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type and size of discs

A

Anonymous-0

Well-known Member
I have a field of last year's corn that needs to be plowed for hay planting...
after I plow I was wondering what type of discs to use to prepare the ground for planting
i have a set of drags (spring tooth harrow) which i plan on using to level and break up some clumps but i figure i should finish it with discs.

what type of discs do i need? I figure I need tandem but don't know how heavy/how big of discs.

also, i have a MF 265 and a MF 1080 (60 and 80 horse) - what width discs should i get?

i know the standard seems to be 10 hp per foot but people seem to run discs much wider than that...

the soil is decently heavy clay...a slight hill but not much at all...and the field is wide open.

thanks for the input.
 
Most people here in Iowa, just disk their cornstalks, sow oats with the alfalfa. Take a oat crop and the alfalfa will come after that. No need to plow..
 
I'm thinking the standard should be more like 5 hp per foot for tandem discs (which is what you want after plowing). I had a 12 foot that my 62 HP Oliver 880 just played with- and had no trouble pulling a 10 foot with my 53 HP Oliver 1550.
 
If last years corn was 200 bpa. you have enough stalks that you are right in needing to plow. If you plow in the spring you have to follow imediatly with disk or ground will dry out to almost unmanagable clods. After you plow and disk if still early in season it is nice to let it rain on it. When it dries up after rain then work it preferrably with field cult or if you don't have one disk it again. Then seed it with oats or wheat as cover crop with your alfalfa or grass or blend of what ever hay you want. Then drag it with a harrow. Remember how ever smooth the field is when you are done seeding that is what you get to drive on for the next 4 years while making hay.
 
thanks for all of the replies so far...
i have seen some posts in the past where people mention dragging something behind their harrows or discs...like a flat piece of steel in order to smooth the ground?
what type of drag am i thinking of?
thanks
 
Here in Michigan I would plow then pull a disc with a spring tooth behind it. 12 to 14 ft disc and spring tooth should work behind your 1080.
 
Spring tooth harrow probably will load up with stalks very quickly - you'll spend more time on the ground than working the ground.
 
I just use the harrows behind the disc in one sweep. I think a further flat piece of steel will build up and finish with corrugations. No way will it level a paddock. imo.besides will make the tractor work harder.
 
when I took my field from corn to pasture, I was advised to disc the field 3 times, at least 2 different directions. I used a 6ft 4 gang disc with additional weight on the rear of it. I also had a drag behind it. I then seeded with a Brillion seeder. I could not be happier with the results.
 
If you do plow be sure to get your plow level. I have seeded down a number of fields with very good results, much better if done in the fall than spring. The last one I did though, it was all after dark and I apparently didn't get the plow level, because even after plenty of discing it ended up being rippled when driving across the short way.
 
Why use a disc to prepare a (ridged) seedbed? It is an excellent tool for packing the soil, and its only real use is to cut up sod. Buy a field cultivator, with a mounted tine-toothed harrow, and make 1-2 passes , and it is ready to seed or plant. 60-80 hp tractor...use a 12-14 foot FC with tine harrow. Ask yourself, "what do full-time farmers use- a disc or a FC?". Then...why?.....because it works?
 
It would have to be a really heavy duty disc to take 10 HP per ft. The 265 should pull an average disc about 12 ft. wide and the 1080 would play with it. Finish disc's are lighter and have more disc blades a little closer together than a standard field disc. They are easier to pull as well because they don't normally go as deep. On a heavier pull type disc you can always adjust the depth with the transport wheels.
 
ok...last stupid question...
what is meant by a field cultivator?
from what i have found searching pics on this site...it appear to be like my drags (spring tooth harrow)...am i missing something?
 
We dont use field cultivators in my area because they would pull up too many stones. I'll admit if the ground is a bit damp and you make too many passes over the field with it you can make it like concrete. I drag a log about 8 inch in diameter behind the disk and does a real nice job with 2 passes.
 
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