plowing

olivr 88 · Apr 10, 2012

Been having a little bit of a disscussion about how different types of soils plow in terms of how hard plows will pull. How would you guys compare a silt loam soil to other types of soils? Were just looking for more opinions.

olivr 88 · Apr 10, 2012

Located in central wisconsin....

olliekid · Apr 10, 2012

plowing sod is really tough. some of our fields have not been turned over in over 20 years. Hopefully the 1655 will pull 3 bottoms.

bradk · Apr 10, 2012

Primarily Webster,clay and gumbo here in SE MN.Moldboard plows over 5 bottoms are pretty uncommon around here unless they"re pulled by modern high horses.

Our biggest plow is a IH 720 with 4-20"s and is pulled with a White 2-155 which is a 150 HP tractor.An Oliver 1850 diesel will pull the same plow,but at ALOT slower ground speed.

JMS/.MN · Apr 10, 2012

Interesting that you mentioned "Webster" soil type. Was in town today....not at the grocery store, and the tarbender was talking about the MN legislature spending (wasting) time about naming a soil type. ok, they waste most of their time on the Viqueens stadium issue, while ignoring school funding, bonding issues, etc. I explained that soil types are typically named after the town where they are first identified....locally, our clay soils are Nicollet and Webster, id"d from Nicollet and Webster , MN....southern parts of the state. Lighter local soils are LeSeuer and others. Nicollet is common on the high ground, Webster is the deep black soil in potholes....excellent soil when the excess water is drained off. Ironically, there is a little town just north of me, maybe 20-40 residents on a good day, called St. Nicholas. Richest farmland in Stearns County- same soil types you"ll find in southern MN, Mankato, etc. area. All N-W, nothing lighter....just some growing degree days fewer because of the latitude, 90 miles north.

paul · Apr 10, 2012

Hardest soil to plow is some of the versions of clay I have, that get too wet from our high water table, and so you pack them in spring planting. Then dry out over summer, and try to plow it in fall to loosen it up again. Sorta plowing a several acre brick.....

I'm in Niccolet county MN, not too far from what JMS is talking about.

As the other person says, 150 hp on a 4-20 IHC 720 plow is a good match. There are years it plows so easy don't know the plow is on. But then their are others, when you run out of traction, or can get the tractor to rear up on it's hind wheels. I used to pull a 4-16 with 85 hp, but it got old shifting down to 'crawl' speed in the tough years.

I went past Smith's Mill today, and saw 2 new plows stting on the lot, plow sales have really picked up around here, we do a lot of corn on corn, and with resistant weeds, resistant insects, new bacteria and rust issues hitting corn, we are realizing the plow was a pretty good option again.

I bought my 720 4-20 for $750 a decade ago.

See them sell now for $2000-2500 all the time.

--->Paul

Vernon in Ks · Apr 11, 2012

Olliekid, It shouldn"t be a problem. I plowed some Brome/Fescue ground that hadn"t been worked in 15 years with a 1655D and a 4-14. It pulled and smoked but I got it 8" deep. Burned an amazing 3 gallons an hour of fuel. My bigger tractor burns 6.5 an hour if I start it.LOL

olliekid · Apr 11, 2012

3 gallons an hour is pretty good! I figure mine would pull it fine, but our Massey is 81hp and it was struggling with the 2 bottom last year. But that ground hadnt been plowed in 30+ years.

Bill(Wis) · Apr 11, 2012

Too many potential variables to provide any definitive answer. But, sand plows easiest, clay plows hardest. Everything else is in between. Red clay with 7 year old alfalfa sod? Sandy loam that was plowed in the spring for corn and now you're plowing down the stubble in the fall? How deep are you plowing? Mounted plow? Trailer plow?

Cody Meister 2 · Apr 11, 2012

wheat stubble that has been turned in previous years, mostly trailer plows will be used, as this is for a local antique plow day. Thanks for the help.

plowing

olivr 88

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olivr 88

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olliekid

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bradk

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JMS/.MN

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paul

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Vernon in Ks

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olliekid

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Bill(Wis)

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Cody Meister 2

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