Direct drilling on tracks

[Will7]

Is anyone direct drilling on tracks?

I have a 300hp crawler, a hangover from my solo days, which is cheap power but I do get fed up with the screwing on the headlands, the fact it is generally a little numb, and it is thirsty on low draught work. It has gps so all field operations are worker in lands.

I have an 8m seedhawk, an 8m straw rake with a trailed press and home made front disc attachment (HP requirement circa 220hp) which I hope are going to form the bulk of my system. There are to be 1 pass of the rake on some land and 2 after spring barley.

Other kit for when things go wrong are a 11m pigtail drag, a 4.2 m 7 leg subsoiler and a 4.6m cultipress. Hope fully these bits are to be parked in the nettles.

Ideally I would change to a 250hp mid sized tractor, but the concern of not being able to pull the subsoiler should I have problems is holding me back. That said the only place I think I need to subsoil next year are where the crawler has been turning! Chicken and egg!!

Any opinions welcome ( I am in the 2nd year of true direct drilling)

 

[Badshot]

Is anyone direct drilling on tracks?

I have a 300hp crawler, a hangover from my solo days, which is cheap power but I do get fed up with the screwing on the headlands, the fact it is generally a little numb, and it is thirsty on low draught work. It has gps so all field operations are worker in lands.

I have an 8m seedhawk, an 8m straw rake with a trailed press and home made front disc attachment (HP requirement circa 220hp) which I hope are going to form the bulk of my system. There are to be 1 pass of the rake on some land and 2 after spring barley.

Other kit for when things go wrong are a 11m pigtail drag, a 4.2 m 7 leg subsoiler and a 4.6m cultipress. Hope fully these bits are to be parked in the nettles.

Ideally I would change to a 250hp mid sized tractor, but the concern of not being able to pull the subsoiler should I have problems is holding me back. That said the only place I think I need to subsoil next year are where the crawler has been turning! Chicken and egg!!

Any opinions welcome ( I am in the 2nd year of direct drilling)

Trade the subsoiler for a smaller one?

 

[Simon C]

Trade the subsoiler for a smaller one?

Even better, trade the subsoiler in for a skiing holiday or something!

 

[Will7]

Even better, trade the subsoiler in for a skiing holiday or something!

I could do with another pair of Purdeys as it happens!!

 

[Will7]

Trade the subsoiler for a smaller one?

This makes sense as long as the area to subsoil is small. I have a really short attention span for any cultivation work.

 

[Badshot]

This makes sense as long as the area to subsoil is small. I have a really short attention span for any cultivation work.

I think Simon C had e better idea.;-)

 

[martian]

We were in the same boat when we converted, Will. After a year or two got bored with the Challenger making a mess and swapped it for a 250HP wheeled tractor, thinking we needed the HP for the odd time we go moling. The subsoiler (3m) is getting rustier and rustier in the nettles, it's worth bog-all so we hang on 'in case' we need it. We won't.

Tractor gets plenty of use hauling trailers etc about the rest of the year. It's bigger than we really need, but will pull the mole when required.

 

[Hicksy]

Agree with what's been said, trade the Crawler in and get a lot more use out of a wheeled tractor , sell the subsoiler and if you ever need another there are heaps of tidy used ones around to suit your new tractor,

 

[keenanfeeder]

I have a really short attention span for any cultivation work.

I like cultivation work...

How big is the area you have to cover? What is the time constraint and labour availability?

 

[Will7]

I like cultivation work...

How big is the area you have to cover? What is the time constraint and labour availability?

1450 acres and the labour is me, other than cart men and someone else does 70% of the rolling. The land type is predominantly heavy so fairly time critical.

 

[Fuzzy]

Is anyone direct drilling on tracks?

I have a 300hp crawler, a hangover from my solo days, which is cheap power but I do get fed up with the screwing on the headlands, the fact it is generally a little numb, and it is thirsty on low draught work. It has gps so all field operations are worker in lands.

I have an 8m seedhawk, an 8m straw rake with a trailed press and home made front disc attachment (HP requirement circa 220hp) which I hope are going to form the bulk of my system. There are to be 1 pass of the rake on some land and 2 after spring barley.

Other kit for when things go wrong are a 11m pigtail drag, a 4.2 m 7 leg subsoiler and a 4.6m cultipress. Hope fully these bits are to be parked in the nettles.

Ideally I would change to a 250hp mid sized tractor, but the concern of not being able to pull the subsoiler should I have problems is holding me back. That said the only place I think I need to subsoil next year are where the crawler has been turning! Chicken and egg!!

Any opinions welcome ( I am in the 2nd year of true direct drilling)

My advice would be to get a 250hp tractor on demo (ideally when you can try out all your kit) or hire one in for a couple of weeks at harvest. Is the crawler your only high HP tractor?

 

[keenanfeeder]

Could you go for 280hp tractor along the lines of 7r deere... (nice website and saw some green livery) that would be 40hp/leg for the subsoiler and integrate easily with your GPS (starfish of some sorts)...

 

[Brisel]

What do you really need the crawler for? Tyres would have greater versatility and do less damage to your headlands. With improving soil structure you won't need the lower ground pressure, besides which decent tyres run at less than 12psi anyway.

The pain will be what the crawler's trade in value is against a more modern wheeled auto steer compatible machine.

 

[chaffcutter]

ANOTHER Pair of Purdeys ?? ,!!!!

 

[Will7]

My advice would be to get a 250hp tractor on demo (ideally when you can try out all your kit) or hire one in for a couple of weeks at harvest. Is the crawler your only high HP tractor?

Yes it is. I have a 6920 doing 190hp which pulled the drill this summer with a front weight and a full set of duals. Power wise it needed another 50hp and 2t+ to be comfortable, but managed fine in the dry.

 

[Will7]

Could you go for 280hp tractor along the lines of 7r deere... (nice website and saw some green livery) that would be 40hp/leg for the subsoiler and integrate easily with your GPS (starfish of some sorts)...

That is my line of thinking, or a fendt 828; either of which will be secondhand. The 7r though seem to be the same physical size and weight as the 8030 series and I was hoping something a little smaller/"nippier". The tractor most likely will be on duals all round as access is not a problem.

What do you really need the crawler for? Tyres would have greater versatility and do less damage to your headlands. With improving soil structure you won't need the lower ground pressure, besides which decent tyres run at less than 12psi anyway.

The pain will be what the crawler's trade in value is against a more modern wheeled auto steer compatible machine.

The crawler is like sucking your thumb or having a comfort blanket. If it all goes tits up at least I can pull something heavy to press the reset button. Perhaps I ought to have more faith in my own ability??

ANOTHER Pair of Purdeys ?? ,!!!!

You wouldn't trust an arable farmer who said he took his £250 Baikal out for a days shooting surely??

 

[keenanfeeder]

That is my line of thinking, or a fendt 828; either of which will be secondhand. The 7r though seem to be the same physical size and weight as the 8030 series and I was hoping something a little smaller/"nippier". The tractor most likely will be on duals all round as access is not a problem.

I did think fendt but it depends on dealership back up, would you be chandlers? Atleast with the fendt it would hold its second/third hand value