Broadcast and harrow help...

[Wigeon]

Not got the seed fiddle out yet, but not far off...

Anyway, can anyone tell me about how th old boys used to do it? This is onto worked heavy ground that's had a press.

Assuming they had access to a wagtail, what would they have covered the seed with?

Prime mover will be 36hp kubota on duals probably.

Seems like the options are:

Zig zag harrows on whipple tree. Presumably these bounce all over the shop at any speed, particularly in pressed ground. Also a royal pita.

Grass harrows. Struggle to move enough soil?

Chain harrows: dont know anything about them.

Lightweight spring tine. Risks cutting slots, tractor might not pull it.

Any tips from the experts would be hugely appreciated!

Yours in slight desperation...

 

[teslacoils]

Spring tine. What's the soil like?

 

[Bury the Trash]

I've got a varispreader or a KRM to choose from either will be fine for me.

Trouble is with using old fashioned drags is seed can fall into the wheel Mark's a bit.and if its cabby wheel Mark's arxalso hard to take out whereas...both probs not so bad with duals tho

Spring tines with levelling harrow works well .

Have covered with a power harrow set not to deep, that doesn't have the seed falling into the wheelmark problem that drags do.

Grass narrows arent that good to use for this purpose I've found.

Would be a lot better if it where dry enough after to roll as well but in wetty cabby situation it's not usually an option .

 

[Wigeon]

Many thanks. Strong wheat land- clay with flints. Or flints with clay in places.

 

[spin cycle]

pia but i think spring tine first then broadcast then zig zag....in other words get a tilth...sow onto it....cover and consolidate

 

[GeorgeK]

Another vote for shallow power harrow, they have good depth control and leave the best finish on wet heavy stuff

 

[spin cycle]

Another vote for shallow power harrow, they have good depth control and leave the best finish on wet heavy stuff

knew a farm that'd power harrow minimat drilled cereals once land got sticky

trouble is op only got 36hp....the kinda power harrow for that isn't gonna touch it ,,,is it?

 

[bobk]

Did 100's of acres with awag tail and 16 foot zig zags , with varying results ... 36 hoss won't pull a set of ziggers .

 

[robs1]

Once got caught out with a heavy storm halfway across a field with drags never got back to finish it couldnt tell any difference st harvest

 

[Wigeon]

Did 100's of acres with awag tail and 16 foot zig zags , with varying results ... 36 hoss won't pull a set of ziggers .

Indeed. Have 200 ponies on 710s but that's not going near the soil for the foreseeable.

 

[Wigeon]

Thanks for all the replies. I fear a ph is not a runner though, and besides I dont have one, or access to one. Have an ancient fixed tine job that I might have a play with, but likely springs are the way ahead.

As usual the chances are that by the time I've finished b*ggering about the land will be fit to drill. But just in case....

 

[snarling bee]

Depends a bit if you intend to pre-em it. At least 40mm seed covering if you do, 4mm if you don't.

 

[steveR]

Done something similiar a few years back with a lightweight compact, slug pelleter up front and 3m spring tine grass harrow on the back.

Also used a set of small grass harrows upside down behind a big quad after seed spread with pelleter to get wheat on.

Both worked after a fashion as there were plants. Seed rates needed cranking up more as I recall.

 

[spin cycle]

.

As usual the chances are that by the time I've finished b*ggering about the land will be fit to drill. But just in case....

i think thats your best course of action TBH

 

[Wigeon]

i think thats your best course of action TBH

Pretty much guaranteed.

That said, this is also a kind of reverse mechanical rain dance. If I dont do it we'll never drill. If I do do it, you can all thank me for next week's perfect conditions!

 

[spin cycle]

Pretty much guaranteed.

That said, this is also a kind of reverse mechanical rain dance. If I dont do it we'll never drill. If I do do it, you can all thank me for next week's perfect conditions!

i know it's tough sitting on your hands but coursing up/down on a little kubota probably making a mess poss isn't gonna help

 

[yellowbelly]

First choice.....light power harrowing.

Second choice......springtine harrow.

Whatever you use make sure it's pulling your wheelings out, otherwise, if it comes a lot of rain before it germinates, it can 'bust' the seed in the wheelings.

 

[yellow belly]

If you can get a wide spring tine 6 m for the 210 let tyres down to 8 to 9 psi
3 to 4 tread bars on the ground travel slow on the road

put plenty of seed on if it is heavy land a dry day after helps more than waiting for the driest time

if it follows osr then slugs could be the biggest problem on loose soil

 

[Kildare]

A old 8ft triple k is the job for a little tractor like that.
Till broadcast and till again.

 

[Flat 10]

I'm afraid I disagree with most of the above. If your land is pressed leave it, the seed will fall nicely into the ring marks. Then cover with the kubota and harrows on a whipple tree. Years ago harrows like that were pulled with grey fergis leaving few wheel marks. Presumably any marks you leave with your fert spreader tractor will be in the tramlines you will use all year anyway so crack on.