Drainage implement for tractor.

[le bon paysan]

Pictures from France page 6 no #104.

 

[DanniAgro]

How on earth do you get an exact fall with these things? Mine have all been put in with a trencher running a laser since the 1970's (there is a new GPS gizmo now that calculates each run for max fall and minimum stone) some of my fields have had only 300mm of fall to play with, and the odd run put in dead level to keep enough cover.

That's where it might be better to use the professionals, at least if you're draining on a field scale and not just doing a wet patch say. They have the experience to plan and put in a pipe with a small fall like you've got.

 

[nxy]

I have done several hundred acres with one of these. We used to buy a lorry load of pipe every other year when we first arrived in france. It works if you have good fall and not too much clay, it helps that we have sandy soil! We always pulled through blind twice, once at half depth and once at full depth before putting pipes in. You also need a hydraulic top link to lift it high enough to clear the ground on our old magnums. It uses a caterpillar digger tooth for a point and is very well made. Though ours is twenty years old and is a bit like triggers broom, most of the leg is covered in welds and plate. Brace youself if you ask a price they are not cheap!

https://www.rabaud.com/en/products/sub-soilers/draining-sub-soiler-.html

Just had a look around the Rabaud site they seem to make the stuff nobody else can be bothered to make...

 

[brentnz]

Google tile plow. Gold digger is one brand that comes to mind. Basically need a Deere 8000 or similar size tractor minimum

 

[GKnottenbelt]

why not hire a tractor mounted trencher

Where would you hire one from?

 

[Prairie]

D W Clark, land drainage contractor of Shipston on Stour built one many years ago and used it on the back of his FW 60 for small jobs, it may have been cut up now, but was strong enough for the job.

 

[40 series]

I have an aft 550 whizz wheel for sale as an alternative to hire if interested

 

[czechmate]

yeah that’s what I was hoping to make. But from what everyone is saying don’t have the HP for it. Got about 150hp for it. Big HP tractors aren’t really used around me as the land is more lowland grazing, not arable. But it will be the lack of weight that’s also an issue. Plus whatever I do will need gravel as if you lay straight in the clay it’s not gonna do much.

Tim Howard made me a leg last year, smaller than the one he showed. It will just take a 65mm pipe and I can get the pipe about 650mm deep. Does take some pulling though, 180 hp tractor stopped by it sometimes but I have another similar so used a chain
Do you have two tractors?
To open up for 100mm pipe really would take some draught!

 

[Flatlander]

Gold digger mentioned above are available in a trailer version. Lots of farmer done drainage done in N American and with rtk it can be places very accurately. Various unlocks for elevation control that are now very cheap compared to contractors doing the work. I was surprised that no one uses gravel above the pipe here especially as it’s mainly clay soils. Wish it was cheaper to drain land here but we would have to have lift stations to pump water out of the main drains because of our flat land.