Learning to Cultivate Corn: More Error that Trial

Fergienewbee

Well-known Member
Got my new cultivator all set up and discovered that the worn bolts don't hold the shanks where they are set. So it's off to the hardware to replace all 11 bolts. The rest is just learning to drive straight and that will come once I have confidence I am not taking out half the row. The other thing is I waited too long. Some of the weeds/grass are pretty tall and so is the corn. Next year will be better--I hope.

Larry
 
If it's a rear mount cultivator, put a piece of masking tape on your front axle where the row is at and guide your tractor that way. Don't turn around and watch the cultivator, you will get cultivator blight(plowed out corn).
 
Best to use a buddy to help get it set up and rough in your depth and speed. After that just trust the mark you made or reference point just like you trust your mirrors on your car/truck. If you want to make fine adjustments then stop and get off and look over your work , looking back won't get it.
 
I've been cultivating all day...The easiest way to stay on the row is to plant your butt square in the seat,look straight ahead,place radiator cap in center of row.Dont look back.Just sit up straight look ahead(not back) and drive.As was said,If you want to check your work,STOP,get off and look.
 
Like the others say, takes a little practice ESP with a rear mount cultivator. Got to learn whee you are at, and look forward, keep your head in the same spot.

Hillsides are a little special, if you have any, need to again learn to put the tractor up the hill a little, as the cultivator will sag sideways a little.

And, if you make any curves planting, well hope you have better luck than me following a curve with a rear mount cultivator.....

If farming were easy, everyone would be doing it right? :)

Paul
 
Paul;

Since all the corn is food plots, I plant a lot of curves. I don't want to be able to see the end of the row to shoot. That and my plots are odd shaped. It's more about feeding the critters than killing a deer or anything else. This year I am enjoying and learning the diversity. I have wheat, oats, corn, cowpeas and in the fall I'll plant a mix of crimson clover, winter peas and wheat. Already have my rotation about 90% planned for next year.

Larry
 
Guy, I don't post a lot but here's my advise. ran a 4 row JD RM for many years over thousands of acres. We always had a row marker that bolted to the frame on the tractor, mostly 4020's. May take a few minutes to get it set right so your not plowing up anything and like somebody said it takes some "practice" to get good at it. You can cultivate all day and not get in the row but as soon as somebody stops by to talk of take a look, you'll get in the row and plow some up. Get you a marker you'll be glad you did.
 
I got pretty good at cultivating feed, but I NEVER learned to overcome the "wobble steer" when you turn around. I had to plant that thing and never look back. I always worried at the end of the row I would turn around to find the cultivator halfway back down the field.
 
Paul
IIRC you are located between Klossner & St George. Do you remember Jerome Klingler & his mirror invention? I was off the farm long before rear cultivators became popular, so never tried using it. Don't know how well it worked, but he seems to have sold a lot of them.
Willie
 
I used to run a 4020 with a Lilliston rotary cultivator in 7th gear 3/4 throttle. That seems pretty fast but with a rotary the faster the better. What helped me the most was the front tires (wide front)were set wide enough to just miss the rows on the outside of the tire by a few insides. I just looked down at the wheels and concentrate. Didn"t have to worry about crooked rows either.
 
Absolutely, Steve. I learned to run a rear mounted cultivator on a tractor with saddle tanks. Look straight, drive straight, and only look back occasionally. I did do 12 rows on the countour yesterday and when you do that you need to favor the OUTSIDE of the row with your tractor which almost seems opposite of what you think. But that is how it works. Only corn I damaged was on the ends and you can't help that. Mike
 

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