Depth of ploughing - Vintage and Classic

[Howard150]

Always a contentious point but it would be interesting to get some idea of people's feelings with regard to the depth ruling imposed on us in Vintage and Classic ploughing.
Initially introduced so that no ploughman could gain advantage by ploughing shallow, should we have moved on, scrub the rule and allow depth to be at the discretion of the ploughman.
Currently standing at 150mm in the Vintage and 170mm in the Classic, there are many ploughmen who do not agree with the rule.
Welsh ploughing currently stands at 150mm for the Classic class. Had this been so in Marden last weekend then some of the worse plots would have been much easier to plough.
Let's not run away with the idea that ploughing shallow will win out every time. Sometimes work needs to be deeper than the specified depth. Sometimes if the work is too shallow then it is impossible to bury the trash and it usually walks badly - nothing which a good judge is beyond sorting out.
Your feelings please Gentlemen.

 

[Pennine Ploughing]

good morning David,
i think that it should be left as it is, reason for this is, it is a bench mark to work to, and setting us all the same goal across the class,
ploughing shallow might look at times better, but so can welding down hill,

 

[Fergie Ploughman]

I personally would prefer to see it relaxed to 5". 6" in heavy hard ground can be hard work with these little ploughs and tractors. The trouble is, knowing how rules are bent, if we say 6", it means people will bend it to 5", unless its a national (which are the only matches I ever see it measured at).It doesn't bother me that much...

What are peoples thoughts on finish (and start) depths ? I was always taught that they should be whatever you intend to plough at, so that all the land is ploughed to the same depth. Some people do ridiculously deep finishes. I prefer the finish to be as shallow as possible as I pity the poor bloke who has to fill them in when they work the land down.

 

[Howard150]

I personally would prefer to see it relaxed to 5". 6" in heavy hard ground can be hard work with these little ploughs and tractors. The trouble is, knowing how rules are bent, if we say 6", it means people will bend it to 5", unless its a national (which are the only matches I ever see it measured at).It doesn't bother me that much...

What are peoples thoughts on finish (and start) depths ? I was always taught that they should be whatever you intend to plough at, so that all the land is ploughed to the same depth. Some people do ridiculously deep finishes. I prefer the finish to be as shallow as possible as I pity the poor bloke who has to fill them in when they work the land down.

My own feeling is that whether or not we have a bench mark, that 170mm is set too deep for Classic ploughs considering the kind of ground we encounter nowadays. 150mm as the Welsh would be much more acceptable.

There was an old adage which was '- always make the depth steward earn his corn'

The finish needs to be ploughed at the 'optimum' depth which is less than the ploughing depth. This aids better furrow definition in the last two runs. In all the finishes I have posted lately the furrow wall is never more than 3" deep and the show furrow never more than 2". The sole furrow is an inch deeper than the last but one. The picture above is on Maize stubble but it gives an idea of where you need to be depth wise. If anything the show furrow would have stood a turn or two in. This would have helped on the uneven ground.

And finally just for you Stoxs. We all learned to plough before RTK. One of my customers showed me this on a 300 HP tractor. "Just what you need for ploughing Dave, works to within 4cms - 40 mil - can you believe that". Said to him " Nah - no good to me Steve - not accurate enough!"

 

[Fergie Ploughman]

I do always find it really hard to get my last few runs shallow, I've done better this year, but still not enough. I always make the mistake on my cop side at not going shallow enough on the last run, meaning to match up the next furrow right leaves the earth furrow too light.

 

[Roy Stokes]

My own feeling is that whether or not we have a bench mark, that 170mm is set too deep for Classic ploughs considering the kind of ground we encounter nowadays. 150mm as the Welsh would be much more acceptable.

There was an old adage which was '- always make the depth steward earn his corn'View attachment 222606

The finish needs to be ploughed at the 'optimum' depth which is less than the ploughing depth. This aids better furrow definition in the last two runs. In all the finishes I have posted lately the furrow wall is never more than 3" deep and the show furrow never more than 2". The sole furrow is an inch deeper than the last but one. The picture above is on Maize stubble but it gives an idea of where you need to be depth wise. If anything the show furrow would have stood a turn or two in. This would have helped on the uneven ground.

And finally just for you Stoxs. We all learned to plough before RTK. One of my customers showed me this on a 300 HP tractor. "Just what you need for ploughing Dave, works to within 4cms - 40 mil - can you believe that". Said to him " Nah - no good to me Steve - not accurate enough!"

I can believe that as I well remember ploughing next to you at Flint Dave, you measured up to me, shouted across " you are an 8th of an inch out, get it right next time "...............................

 

[Roy Stokes]

I do always find it really hard to get my last few runs shallow, I've done better this year, but still not enough. I always make the mistake on my cop side at not going shallow enough on the last run, meaning to match up the next furrow right leaves the earth furrow too light.

Millington says this is one of the biggest faults with your plots, and slightly high crown, - please don't shoot the messenger ............................

 

[Fergie Ploughman]

Millington says this is one of the biggest faults with your plots, and slightly high crown, - please don't shoot the messenger ............................

No, I fully concur. I've done a few good ones this year, but in general I don't seem to get shallow enough early enough. With the start, I don't think I'm getting my first chip in over enough to crush under my tractor wheel, leaving it too high AND/OR going to deep for the start, and then struggling to get it all back in! That's the thing with the pro's, they get the start and the finish right every time, the bit in the middle is easy!! I fancy going to one of these SOP judging seminars to understand it more and pick up some tips. I'm all self taught, and I of course never used them 'back in the day'...

 

[Roy Stokes]

No, I fully concur. I've done a few good ones this year, but in general I don't seem to get shallow enough early enough. With the start, I don't think I'm getting my first chip in over enough to crush under my tractor wheel, leaving it too high AND/OR going to deep for the start, and then struggling to get it all back in! That's the thing with the pro's, they get the start and the finish right every time, the bit in the middle is easy!! I fancy going to one of these SOP judging seminars to understand it more and pick up some tips. I'm all self taught, and I of course never used them 'back in the day'...

It is only really nit picking but it is the finer points where the match is won in the face of stiff opposition, recognising where the faults are is a good start

 

[Carrot cruncher]

Surely the depth of ploughing should be set to the site/ground that you are ploughing? I've ploughed a few matches where the rules state MAXIMUM depth 6" due to there being no more soil available, Mendip match springs to mind.

 

[tomlad]

is that because you 'd bring up clay ?

 

[arcobob]

is that because you 'd bring up clay ?

Stones

 

[tomlad]

ahh

 

[Carrot cruncher]

Usually rock or clay, neither of which is desirable at a ploughing match.