Posted by paul on November 03, 2008 at 05:27:24 from (66.60.197.192):
In Reply to: Re: Question/harrow posted by IaGary on November 03, 2008 at 04:41:54:
Agree totally. To add a little:
I will assume your field cultivator, like mine & most, has some form of spring tooth harrow behind it to smooth the ground more. So this is what a harrow or drag would do; ours is just included with the machine.
Typically you do heavy tillage - plow, chisel plow, or heavy disk. This works best in fall 'here'.
Then meduim tillage - light disk, field cultivator. This is done in spring to level out the rough ground, maybe kill some weeds.
Then finishing pass - harrow or drag to smooth the field right before planting.
Before herbicides, you did the medium pass, waited a week & hoped for a light rain, then did the finishing pass to kill all the sprouting weeds in the top couple inches without bringing up more weed seeds to the surface. This helped to reduce the weed pressure. Also you would harrow the field before corn or beans broke through, but after planting (about 5-7 days), to again kill off weed sprouts. If you _saw_ weeds, you were too late - you needed to get them when they were just white roots hairs. Today the meduim & finishing pass are on the same machine, and you plant right after.
A soil finisher would be a light field cultivator & harrow combined into one. These have lost favor as they don't allow much trash (old cornstalks/ bean stubble) to flow through. Today a heavier field cultivator with the light harrow added is more popular.
Packers & culti-packers are more common for alfalfa & small grains. They help to firm & smooth the ground for those seeds that prefer being planted very shallow but in very firm soil. They would be used instead of ot along with the harrow.
Today huge rollers are becoming popular from crops like peas or soybeans. Huge (can be over 60 feet) heavy drums that flatten the ground & push rocks down so the ground is smooth for running a big 30 foot long sickle header over.
Mostly it is heavy tillage, meduim tillage, and light tillage. Some implements combine 2 of those. You pick the one(s) that work for your soil & crop needs.
We sell tractor parts! We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today. [ About Us ]
Today's Featured Article - The Day Mom Drove the 8N - by Brian Browning. My Dad was wanting to put in a garden but couldn't operate the 8N and handle the old horse drawn plow he had found and rigged up to use with the tractor. Well, he decided to go get Mom out of the house and have her drive the tractor while he walked behind the plow. You got to understand that while my Mom is a hard worker who will always help whenever she can... she had never operated farm machinery before that day. Dad got her out there, explained how the clutch was the same as in our o
... [Read Article]
Latest Ad:
Oliver 550 Diesel runs like a watch three point hitch pto engine gone threw about two hundred hours ago nice clean tractor
[More Ads]
All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of any part of this website, including design and content, without written permission is strictly prohibited. Trade Marks and Trade Names contained and used in this Website are those of others, and are used in this Website in a descriptive sense to refer to the products of others. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy
TRADEMARK DISCLAIMER: Tradenames and Trademarks referred to within Yesterday's Tractor Co. products and within the Yesterday's Tractor Co. websites are the property of their respective trademark holders. None of these trademark holders are affiliated with Yesterday's Tractor Co., our products, or our website nor are we sponsored by them. John Deere and its logos are the registered trademarks of the John Deere Corporation. Agco, Agco Allis, White, Massey Ferguson and their logos are the registered trademarks of AGCO Corporation. Case, Case-IH, Farmall, International Harvester, New Holland and their logos are registered trademarks of CNH Global N.V.
