Moldboard or disc?

I have a MF-135.
What "tools" should I get first? A moldboard plow or disc plow? What are the advantages/disadvantages? Is there any secret to cultivators? Things to look for?

What should I expect to pay for each?

You would want fresh shovels on it. Many times we did that up in central Wisconsin in sandy loam soil instead of plowing and it worked fine. Had to go over it a few times from different directions, and progressively deeper. Depending on how you're gonna plant, you may then want to drag it.

If that's adequate, then you're pretty much set for cultivating. You set the teeth back on the cultivator to row spacing, and add shields if necessary, and away you go.

If the soil is really compacted then I'd say go for a moldboard plow, although I know out west they did like disc plows.

If you mean a regular 'disc', you would probably be happiest with both the plow & the disk.

I'd want at least a plow, disk (or field cultivator), and a harrow (aka drag) to prep soil.

If you can only have one, the disk can possibly do the job, while the plow will leave the soil too rough to plant in.

--->Paul

Classically (according to JD's book on using farm equipment) you chop up a couple inches on top with the disk, then turn that under and crumble the plowed ground with the disk. If you did enough before plowing you get the two regions to mix. I've found a disking of corn stalks has been important to not plugging the 2 bottom plow behind my MF-135. The three point disks I've seen and owned were too light to be of any benefit at all. I made one that works super. Don't use it or the plow anymore since I've gone to a bigger tractor with bigger disk and plow. I could be talked out of them. I'm in central Iowa.

Gerald J.