper · Nov 16, 2016

Let the winter freeze/thaw do the tillage. In the spring the plowing might possibly smooth out in one pass with a good field cultivator though two passes might be needed.

Leroy · Nov 16, 2016

Working down in fall means harder ground in spring for an extra pass over to plant than not worked down in fall.

Leroy · Nov 16, 2016

You only work fall plowed ground down in fall if you are following up planting a crop in fall.

coonie minnie · Nov 16, 2016

By no means should it be done now. All it will do is create A LOT of erosion- both water and wind. If you would like the local erosion police to find you, level it now. I know that sounds harsh, but you'd be much better off to let it sit. I live in SE WI- in my world, there is no reason to plow soybean ground, anyway.

David G · Nov 16, 2016

Never seen a need to work up bean ground, just plant between the old rows.

J. Schwiebert · Nov 17, 2016

Leroy: Define fall plowing> Around here wheat stubble is ripped after the wheat is off and then worked up ready to plant corn for next year. I see I have 2 neighbors who each plowed about 4 or 5 acres. Don't know what they are going to do with the soil now.

Field finishing in fall or spring?

steve in wi

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centash

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RBoots

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Bruce from Can.

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steve in wi

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paul

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Texasmark1

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Bruce from Can.

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fixerupper

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Leroy

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Leroy

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coonie minnie

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David G

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J. Schwiebert

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