or, just look out of the window instead of at a screen. 
A Novice and his Aitchison Grassfarmer.
- Thread starter steveR
- Start date
JD-Kid
Member
- Location
- Akaroa.. New Zealand
the Armstrong system is alot cheeper and can be fitted to farm trucks quads earthmoving gear with no set upEasy sorted on the Auto steering, fit an aftermarket Fieldbee system.
£5k Kerching!!
Or maybe start practicing...
@adam_farming for that acreage get a set of light discs or something to create some tilth and spin the seed on with a fertilizer spinner. Light harrow with a chain harrow if you need to and roll it. You'll get all that for considerably less money than even the cheapest drill and the international will definitely pull them all. Upgrade to something better later when you've got a better idea what you need.
- Location
- Suffolk
Thanks for the idea. There is a vicon wagtail in the shed in very good condition that I could use, any thoughts on it's suitability for that? There's a gang of rolls too in the nettles which will be resurrected at some point.
I wanted to avoid ploughing at all costs to get the grass in as this land just ploughs up in heavy lumps which then need endless amounts of power harrowing and cultivating to get back to a seedbed. I haven't got the time, diesel, money or inclination to go down this route. This however would be a good compromise until I could invest in a more suitable tractor for a proper drill.
Something like this? I could even tow the rolls behind if I made a bracket.
A nearby neighbour has a Claydon Terrastar which might do a job too perhaps.
- Location
- Suffolk
Easy sorted on the Auto steering, fit an aftermarket Fieldbee system.
£5k Kerching!!
Or maybe start practicing...
I think the area is small enough that the novelty of actually steering won't wear off by the time I'm finished.
A vicon wagtail is perfect for grass seed. There are a lot of acres still being done with one every year it's what I used until I got my drill. Can't remember the settings but whatever it was go over it twice at 90° to the first pass to get an even cover.
Those discs would work and the rolls out of the nettles would be fine probably unless they are broken. The seeds don't care what they are put in the ground with
I understand why you don't want to plough. But a tickle with a disc to make some brown is a good compromise until you get established with a tractor and proper drill.
I think the area is small enough that the novelty of actually steering won't wear off by the time I'm finished.
Oh believe you me..... It will especially if the steering is at all shonky on theTractor!!
Agree, the view tends to be better...or, just look out of the window instead of at a screen.
Links??
A vicon wagtail is perfect for grass seed. There are a lot of acres still being done with one every year it's what I used until I got my drill. Can't remember the settings but whatever it was go over it twice at 90° to the first pass to get an even cover.
Those discs would work and the rolls out of the nettles would be fine probably unless they are broken. The seeds don't care what they are put in the ground with
I understand why you don't want to plough. But a tickle with a disc to make some brown is a good compromise until you get established with a tractor and proper drill.
on the No Ploughing on the clays you described, Adam...I have used the Roundup/Discs/Roll/Spreader here over many, many acres. The slug pelleter is better than a wagtail IMO, but both do the job. I tend not to go at 90° as it tends to be rougher, so drive at 6m spacings, then back inbetween, but either will do. Then roll and roll....
The discs you link to could also be usefull with a Simtech or Aitchison too. Just saying like....
- Location
- Suffolk
I have used the Roundup/Discs/Roll/Spreader here over many, many acres. The slug pelleter is better than a wagtail IMO, but both do the job. I tend not to go at 90° as it tends to be rougher, so drive at 6m spacings, then back inbetween, but either will do. Then roll and roll....
The discs you link to could also be usefull with a Simtech or Aitchison too. Just saying like....
All in good time
Longer term we have some more enterprises planned which could make it viable as a full time income. For these I'd need a bigger tractor so when that time comes I could look at a Simtech/Aitchison drill, and the discs would still be useful.Thanks for the ideas everyone.
JD-Kid
Member
- Location
- Akaroa.. New Zealand
- Location
- Owaka, New Zealand
Or a whole separate box for small seeds
- Location
- Owaka, New Zealand
Loader tractors have inbuilt guidance systems by Armstrong - use the forks, Luke
@adam_farming
certainly helps with curves and straight stuff, not so good with up and down stuff
@adam_farming
certainly helps with curves and straight stuff, not so good with up and down stuff
Nothing electronic and fancy there to go wrong, or lose signal.....
Up and down is a bit of an alien concept on the North Shropshire Plain....
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I use a wagtail for some, it's a good spreading action is very predictable and easy to set up unlike a disc spinner can be at times
Be aware that grass seed can pack in a bit tight after a while best not to put too much in the hopper at a time, there is a spikey thing that can be attached to the agitator that lifts the seed stopping compaction and keeping rates steady.
Also a couple or outlets can be blocked off so as to.make finer setting and less small seed slipping out on the headland turn .
Manual shut off I find is better as well .
From what i see a claydon terastar would be ideal to get a bit of tilth not too deep and couple of passes I guess. Then roll before putting the seed on...
Rolls then to finish.arable /cambridge rolls I find a bit better to press the seed in.
Amidadberg
Member
Nice tip, thank you. Hadn't thoight of that.
Excellent work
Drilled when? Depth??The rain last night came too late to save my mixtures and covers, so I've been re-drilling the past 2 days, a bit shallower than before. However, my gut instinct is that the earlier drilling with teh Aitchison would have been fine with rainfall...
Very obvious the difference in the drill performance of the baker boots where there is a drop of moisture in the soil... Nice job today.
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