Planters and equipment

Figure I could pick up some cheaper equipment in the off season. I will be using a Ford 861 tractor.

So, I want to maybe plant some corn this year and turn the cattle out on it in the fall/winter. Maybe 2 acres or so. Is this worth it for 6 head of cattle (hopefully more this summer). I hear the seed is pretty cheap, plus it is just something I want to do.

It just seems those 2 row planters are really expensive now that the "food plot" nuts are buying them. Plus I don't know what to look for in a planter?

I see cultivators for sale but they are usually 1 row, but would prefer at least 2 row. Can I do this with my Ford or is the spacing not right? I don't want to spray this with chemicals.

If your thinking of making a profit, not going to work very well. If
this is your hobby, as in my case, it's big fun. It will help offset
some of your winter feed bill.

Pick a name brand planter one that you can still get parts and plates
for. An older 2-4 row planter will be far cheaper than new, even
with the "high" prices due to the food plot guys. Talk to your local
farmers and see how they are doing it. Where I grew up in Iowa we
planted on flat ground. Down here in TX the guys "hill" everything
up and plant on top of the hill.

Buy your planter 1st then match your cultivator to that. As an
example 2 row planter needs a 2 row cultivator, 4 needs a 4. Make
sure the planter row width is adjustable so you can match your
tractor wheel width.

Match the row spacing of your equipment to the wheel width of
your tractor. I plant on 36" rows so set my wheel width to 72"
centered.


I have 14 acres of mostly pasture. I plant 2 separate 1/2 acre
gardens with a Farmall Super C and a Farmall 200. Both have fast
hitch and I've collected most all the fast hitch implements for them.
I moldboard plow, disc, drag and plant with a 2 row IH C251
planter. After we have harvested all we want I run my sheep in the
gardens. They eat it all down and turn it into fertilizer. I use no
chemicals other than manufactured fertilizer from the local coop.

I cant speak to the economics on that scale but I
can say grazing mature corn rocks!!! Im trying it
this winter for the first time. 60 cow calf pairs on
22 acres rotating with an acre and a half a week.
Easiest winter feeding I've ever done. Corn and
about 1.5 rolls of hay a week (they seemed to be
craving it for the fiber, wastes some of the fodder
but thats ok). Neighbors are talking about me, but
Im used to that.....

Awesome, that's what I wanted to hear. Figure I can get a planter and cultivator for 500-600 if I get lucky, and will last me forever. Problem is, most I see for sale look to have been left out in rain for 20 years.

Yes, eventually I need to make some money instead of spending it..... also, I will need to keep those dang deer out.

Only 6 heifers and a bull, hope to be able to increase next year, could do as many as 5 acres if I need? I don't know, not trying to go too overboard.

It has been just recently that I planted with a John Deere 490 planter. If I had not have gone notill I would still be using it. Cultivated with a JD 290 on a B. Both can be had here in MO. for scrap price. You can pull the planter with your Ford, but I am afraid you probably should use a Ferguson cultivator, and they can get expensive. Shop around and keep us posted on your progress.

Be a tad careful turning the critters out into standing corn, get
them used to corn first. Would be good to let them get a little
bit for a few days, then move the fence to new corn, etc. but
gets tedious on such a small area I understand.

Should work out.

Bad news is the planters cost a bunch now. Good news is you
could resell it for that if it doesn't work out.

Plant 30 or 38 inch rows, those are the common spacings.

If you have a 4 row planter, you can cultivate the rows with a 4,
2, or 1 row cultivator. One would get very tedious and compact
the ground a lot. I'd not want that.

Paul

A 4 row planter does not need a four row cultivator. One or two row works just fine...just takes longer.

David,
How have you been? Havent seen much out of you in the last couple years. Where have you been hanging out? I am over at haytalk. Good website. A little slow the last month or so though.
Mike

Hey Mike,

They're working me to death ... Kind of got out of the computer habit a while. I'll check out haytalk. Sounds interesting.

Not sure if its more stuff with the kid, my dating habits, or time marinating myself in the hot tub that lead me away. Probably a combination of that and me using the service department at my dealer a lot more for everything. I've gotten lazy I guess, talked to the dealer the other day about changing a heater hose... realized how that sounded.... a heater hose.... lol. But, in my defense, you do have to drop the fuel tank, lol..

How've you been?

I'm not sure where you farm, but for all intents and purposes, I'd look for a 4 row no-til 7000 JD. They're small enough that bigger guys don't want them, big enough that a small guy can still cover a bunch of acres, easy to get parts for and overall a great planter. And, if you take some patience and learn to no-til, you won't need plows and workers.

Busy Busy and busy. It seams to just keep coming..have a GOOD neighbor kid that helps me almost every Sat in the winter. Big help especially since dad doesnt do much except the yard work and maintain the buildings.

Thats great!! Good help is so hard to come by. I've been so lucky this year in that department. Crew I've got now is just super but its sure not always been that way. We actually got to the place this year I felt I needed to incorporate and added a guy on commission just to do sales, transportation, and manage off farm projects. For my on farm guys I stumbled into a couple of guys who've done more time in than out but are trying to learn how to do better. Best help I've ever had.

(quoted from post at 20:29:46 01/15/15) I'd look for a 4 row no-til 7000 JD.

Click to expand...

The 7000's I found in my area are very pricey, and no 4 rows at all, but I will keep my eyes out.

I saw this 2 row cultivator for cheap locally, it is a Ford brand and is within my budget, would this work for a few acres of corn? I am just having a hard time finding a 2 row? lots of single row. For whatever reason, they all look the same to me, whether single or double.