Disking Land In January

Vicinalvictor · Jan 7, 2020

I live in Michigan, the neighbor rents his land to a corn and soybean Farmer. A month ago he combined the corn, and today he was disking this 100 acre field(s). I am not a corn and soybean Farmer, but my question is, why would you disk the land this time of year? It's all high, sandy-loam ground, no snow and not frozen.

Big 86 · Jan 7, 2020

Saw a farmer with a 4wd Deere and chisel plow working ground today, best guess is they are behind on tillage due to the wet year and late fall. Trying to play catch up and not get caught behind in the spring like many did last year.

tomstractorsandtoys · Jan 7, 2020

There were a few chisel plows and deep rippers running here in southern WI last week. Nobody here remembers that happening in Jan. before. Tom

36 A · Jan 7, 2020

A bad job I the fall is better than a nice job in the spring !

super99 · Jan 7, 2020

If you can disk stalks in the fall it helps them break down and some dirt showing helps warm the ground sooner in the spring. Chris

Vicinalvictor · Jan 7, 2020

It seems that disking the ground now would make it more susceptible to erosion over the winter, especially on lighter ground. Never have I seen tractors working ground in west Michigan in January....

onefarmer · Jan 7, 2020

I'm in Mi try that here and you'll be walking to the house. Barely can get to the woods

TDJD · Jan 7, 2020

I?m thinking about going out and running the field cultivator this week. The only reason I want to do it now is because that way I can freeze the roots of the weeds. What part of Michigan are you in? I?m about an hour north of Grand Rapids.

caterpillar guy · Jan 7, 2020

My brother will disk ground yet this winter if it freezes enough to go without breaking the disc's. He has about 200 acres of stalks he would like to get over yet. The stalks will decompose better if they get knocked down in the fall.

onefarmer · Jan 7, 2020

I'm near St Johns 10 miles sw

SVcummins · Jan 7, 2020

Fall / winter tillage always beats spring especially if there is a lot of residue to break down .

Big 86 · Jan 7, 2020

I remember one winter in the 1980's Dad was working ground early mornings and late at night when it was frozen. Sometimes Dad would take my brother and I with him before we went to school. Get up about 3 AM and go to the shed to get the JD 8640 and chisel plow, tractor was plugged in and ready to go. Would go for a while, but once the sun came up field work was over.

There was a field in particular that took quite some time to get worked up, as the trucks, combines and tractors had really compacted the ground during harvest. I don't think we ever made more than two rounds without having to stop, usually due to the shear pins breaking in the chisel plow. Those bolts were HUGE, but that hard ground was tough. JD 8640 would be moving along and then it would start to bounce, look back and see chunks of soil the size of refrigerators being heaved up from the chisel plow! Usually that broke the shear pins, time to stop for repairs. By that time, sun was up and it was over for that day.

paul · Jan 7, 2020

In my part of Minnesota the ground is heavy, we are very wet every spring, and very cold.

Worked ground in fall the crop trash breaks down a little faster, and more so the Black rough ground warms and dries a little faster.

We need spring to happen fast to get started on growing a crop this far north.

Paul

Cliff Nelson · Jan 7, 2020

Our renter was chisel plowing in the bottoms over the weekend. Enough frost to carry the tractor and get the soil opened up so that frost will loosen up the soil by spring. This was rutted bad in places from chopping and even some ruts from combining a year ago that never got worked because it was too wet this year.

Dick L · Jan 8, 2020

The stocks and stems will wick out moisture in the spring to help for earlier planting.

Vicinalvictor · Jan 8, 2020

I'm west of Kalamazoo, near the lake.

jddrawbar · Jan 8, 2020

Back in the day, we always plowed during the winter. This is the Tx. coast, rice fields.
Short funny story, farmer friend had a grandson visiting over the holidays from Ca. He wanted to help out (clueless), so pops put him on a JD D and let him plow. Got him lined out and left him in the field (what could he hurt). Came back to check on him & he saw the D on fire. Kid had built a fire on the platform of the tractor to keep warm! By the way, this kid was close to 30 yrs. old. Best I can remember it didn't do much damage to the tractor.

DR. EVIL · Jan 8, 2020

Neighbor across the road chiseled the 100 acres of old corn ground last Saturday. It's been froze solid
On January 4th the last 30 years. There was one year, seems like 2002, maybe 2003 I drained & flushed and refilled the cooling system on my diesel pickup New Years Day, messy job, lots of splashing water, dripping antifreeze. Temp was 60 degrees, but the ground was probably froze.

RayP(MI) · Jan 8, 2020

Saw a farmer working the soil the other day in central Michigan. I have some disking I'd like to do, but if it is thawed enough, it'll be a quagmire for sure. Going to have to pass until spring. Was able to dig a 6' deep hole with back hoe a few days ago. Frost only on surface now.

stonerock · Jan 8, 2020

date doesn't matter as long as the ground is right

Disking Land In January

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