Grain Drill

What kind of grain drill would you guys recommend? Looking for one with an alfalfa seeder.

Thanks,

Allan

You can also get a grass seed attachment. I know a guy who has one, and it works pretty slick.

It's painted the color of money for a reason though...

Let us know what you come up with.

I'm very seriously considering running the drill right in the darned wheat stubble, right behind the combine and dropping the alfalfa while running the grain boxes empty (no nurse crop at all).

Guys are telling me that it works if a fellow gets lucky and gets a rain to kick off that baby alfalfa? They say ya gain the "dead-year"?

Allan

I would have to agree with Paul on this one. One of my neighbours down the road has a John Deere min-till drill (I think it's a 750), which does an excellent job. I know it was a section of a larger drill when he bought it several years ago. It's got the large packer wheels, and it's heavy. You would have no trouble using it to direct seed your alfalfa, but it's a heavy sucker to pull. I would stay clear of the Massey 33's. I have one. Unless you take the time to prepare that perfect seedbed, seed placement is non-existent with that drill. With the price of fuel today, it's cheaper to have a good drill that will handle tougher conditions than it is to do a lot of fussy tillage work. That said, I still wouldn't buy another 33... Have fun in the dirt.

Rod

BTW, renting a no-till drill could really be the way to go. I rented a Great Plains Solid Stand 7 this spring, and was happy with the results. It does a nice even job.

I've been looking for a good buy on a 10' 750 drill for a few years now. They sell for about what the 15'er does (at least around here) I have a few fields that are quite a distance from the main location we farm. The 10'er would be MUCH easier to transport. I just don't know it it would be practical (financially) to own 2 drills....

Somebody has given you some bad info. There is no "man of obvious means" living around here; you gotta be thinking of someone else. :>(

What kind of money are we talking on one of these drills? I'm just a little guy, only want a "functional" grain drill and really don't intend on being in the wheat business.

Just something that will drop 50 or 60 acres of oats/alfalfa a year.

Allan

Those 750 drills sell for MEGA-dollar... I've seen a couple "wrecks" sell for $7500, but expect $10,000 for a good condition model. (and maybe MORE)

The "artificial inflated value" is because they're the #1 no-till soybean drill as we speak. You'd be better off (since you're wanting to save a few pennies) to look for something "pre-90's" before the solid-stand no-till soybean craze hit.

The Deere 8300 is a good alternative, as is the IH model (# escapes me at this moment) built in the late 70's early 80's. The old Deere FB-B is a good piece if you can find one not ravaged by time...

As of an hour ago and all of a sudden like, I'm really strapped for cash.

I was thinking something along the lines of this old sister; maybe a bit wider?

Why wouldn't this work for an old man just out playin' in the dirt like an old fool? :>(

Allan

That sure sounds like a plan; I'm just not much of a dry land farmer so this is really becoming a learning experience for me.

The only field that is "pressuring" me this year is that 66 acres in the upper right. Last year it took the hail; the fellow who farms it knew it was going to be sold so this past fall he reseeded the hailed out wheat as well as the fallow all into one patch of wheat.

Wheat on wheat two years running and it is shouting at me to get some nutrient back in the soil.

I'll worry about another 80 acres of grass hay next spring. It's gonna get the plow treatment and that should put the whole place back into a proper rotation the third year out as there are roughly 50 acres in second year alfalfa now.

The place has 120 acres of pasture so the whole she-bang has got to be funneled thru some mama cows in order to make it work, seems to me.

Thanks,

Allan

I'm gonna ask around here and see what the local boys are using. Also gotta run a hydro-swing and a baler to ground too.

This is coming at me pretty darned fast. Be careful what ya wish for, I've been told. :>)

Allan

If you're looking for an older one, the FB-B John Deere is hard to beat. Plenty of 'em still around, so parts aren't too difficult to find.

How big (wide) are you looking for?

Are you officially a farmer yet? (Closed yet?)

John

Aw heck, I don't care; maybe a 12 or 15 footer? Is that the model with the seeder behind the grain bins instead of in front like those old galvanized kind were?

Don't wanna "jinx" myself by speakin' early, but we got the nod this afternoon. "Unless a red-brick falls outta the sky", he says.

So, will double verify in the morning, call the real estate lady and see if we can put a ribbon and bow on this thing and get it wrapped up. It's been one heck of a roller coaster ride, that's for sure.

Havin' a little trouble getting the smile off my wife's face, but now all of a sudden, I'm the one that is behind like you wouldn't believe.

Soon as those combines move out of the wheatfields, I'm on; it appears 'cause this place is screamin' for a crop rotation scheme.

Allan