Breaking Ground What to use

   / Breaking Ground What to use #1  

alltoys

Silver Member
Joined
Jan 23, 2008
Messages
214
Location
Vimy, Alberta
Tractor
Montana R28
I have 14 acres to break. It was a cattle operation with old corrals it will soon be removed. This sod has not been cultivated in years so I am not sure what type of implement to use on my 30 hp tractor any help would be appreciated.
 
   / Breaking Ground What to use #2  
What are you going to do with it? Pasture, crops, sod farm, build a house and put in a lawn..
 
   / Breaking Ground What to use
  • Thread Starter
#3  
Turn it back to grass.
 
   / Breaking Ground What to use #4  
alltoys said:
Turn it back to grass.

Alltoys, welcome to the forum. If you had told me you were going to turn an acre into finish grass around the house I would have said get a tiller. With 14 acres, I would find a local with big equipment and a heavy disk to work it. Still not clear what the end goal is though. Do you want to turn it into pasture for hay or critters? If you want to make it finish grass your in for a lot of mowing. Generally your county extension agent will have the best advice for your given area and goals. You for sure want to have soil tests done before taking on 14 acres and the extension agent is where you go. With the cost of seed, fertilizer and lime these days it will be pricey.

MarkV
 
   / Breaking Ground What to use #5  
If by cattle operation you mean some type of confined operation I think compaction might be a big issue. If that's the case likely you would want a big tractor in there to subsoil it to start. After that you could disk, level, plant etc.
 
   / Breaking Ground What to use #6  
Cattle and horses can and will compact soil far worse than any wheeled equipment can. I'd subsoil it OR chisel plow, put down fertilizer/lime per soil test needs, then disc, then seed. 30hp will be marginal power to subsoil (to a proper depth) or chisel ground that's been put in the sort of condition I suspect yours will be in.
 
   / Breaking Ground What to use #7  
The ground will be compacted and needs to be plowed with a sub-soiler, disked, cultipacked and broadcast with grass seeds.
You don't have enough tractor for sub-soiling. The sub-soiling needs to done to break the hardpan which is 6" - 12" deep. Probably need to hire that out to someone with a large (minimum 90 hp) tractor or dozer to do the sub-soiling.
You can do the disking, cultipacking and seed broadcasting with your tractor.
 
   / Breaking Ground What to use
  • Thread Starter
#8  
How does one determine the depth of hard pan?

I picked up a chisel plow with both the chisels and 4inch shovels might be to small for this project. I have roughly 5 acres of corral fencing that has to be removed and mountains of critter crap to spread, or get rid of in one way shape or form.

This place has been run down not sure the last time the ground was turned over.

Eventually I am turning my place into a RV Trailer storage yard with a quad drag strip at the rear. That is why I want to turn it back to grass.

Thanks for all your help
 
   / Breaking Ground What to use #9  
alltoys said:
How does one determine the depth of hard pan?

I picked up a chisel plow with both the chisels and 4inch shovels might be to small for this project. I have roughly 5 acres of corral fencing that has to be removed and mountains of critter crap to spread, or get rid of in one way shape or form.

This place has been run down not sure the last time the ground was turned over.

Eventually I am turning my place into a RV Trailer storage yard with a quad drag strip at the rear. That is why I want to turn it back to grass.

Thanks for all your help

Huh? I thought you wanted a "grass" field for hay or aesthetics. If you want a storage yard and race track just spread the manure, disk it in and plant some grass seed.
 
   / Breaking Ground What to use #10  
Why bother, because when you come in to install the track...you'll just dig up the area to lay to asphalt strips...:rolleyes:
 
 
 
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