Where do I start... Help!

[Drillman]

Ok I will admit I’m a sceptic to some extent regarding DD but will never say never....

so

current system plough and combi drill.

wold land in North Yorkshire, light bits of fluffy chalk but also more Clay bits with flint among it. Usually in the same field. Land will go very tight if run about on too much even in a dry time.
subsoilers are a bit of a no as well due to there horrific running costs regarding wearing parts.

rotation included winter and spring barley, wheat OSR and sometimes spring Oats

beans are a No no as too late to combine and linseed peas etc are out as they have historically never been a sucess up here.

plenty muck as we have cattle but that also means balers, trailers spreaders etc running on the land. Not a flotation tyre on the farm either all trailers on super singles as they seem More puncture resistant on our land.
do try to keep trailers on tramlines as much as possible but loader lifting bales etc has to run about.

Everything is in house apart from muck spreading which is by contractor as don’t have the time really to do it myself.

only talking 200 acre arable

tractors available are 155 and 165hp.

suggestions of where to start please.

 

[teslacoils]

Why do you want to change?

 

[nonemouse]

Why do you want to change? The compaction from all that heavy traffic ( spreaders trailers balers etc) is going to need fixing, if subsoilers are too expensive on wearing metal, that probably rules out strip till machines with a leading tine (claydon mzuri etc) in a wet year tine drill might be best bet, but in a dry year a disc drill with closing wheel is what you need. A starting place given your location might be a demo of the Ryetec ma/ag drill

 

[Drillman]

Why do you want to change?

Things move on going forwards it may be that a change is required to unlock government subsidy, it may save me some money, it may be better for the farm.

lots of unanswered questions really

 

[Drillman]

Why do you want to change? The compaction from all that heavy traffic ( spreaders trailers balers etc) is going to need fixing, if subsoilers are too expensive on wearing metal, that probably rules out strip till machines with a leading tine (claydon mzuri etc) in a wet year tine drill might be best bet, but in a dry year a disc drill with closing wheel is what you need. A starting place given your location might be a demo of the Ryetec ma/ag drill

Funny land is ours subsoilers can eat 3 sets points a day plough probably only eats one set power harrow will do 4-500 acre per set of blades.

strip till I was thinking would work an wearing part cost not be biblically horrendous.

thing is it’s gonna get that traffic on the land on a yearly basis.

middles of fields we can be careful with but headlands can get a hammering. Snatch an grab harvests like this the trailer has to run along side combine ax well to make the most of weather windows. Especially considering combine driver is also baler driver.

demoing the Ryetec drill probably isn’t a bad idea in some respects but there is no way I could afford such a machine. So wouldn’t want to waste there time asking for a demo.

 

[Fish]

Anyone direct drilling in your area ? If so, go and have a chat with them, that would help to point you in the right direction.

 

[Matt77]

Not sure the 165hp would boss the job but you should look at a Mzuri, might be ok if you say the land is lightish, excellent for labour and cost saving, can’t complain about mine yet after a few years, strip till needs a change of mind set though, in my opinion.

 

[4course]

what did grandad do and why

 

[DRC]

Don’t chance a decent system just to possibly get £30 of subs in the future .

 

[Zippy768]

Snatch an grab harvests like this the trailer has to run along side combine ax well to make the most of weather windows. Especially considering combine driver is also baler driver.

I'd change that bit first

 

[Drillman]

I'd change that bit first

Not really any choice there as it’s me doing both jobs.

the joys of been a one man band (plus wifey on grain cart bale cart an drier duty as an when she is available) operation

 

[Drillman]

Anyone direct drilling in your area ? If so, go and have a chat with them, that would help to point you in the right direction.

Couple of neighbours having a go but both bigger operations than me and more money to spend on drills etc.

there only 1st season as well so not much to go on yet

edit- Combine ran well with your fancy concave in.

thankyou.

 

[Drillman]

Not sure the 165hp would boss the job but you should look at a Mzuri, might be ok if you say the land is lightish, excellent for labour and cost saving, can’t complain about mine yet after a few years, strip till needs a change of mind set though, in my opinion.

Hilly here so maybe/maybe not she’s a decent size 165hp not a light weight mind.

 

[Drillman]

Don’t chance a decent system just to possibly get £30 of subs in the future .

No we have rent to pay so cock ups, big experiments and disaster aren’t really an option. Gotta have each acre pay the best it can year in year out.

there’s folks on here who hail it a massive sucess.

then I hear quite a lot of folks saying there trying to make it work. But who have crop failures etc.

I can’t afford to be in the 2nd category.

yes all this does sound like im trying to wriggle my way out but i am just Wanting to explore options and pitfalls to see if it’s an option for us.

correct me if I’m wrong but the start point is an affordable drill really as other things like better tyre equipment on stuff will have to wait till kit gets replaced as funds allow.

I would almost feel happier with a drill that moved some soil as it’s more what I’m used to.

 

[KennyO]

Something like @Wombat s tine drill.

 

[Matt77]

Hilly here so maybe/maybe not she’s a decent size 165hp not a light weight mind.

I feel my 230 is all being used on my hills, but they demoed it on our marsh land with their chipped Puma 165.
It moves more dirt than some of the other strip tills but I feel it makes a better environment for the seed to get going, which is kinda the point!

 

[DRC]

No we have rent to pay so cock ups, big experiments and disaster aren’t really an option. Gotta have each acre pay the best it can year in year out.

there’s folks on here who hail it a massive sucess.

then I hear quite a lot of folks saying there trying to make it work. But who have crop failures etc.

I can’t afford to be in the 2nd category.

yes all this does sound like im trying to wriggle my way out but i am just Wanting to explore options and pitfalls to see if it’s an option for us.

correct me if I’m wrong but the start point is an affordable drill really as other things like better tyre equipment on stuff will have to wait till kit gets replaced as funds allow.

I would almost feel happier with a drill that moved some soil as it’s more what I’m used to.

I’m in a similar position to you. Rent to pay, mixed cropping including maize and beet, so the tried and tested works and if you can get ploughing done for £23 acre , it’s cheaper than forking out on another drill.

 

[Drillman]

I’m in a similar position to you. Rent to pay, mixed cropping including maize and beet, so the tried and tested works and if you can get ploughing done for £23 acre , it’s cheaper than forking out on another drill.

That’s pretty much It really. But I can’t see any harm in looking at alternatives.

 

[4course]

in response to drillman experimentation / open mindedness is fine, evangilism is the road to ruin. progression is the key

 

[Drillman]

in response to drillman experimentation / open mindedness is fine, evangilism is the road to ruin. progression is the key

Yep very true.

what I’m really after is some realistic ideas thrown at me so I can give it some thought and do a bit of cherry picking.

@Warp Land Farmer has already been in touch with a few good ideas so thank you.