next years corn

John, for a minute there, I thought I was going to have to start an arguement here.

You da man!

I agree: Points determine the suck and for all intents and purposes (except for lifting the plow outta/off the ground), that center link may as well be taken off and thrown away.

Ya just don't ever set a plow with the center link; it screws up the angle of attack. When set properly the center link should "float".

Also, someone mentioned plowing and then re-plowing. What's up with that? It doesn't work.

Plows need a certain amount of soil compaction to work properly and "turn" the soil.

Also, bone dry, cement compacted dirt is just tough to penetrate..... like this gentleman's old pasture ground. I agree, 7 or 8 inches deep is probaly just about where he wants to be on this soil.

(Mornin' Everybody) ;>),

Allan

'Round here you plow in fall, let winter mellow the lumps, disk & harrow it in spring. Today with the bigger tractors & clearance, a field cultivator with a harrow bar is the only secondary tillage used - much better than a disk 90% of the time. Might not find a usable one for a small tractor tho.

Not typical on a pasture, but he might have a hardpan - esp if this is clay soil. That is the only time it's a help to go real deep in the ground, and then with a ripper of some sort, and then only every few years. Hardpan is a compacted layer an inch or 2 thick that roots, water, or nothing can penetrate, it forms about 8 inches deep where clay particles settle in the ground & about cement themselves. It is often the line between topsoil & subsoil. Heavy traffic i wet soil or always plowing to the same level will form it moreso.

--->Paul

We, in this country, quit using a disc behind a plow clear back in the late 40's.

Instead, we found that if ya smack it good with the disk AHEAD of the plow (maybe even twice at differing angles), then follow with that plow set correctly, that it works sooooo much better. Lays that ground over like a Sunday tabletop.

I agree, trying to replow plowed ground is a total waste of time and energy.

Just a side note,

Allan

To bust sod, we plow as deep as the tractor/plow will allow, disc, and then plow/disc as deep as we want.

Sure, I can plow sod full depth in one pass with my 10,000 lb. 66hp tractor but that is not what the question is.

I also doubt he wants to wait all winter to do it. He can have it done in a couple of days and be done with it.

You just can't replow ground that has been plowed in the last 3 months. It plugs up the plow. Ain't gonna work.

If it works where you are fine.

Just so the guy knows, planning to plow some soils 2 times in a row is a total disaster in some regions.

Working the ground 'here' that hard that fast results in bricks, and you end up waiting over winter & 1/2 of next summer until the soil is workable & plantable again.

All depends on the soil he is starting with.

--->Paul

Yep, pretty small outfit, but we work with what we have, I guess.

Allan

2. Why would you shorten the top link? This typically makes the plow go shallower on a normal 3pt plow. If you lengthen the top link, then the plow tends to suck itself deeper. However, with a farm store type plow on a smallish tractor, things might not be lining up right, so perhaps you are doing the right thing for your situation. But normally, making the top link a little longer makes it suck in a little deeper.

3. Worn out plow lays will often make a plow skid on the surface rather than dig in. Sounds like you are not having any problem actually, but for the future.....

4. You manage to get one of those cheep little plows sunk all the way into the ground to the depth of the whole molboard????? ? And it didn't break????? Holy cow & why are you going so deep???? :)

--->Paul

The reason you plow that deep for corn is that corn roots go many feet deep. In hard clay, like mine, you only have one chance to improve drainage when you are busting sod. You do that by sinking that plow as deep as it will go. With my setup I can sink my JD 3/14 in sod and make dirt really fly. Yeah, it makes the tractor snort and is a PITA when you hit a big rock but that's farming. While it looks impressive, in HIS case he is using different equipment and needs to use a different technique... but he is absolutely correct; he wants to go as deep as he possibly can.

I think he'll figure out who to listen to, I don't need to be in a passing contest with the likes of you.

I have a bit of experience with raising corn in clay ground. Just a little wee bit. ;) Have a little experience at tilling clay as well. ;)

--->Paul

Did you mean to say "improve penetration" of the moisture, rather than "improve drainage"?

P.S. I'm starting to understand why you have this 'nasty' disposition. Farming clay/rock. Ouch! I feel for ya. :>)

Later,

Allan

--->Paul

Me thinks you are like me and like stirring the pot a little? :>)

He meant plow lathe.

Allan

Gerald J.