8/ 16/ 24m CTF

[Wilbada]

Hi all,

First time poster, long time reader! Looking to transition my farm slowly towards a 8m CTF system. Just hoping to hear from anyone running the same, and whether there is anything I should particularly be aware of before going down this route? I guess learnings from running this system already on your farm. Will be a slow process for me to get there, but as kit is gradually turned out will move towards multiples of 8.

Farm based around a low disturbance/ no till system. Light, flinty, free draining soil, moderate hills and field size averaging around 14ha. Total area 465ha

thanks

 

[ajd132]

Hi all,

First time poster, long time reader! Looking to transition my farm slowly towards a 8m CTF system. Just hoping to hear from anyone running the same, and whether there is anything I should particularly be aware of before going down this route? I guess learnings from running this system already on your farm. Will be a slow process for me to get there, but as kit is gradually turned out will move towards multiples of 8.

Farm based around a low disturbance/ no till system. Light, flinty, free draining soil, moderate hills and field size averaging around 14ha. Total area 465ha

thanks

Get a combine and spout that can reach into the next tramline, cut up a tramline then down both sides so never unloading off a main tram. That’s been the biggest wind for us in wet harvests, do that first.

 

[farmerfred86]

Hi all,

First time poster, long time reader! Looking to transition my farm slowly towards a 8m CTF system. Just hoping to hear from anyone running the same, and whether there is anything I should particularly be aware of before going down this route? I guess learnings from running this system already on your farm. Will be a slow process for me to get there, but as kit is gradually turned out will move towards multiples of 8.

Farm based around a low disturbance/ no till system. Light, flinty, free draining soil, moderate hills and field size averaging around 14ha. Total area 465ha

thanks

Spend the money of flotation wheels for all the trailers first. Amazing how many lorry tires used on trailers.

 

[ajd132]

Spend the money of flotation wheels for all the trailers first. Amazing how many lorry tires used on trailers.

Good point.

 

[yellow belly]

Spend the money of flotation wheels for all the trailers first. Amazing how many lorry tires used on trailers.

If trailers kept to tramlines then floatation is not essential but they do help to keep the tramline rut levelled out
after a few years tramlines surport more weight eliminating any rutting
a dry summer eliminates all compaction damage cracks are well below subsoiler depth
I use 9 drill m 27 m sprayer and cut with the combine on 9 m bouts cutting the tramline first and alway unload with trailers on tramlines when cutting headlands always start cutting on the tramline then turn round and unload with trailer staying on the tramlines only this often leaves the trailer full near the gate so avoids racing round 3 sides to get back to the yard making trailer opereraters having a shorter haul
the combine is a bit wider than the drill tractor and sprayer the next stage is to put the drill tractor wheels on the same as the combine tracks
the biggest compaction comes from bailers even on controll Trafic particularly when the straw is turned
chopping straw is the biggest reduction in wheeling compaction

no till ctf here establishes crops on 4 litres per ha of fuel for drilling and 1 l per ha for rolling
moleing every 4 years 15 litres per ha average 3 .75litres per ha giving an annual fuel use of 8.75 litres per ha 3 .5 litres per acre

on land that used to need powerharrowing twice after plough press and roll or plough roll disc press twice spring tine 3 times and roll several times when fuel was 9 p per litre and still needed moleing in those days burn a scratch was true min till after a cereal crop in a dry year

 

[ollie989898]

Spend the money of flotation wheels for all the trailers first. Amazing how many lorry tires used on trailers.

And make trailer drivers stick to the tramlines as far as possible. No real need for CTF if you do these things.

 

[principal skinner]

Gear up on a light weight drilling outfit on the right tyre equipment a d don’t be afraid to drill on an angle

 

[ollie989898]

Gear up on a light weight drilling outfit on the right tyre equipment a d don’t be afraid to drill on an angle

And drill the tramlines- let the sprayer man put them in with his GPS!

 

[ajd132]

Gear up on a light weight drilling outfit on the right tyre equipment a d don’t be afraid to drill on an angle

we do this sometimes but when drilling cereals into cereal stubble we get significantly better establishment drilling between last years rows.

 

[farmerfred86]

we do this sometimes but when drilling cereals into cereal stubble we get significantly better establishment drilling between last years rows.

Drilling is one thing but I'm finding the combine is probably better not running in the same place every year (or even same angle). Weed pressure/slugs/compaction etc are noticeable after just 2 or 3 years. An aerial view shows up issues at the width of the combine.

 

[ollie989898]

we do this sometimes but when drilling cereals into cereal stubble we get significantly better establishment drilling between last years rows.

Why do you think this is?

 

[ajd132]

Why do you think this is?

With a tine drill you are running in clean soil and not moving any of last years stubble, it stays fixed. Doesn’t work so well with a disc drill to be fair.

 

[SilliamWhale]

I don't always unload on the move and tend to try to keep the trailers to the outside headland tramline. Yes it costs me time so its not for everyone but it means the trailer with super singles is not really an issue in long term no till.

If its very dry I'm more relaxed about where trailers go. I don't believe you do massive damage with one or two trailer wheelings its more repeated trailer wheelings.

When the balers and baler removals come in they just go where the hell they please anyway..

 

[ollie989898]

I don't always unload on the move and tend to try to keep the trailers to the outside headland tramline. Yes it costs me time so its not for everyone but it means the trailer with super singles is not really an issue in long term no till.

If its very dry I'm more relaxed about where trailers go. I don't believe you do massive damage with one or two trailer wheelings its more repeated trailer wheelings.

When the balers and baler removals come in they just go where the hell they please anyway..

I agree, in dry conditions you don't even make a mark with your boot.

 

[Wilbada]

Drilling is one thing but I'm finding the combine is probably better not running in the same place every year (or even same angle). Weed pressure/slugs/compaction etc are noticeable after just 2 or 3 years. An aerial view shows up issues at the width of the combine.

Would the slug issue be mitigated by stubble raking on an angle with a light weight outfit? And compaction lifted using a toolbar with legs set to work only the CTF wheelings up to the width of the combine track if required? Just thinking out loud

 

[SilliamWhale]

Would the slug issue be mitigated by stubble raking on an angle with a light weight outfit? And compaction lifted using a toolbar with legs set to work only the CTF wheelings up to the width of the combine track if required? Just thinking out loud

Why do you want to work the wheelings? It will only break the structure and slump again.

 

[Ivorbiggun]

It’ll cost you a lot of money to get set up, all you need is good trailer drivers, tell them to keep to tramlines at all times except when unloading the combine, then straight back in tramline, no screwing around in the middle of the field, follow the tramline to the other end of the field, turn into the headland tramline and come back down the first cut one.
When starting a field cut the headland tramline one first so the trailers can stay in it.

On cultivations do it at an angle or you’ll end up with unlevel fields, your main cultivation should be deep enough to take out any compaction caused anyway.

 

[ajd132]

It’ll cost you a lot of money to get set up, all you need is good trailer drivers, tell them to keep to tramlines at all times except when unloading the combine, then straight back in tramline, no screwing around in the middle of the field, follow the tramline to the other end of the field, turn into the headland tramline and come back down the first cut one.
When starting a field cut the headland tramline one first so the trailers can stay in it.

On cultivations do it at an angle or you’ll end up with unlevel fields, your main cultivation should be deep enough to take out any compaction caused anyway.

The idea is that it means you don’t have to cultivate because you aren’t driving all over the field.

 

[Ivorbiggun]

The idea is that it means you don’t have to cultivate because you aren’t driving all over the field.

Another dreamer.

 

[ajd132]

Another dreamer.