Dutch Harrow versus Power Harrow

[Will 1594]

What do you think of the Germinator ?

They hide a multitude of sins

 

[Mf6480]

Carre POLYSOL www.trp.uk.com

 

[mo!]

We had a 14 foot Cousins Dutch harrow, useless until I dropped our tonne front weight onto it. Ironically a 10 foot one would have cost twice as much! Awkward thing to move on the road though.

 

[Niteforce]

we run a old Dutch harrow on the front and power harrow on back for beet . Makes a good job.

 

[two-cylinder]

A dutch harrow is a great tool on light land, best used to level the field by going in the opposite direction to normal working.
Cousins are good as they have a levelling board in front, - make sure the board is pushing earth.

 

[Flat 10]

I think blench are better, bigger crumbler and you hold soil in the middle not the front. Wind rear crumbler down and whack loads of weight on top . Tow bar for rolls if necessary. You can bodge on some eradicators if you want. You obviously need PH for heavy areas but these would level much better than the parminters for the final pass scenario. If my heavy land has gone nasty after ploughing pressing and rolling in the autumn, rather than PH twice l Dutch harrow and roll before combi. Looks brutal and you think not doing much but it's a lot easier on PH after.

 

[TripleSix]

If you're sensible with a power harrow you should avoid slumping everything.

Lower PTO speed and a bit more forward speed.
Accept a courser finish and the land will thank you.

 

[holywell farmer]

A dutch harrow is a great tool on light land, best used to level the field by going in the opposite direction to normal working.
Cousins are good as they have a levelling board in front, - make sure the board is pushing earth.

Leaves good seed bed ready for the drill then ?

 

[DrWazzock]

If you're sensible with a power harrow you should avoid slumping everything.

Lower PTO speed and a bit more forward speed.
Accept a courser finish and the land will thank you.

I see what you are saying.

Often wondered if two faster passes do less damage than one slower pass. At least can split the wheelings with two passes and I often think the tractor wheels do as much crushing of clods than the power Harrow.

I try to leave it as coarse as I can get away with for the drill, then crush it together with the roller after drilling if heavy rain isn't imminent.

 

[DrWazzock]

Two fast passes must cause less compaction by the tractor and splits the wheelings as opposed to one slow pass.

The faster the tractor travels, the less it sinks in.

 

[TripleSix]

If it's dry enough not to paddle then a pass with some Cambridge rollers can provide a good result when trying to create fines

 

[Selectamatic]

Watching this thread with interest.

I'll be power harrowing some land before sowing it soon, land that a PH is overkill really, but I dont as yet own a spring tine harrow...

 

[Fraserb]

Watching this thread with interest.

I'll be power harrowing some land before sowing it soon, land that a PH is overkill really, but I dont as yet own a spring tine harrow...

We have some land that doesn't need powerharrowing really, if I end up in it with the front power harrow I just slow the rotors right down and increase forward speed.

 

[two-cylinder]

On such land that a power-harrow does too much- a reciprocating harrow is better.

 

[Flat 10]

Watching this thread with interest.

I'll be power harrowing some land before sowing it soon, land that a PH is overkill really, but I dont as yet own a spring tine harrow...

Get one bought, the power harrow is the expensive one to own and run. You will save the money it cost to buy with the PH pass it saves you..............

 

[TripleSix]

At work we have a neighbour that has very light land, he loves power harrowing it into dust.

Then wonders why it all blows away and fills the lane or caps and sits the crop half drowned all winter...

 

[DrWazzock]

The thing is though that the power Harrow will cope with anything, whereas all the rest won't.

Try a spring tine Harrow on ploughed grassland and you will be pulling your hair out as well as the turf.

 

[DrWazzock]

At work we have a neighbour that has very light land, he loves power harrowing it into dust.

Then wonders why it all blows away and fills the lane or caps and sits the crop half drowned all winter...

Agree it's incorrect usage that gives them a bad name. Always had trouble convincing the old folks here to use it as little as was strictly necessary but the temptation was always to get it too fine and too deep.