JD FB-B Grain Drill: novice question on seed packing

nathan.hall · May 25, 2015

I'm helping with a project where we have access to a JD FB-B grain drill and we're thinking of using it to seed some industrial hemp plots (long story). I have done some farming but I am not as experienced as the folks on this forum, so I have a question about packing the seed in with this drill.

The only drill I've ever used before had the packing wheels that came after the seeder tube to push dirt over the seed, but this older drill has nothing to cover the seed up. Are you supposed to go back over the field with a cultipacker or drag chain, or do you just plant and let it go? Thanks for the input, Happy Memorial Day!

jim_uny · May 25, 2015

i own a fbb. on back of grain delivery tube is eyelet. i attached 3 rings which cover seed. i made a hitch and follow it with a
water filled packer. see attached photo

tomstractorsandtoys · May 25, 2015

There are different ways to look at that. Press wheels were an option but very few were sold with them. Most drills had chains that hooked onto the rear of the seed boot to cover small seed. Is hemp planted with the grass seed box or the grain box? How deep do you want it? I put a hitch on the rear of the FBB that we had to pull a cultipacker. In very loose soil you need to be careful not to get grass seeds in to deep. More grass fails to grow from to deep than lying on top the ground. I prefer a firm seedbed and pull a cultipacker as it makes a nice seedbed and a pretty feild when finished. You can make an extra trip with a packer as well but you are adding more tractor tracks to the feild. A nice rain will settle a seedbed as well. Tom

DeltaRed · May 25, 2015

I dont 'drill' grain anymore.In fact,I no longer own a drill. I simply broadcast the seed.If fertilizeing,mix fert and seed
together.Double spread. go across in a 25 ft pattern. then split your tracks. Then cover with a roller harrow/cultimulcher.

riverbend · May 25, 2015

Hemp seed should be enough of a weed that if you get it close to the ground it will grow. I think that your drill will
work fine as is. I have an IHC double disk drill that I took the covering chains off to keep from backing over them when
I turn around. Wheat, rye, oats, peas, sorghum, you name it, come up very well. If it is dry where you are you might
want to pack it after you plant.

Greg

nathan.hall · May 26, 2015

Thanks for the replies, we may try to attach a chain to the back of it or I was thinking about attaching a drag harrow like this one: http://www.external_link.com/en/store/loyal-drag-harrow-8-ft-x-8-ft?cm_vc=-10005 .

Another problem is that we don't know how to calibrate this thing right now, I've ordered a manual but if anyone knows of any online resources or general rules to follow I'd appreciate it. I've only helped calibrate a drill once before 8 years ago and once we got it set for wheat that's all we ever used it for

nathan.hall · May 26, 2015

Thanks for the replies, we may try to attach a chain to the back of it or I was thinking about attaching a drag harrow like this one: http://www.external_link.com/en/store/loyal-drag-harrow-8-ft-x-8-ft?cm_vc=-10005 . The seed should be 1/4" to 1/2" deep, I'd say you're right about too shallow being better than too deep.

Another problem is that we don't know how to calibrate this thing right now, I've ordered a manual but if anyone knows of any online resources or general rules to follow I'd appreciate it. I've only helped calibrate a drill once before 8 years ago and once we got it set for wheat that's all we ever used it for

tomstractorsandtoys · May 26, 2015

Here is how I calibrate my drill Remove several seed tubes and place a sandwitch bag under them(just use a rubberband to hold them). I like to check at least four. The more tubes you collect the more accurate. Use the following formula to determine how far to drive 435.6 divided by(number of tubes collected X row spacing in inches divided by 12)= length to travel in feet. After collecting seed weigh in lbs and divid by 100 to get pounds per acre. An example would be 435.6 divided by 2.66(4 rows at 8 inch divied by 12)=163.75 feet you must drive then collect and weigh seed. It works good if you have a measuring wheel and a small scale. it is very accurate as well, we use a neighbors 750 Deere notill drill and the chart is so far off it should not even have one.We also plant oats and radishes that we mix up so the drill chart would not work anyway. This formula I gave came in a Byron Seeds newsletter that I saved. Hope this helps Tom

JD FB-B Grain Drill: novice question on seed packing

nathan.hall

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