Rotovator recommendations

Thomas6180

Member
Mixed Farmer
Planning to upgrade my old well worn Howard rotovator before next season, will be looking for around 3mtr with blades, has anyone recently bought a new one? which makes are good and which to avoid?
not doing big acres and on light land. Thanks in advance
 

john432

Member
Location
Carmarthenshire
Haven't they been replaced mainly by power harrows? A much handier machine.Plough and follow with a power harrow so much faster and if needed can go deep enough for root crops.. Stone burriers which are basically glorified rotovators have been tried...too slow in an old ley. My opinion is it's a machine for reinstating dry ripped up cultivated ground.
 

Thomas6180

Member
Mixed Farmer
Haven't they been replaced mainly by power harrows? A much handier machine.Plough and follow with a power harrow so much faster and if needed can go deep enough for root crops.. Stone burriers which are basically glorified rotovators have been tried...too slow in an old ley. My opinion is it's a machine for reinstating dry ripped up cultivated ground.
Power harrow is OK, but as its mainly root crops were growing once the tines wear they struggle to work to the desired depth......
 

ED.D

Member
Location
Cheshire
I’ve got a 3m alpego and very pleased with it.
 

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Dchappy

Member
Livestock Farmer
Hard to beat the heavy duty Howard’s
 

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Haven't they been replaced mainly by power harrows? A much handier machine.Plough and follow with a power harrow so much faster and if needed can go deep enough for root crops.. Stone burriers which are basically glorified rotovators have been tried...too slow in an old ley. My opinion is it's a machine for reinstating dry ripped up cultivated ground.

Powerharrow and rotovator do different jobs really. A powerharrow can't bury anything like a rotovator can.
 

john432

Member
Location
Carmarthenshire
Powerharrow and rotovator do different jobs really. A powerharrow can't bury anything like a rotovator can.
I did say plough and follow with a power harrow,and in my humble experience does a far better job( if done properly) of burying the turf etc .so much faster and fuel efficient to get a clean clod free seed bed, than using a rotovator.
 

aled1590

Member
Location
N.wales
I would say rotovator far better than plough and PH for root crops, gives a firmer seed bed and keeps stock cleaner and drier under their feet in winter, and surely it’s quicker and cheaper than plough and ph
 

Dchappy

Member
Livestock Farmer
Depends on size and model
Rotospikes can be 350 up to 700
Blades 400 right up to 1300
HRN had one for sale was a late model very heavy duty made 2800 was tidy
If you are good with your hands try and pick up one with a good frame work cause the rest is only tin work which it’s easy to cut away and replace same with back doors
And before I get shot down the old Howard’s are well made and still have a place on the farm
I did say plough and follow with a power harrow,and in my humble experience does a far better job( if done properly) of burying the turf etc .so much faster and fuel efficient to get a clean clod free seed bed, than using a rotovator.
totally agree but not on the power harrow my dad always said good farming starts with good ploughing the power harrow is faster by a mile but if your land is heavy and dries out hard a bladed Howard will make just as nice a job if not better so be slower but power harrow will just play with it
Both have there place some are better then other
 

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