Ploughing in the frost, good or bad idea?

[Jsmith2211]

So ive heared tell that if you plough in frost or snow that the field will be wet for far longer. Is there any truth to this, or any downsides to getting a bit of ploughing done while its frosty? Im guessing drilling the spring oats is a nono till its warmed up a bit though judging by what ive seen.

 

[Shutesy]

So ive heared tell that if you plough in frost or snow that the field will be wet for far longer. Is there any truth to this, or any downsides to getting a bit of ploughing done while its frosty? Im guessing drilling the spring oats is a nono till its warmed up a bit though judging by what ive seen.

Thread on it only 2 weeks ago;

Ploughing down snow

Should you or shouldn't you ? I have some heavy wet stubble that will go into under sown arable silage. Probably plough in late March or April if I wait until dry enough to plough and then can be hard to make seed bed . Talk of good frost tonight so probably would be able to plough and let...

thefarmingforum.co.uk

Ploughing on a good frost is a bit different to ploughing down snow!

 

[JCfarmer]

Ground is bloody hard this morning, perfect for muck carting not ploughing.

 

[DrWazzock]

Just look at the furrow bottom. If it’s mostly crumbling it’s alright. If it’s shiny, stop.

 

[DrWazzock]

Too hard and tge skimmers won’t work well. Earliest I’ll be starting mid March. Far too wet here.

 

[Jsmith2211]

its nice sandy soil so its drying out nicely, wouldnt try it on the clay for a good while!

 

[Rust]

If I hadn't gone ploughing on the frost it would still be stubble. And it was all frozen solid yesterday so on the way to be broken down. Needs must !

 

[Chae1]

So ive heared tell that if you plough in frost or snow that the field will be wet for far longer. Is there any truth to this, or any downsides to getting a bit of ploughing done while its frosty? Im guessing drilling the spring oats is a nono till its warmed up a bit though judging by what ive seen.

When it starts coming up in slabs it's too frosty.

 

[7610 super q]

Can't do the soil much good, nor the plough & tractor. Frost lifted by midday here last week, baring one day when it didn't lift till 3pm. Frankly if you need a frost to carry the tractor, then the ground is too wet anyway. I pressed on and did a few fields in the afternoons, as I like to go slow and steady and allow for breakdowns running 30 year old gear.

 

[Jsmith2211]

Can't do the soil much good, nor the plough & tractor. Frost lifted by midday here last week, baring one day when it didn't lift till 3pm. Frankly if you need a frost to carry the tractor, then the ground is too wet anyway. I pressed on and did a few fields in the afternoons, as I like to go slow and steady and allow for breakdowns running 30 year old gear.

View attachment 940985

What tractor you pulling that with then if its 30 years old?

 

[7610 super q]

What tractor you pulling that with then if its 30 years old?

Ford 7810, 32 years old.

 

[Mr Charisma]

My nephew was keen last week to hook the plough on but the ground was waterlogged after a wet week before the frost started , so I persuaded him to find another job to do

 

[Manny]

My nephew was keen last week to hook the plough on but the ground was waterlogged after a wet week before the frost started , so I persuaded him to find another job to do

He only wanted to go because his mate next door to me was ploughing. He did 9ac of lovely shiny smeared red marl and then went home.

 

[warksfarmer]

Come up better than I expected after grain maize and sewage cake applied. Going into spring wheat.

 

[RAF]

Made nice job ploughing it

 

[warksfarmer]

Made nice job ploughing it

Yes I’m very happy done by a local contractor. Tidy job and turned everything over properly.

 

[Andy26]

Can't do the soil much good, nor the plough & tractor. Frost lifted by midday here last week, baring one day when it didn't lift till 3pm. Frankly if you need a frost to carry the tractor, then the ground is too wet anyway. I pressed on and did a few fields in the afternoons, as I like to go slow and steady and allow for breakdowns running 30 year old gear.

View attachment 940985

An RB7?

 

[7610 super q]

An RB7?

Yes.

 

[Flat 10]

Come up better than I expected after grain maize and sewage cake applied. Going into spring wheat.

I’d be so happy if I had done that