Worthwhile or a waste of diesel

Cowabunga · Apr 12, 2022

bobk said:
Not a great day then ?

Seen worse. The concrete shutting post didn’t break but was pushed over nearly 45 degrees. My brother took the loader tractor straight up to sort it before our cowman saw it, otherwise I would be in trouble. The water pipe must have wasted a few cubic metres but it was seen within 24 hours. None of us can understand how the pipe got buried so far out of the hedge as most of it is above ground in or at the very base of the hedge. I kept about 1.5 metres away from the hedge just in case, but it wasn’t far enough. It was repaired by putting a joint in, last evening after shutting its tap off over the weekend.

bobk · Apr 12, 2022

Cowabunga said:
Seen worse. The concrete shutting post didn’t break but was pushed over nearly 45 degrees. My brother took the loader tractor straight up to sort it before our cowman saw it, otherwise I would be in trouble. The water pipe must have wasted a few cubic metres but it was seen within 24 hours. None of us can understand how the pipe got buried so far out of the hedge as most of it is above ground in or at the very base of the hedge. I kept about 1.5 metres away from the hedge just in case, but it wasn’t far enough. It was repaired by putting a joint in, last evening after shutting its tap off over the weekend.

Sue the water board , pipes should min 1 metre below ground , or were they your pipes .....

pgk · Apr 12, 2022

BrianV said:
I do wonder, the only thing I'd say is any groundsman will tell you aerating the ground helps thicken the sward so who knows?

sold ours last year, we had compaction at about 3 inches, busted through that but we are on heavy clay and in a dry year every spike hole cracked. Biggest issue we now have is every summer seems dry and that is the limiting factor for grass growth. Probably should have hired one for a couple of years. Now just burn diesel with the grass harrows and flat roll

Cowabunga · Apr 12, 2022

bobk said:
Sue the water board , pipes should min 1 metre below ground , or were they your pipes .....

My pipes of course.

bobk · Apr 12, 2022

Cowabunga said:
My pipes of course.

Oh dear .

kiwi pom · Apr 12, 2022

BrianV said:
Often wonder if doing this does any good or just makes us feel like it does, anybody know?

View attachment 1028729

Don't know if it does any good or not. I haven't seen anyone doing it here or chain harrowing for that matter. About the only grassland job is heavy rolling mowing paddocks and not everyone does that

Think about what the machine cost, how much fuel your burning, your labour and the hourly operating cost of the tractor. Are you getting that back in extra grass production?
My guess is no, its an expensive hobby and the Fendt is a nice place to sit but it shouldn't be hard to set up your own trial.

dowcow · Apr 12, 2022

bobk said:
One of those Erth pan lifters seem a better bet

I ran a grassland subsoiler through a few parts of our permanent pastures, and the sections I did looked greener all summer long. They also grew quite a few mushrooms for the first time in a decade or so. It had been heavily poached quite a few times in the autumns in the past though.

DeeGee · Apr 12, 2022

Have had a 3m Browns since ten years, and it has done only about 100 acres.
Definitely not to be used routinely in Spring as if we get a following dry summer it only exacerbates drying out.

Like others I have done trial pieces of fields, but to no real conclusion. Not going to sell it as it eats nothing being stood in the yard, and I might well use it in future. But as an annual implement to be used routinely I am yet to be convinced it is worthwhile.

Jackov Altraids · Apr 12, 2022

DeeGee said:
Have had a 3m Browns since ten years, and it has done only about 100 acres.
Definitely not to be used routinely in Spring as if we get a following dry summer it only exacerbates drying out.

Like others I have done trial pieces of fields, but to no real conclusion. Not going to sell it as it eats nothing being stood in the yard, and I might well use it in future. But as an annual implement to be used routinely I am yet to be convinced it is worthwhile.

^this.

It tells you something when I assumed this thread would be about slitters, just from reading the title.

ford 7810 · Apr 13, 2022

We tried one on our heavy land and it just seemed to make a hole for water to sit in.we use a swardlifter probably the best implement we have on our land. But we do seem to be getting quite a bit of moss But I don’t know why really

ColinV6 · Apr 13, 2022

We’ve a 5m aerator and it’s not been out of the shed for 2 year’s lol.

Time and (expensive) fuel the novelty has worn right off.

David. · Apr 13, 2022

Surprised no-one has yet mentioned the legendary fuel manufacturing ability of the Fendt....
I find it tedious myself.

Old apprentice · Apr 13, 2022

ford 7810 said:
We tried one on our heavy land and it just seemed to make a hole for water to sit in.we use a swardlifter probably the best implement we have on our land. But we do seem to be getting quite a bit of moss But I don’t know why really

Low ph posibly ?

BrianV · Apr 13, 2022

DeeGee said:
Have had a 3m Browns since ten years, and it has done only about 100 acres.
Definitely not to be used routinely in Spring as if we get a following dry summer it only exacerbates drying out.

Like others I have done trial pieces of fields, but to no real conclusion. Not going to sell it as it eats nothing being stood in the yard, and I might well use it in future. But as an annual implement to be used routinely I am yet to be convinced it is worthwhile.

Read this & thought here am I on the top of the hill making things worse re drying out, but then I thought April showers, rather than all the water running off maybe it will go down the slits & retain the moisture, swings & roundabouts perhaps?

ffukedfarmer · Apr 13, 2022

dowcow said:
I ran a grassland subsoiler through a few parts of our permanent pastures, and the sections I did looked greener all summer long. They also grew quite a few mushrooms for the first time in a decade or so. It had been heavily poached quite a few times in the autumns in the past though.

was that done in the spring or autumn?

primmiemoo · Apr 13, 2022

>psst!< moles do a brilliant job. endless entertainment for the dogs, too! >rentamole dotcom<

dowcow · Apr 13, 2022

ffukedfarmer said:
was that done in the spring or autumn?

Late spring or early summer I think, in a dry spell.

M-J-G · Apr 13, 2022

dowcow said:
Late spring or early summer I think, in a dry spell.

We run a Sumo 4 leg grassland subsoiler, I've found it to be very good.

A subsoiler should only be used in fairly dry conditions, but avoided during peak growth times as it causes excessive root tear.

Yale · Apr 13, 2022

Cowabunga said:
I spiked about 20 acres last week with the roller behind. Took out one gate post and spiked a mains water pipe feeding a field trough. 'Shït happens’ is what I told myself.
Here’s my unit.
View attachment 1028772

Two jobs in one when conditions are right. The fields and bits of fields needed rolling so might as well spike while doing so. Also harrowed some 40 acres and overseeded some twenty acres of open pasture using seed from our very own seed, hay and straw purveyor, local to me.
Hopefully all this cost will pay for itself in better fertiliser and grassland utilisation.

robo watson · Apr 23, 2022

dowcow said:
I ran a grassland subsoiler through a few parts of our permanent pastures, and the sections I did looked greener all summer long. They also grew quite a few mushrooms for the first time in a decade or so. It had been heavily poached quite a few times in the autumns in the past though.

That's interesting I have a Ritchie aerator I don't feel it's aggressive enough for our heavy land wondering if a subsoiler is worth it. Had opico subsoiler it left the land so uneven I sold it again what's tffs opinion

Worthwhile or a waste of diesel

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