Deere 71 planter for bromegrass/wheatgrass seed?

[Coyotefred]

Hello!

Any idea whether a Deere 71 seeder with the appropriate plate would do a decent job planting bromegrass/wheatgrass seeds? I've got some waste areas/field margins I'd like to plant for wildlife/weed management and I'm looking at a two-row setup someone has for sale. I've planted these with a hand roller/seeder (e.g. earthway) using the sunflower or corn plate which dumps more seed than I would like, but this seed is relatively cheap and I have no problem with a little overseeding.

'Any thoughts?

 

[Farmwithjunk]

#71's aren't "grass seeders". (That's a job for a grain drill) There is no "appropriate plate" for such.

 

[Coyotefred]

Yes, I'm aware of what the 71 is designed to do, as well as what grain drills do

But an Earthway seeder isn't designed for grass seeds either yet does the job just fine. I'm curious whether the same might be true for a 71. Wheatgrass/bromegrass seeds aren't small like alfalfa or light/fluffy like warm-season natives and therefore run just fine through a large-enough seed plate hole.

So if anyone out there has or is familiar with a 71 and bromegrass/wheatgrass seed size/shape, I'd appreciate your thoughts

#71's aren't "grass seeders". (That's a job for a grain drill) There is no "appropriate plate" for such.

 

[Farmwithjunk]

Yes, I'm aware of what the 71 is designed to do, as well as what grain drills do

But an Earthway seeder isn't designed for grass seeds either yet does the job just fine. I'm curious whether the same might be true for a 71. Wheatgrass/bromegrass seeds aren't small like alfalfa or light/fluffy like warm-season natives and therefore run just fine through a large-enough seed plate hole.

So if anyone out there has or is familiar with a 71 and bromegrass/wheatgrass seed size/shape, I'd appreciate your thoughts

I'm VERY familiar with wheat grass/bromegrass seed shape, consistency, ect. I'm VERY familiar with #71 planters......I farm, have so for well over 40 years, have a degree in soil/crop science, (Currently working on a masters) and have used #71 unit planters as my main line row crop planter since the early 1970's....I'd say I'm about as "familiar" as you're apt to find.....

I have an Earthway garden seeder I use IN MY GARDEN....Plates are essentially little "scoops"....Plates for a #71 are open cells that do NOT have the same "scoop" edges as an Earthway seeder. The opening in the seed "hopper" of an Earthway planter is at the TOP of the hopper, where seed isn't weighting down the portion that's being fed into the drop. Seed plates/drop opening on a 71 is at the BOTTOM, where seed in the hopper will cause what is known as "bridging" on any seed as light as brome....

The seed metering on a 71 is far more complicated than an earthway garden seeder. Brome would "bridge" in the seed metering portion of a 71 and create an instant blockage, as I eluded to above. . Drop tubes are shaped in such a way so I'd fully EXPECT brome to plug them in short order, if it were even possible for that type of seed to reach the drops. . It would be a mess at the very best......

Sorry if that's not the answer you were looking for...........

 

[Coyotefred]

I appreciate your taking the time to explain in detail why the 71 looks to be a poor choice for this type of seed.

Do you have any suggestions on what would be a better choice within a budget under $1500 or so? I'd be using a JD 520 and I'd need something that could plant into some debris (the 71 setup I was looking at had cultivator sweeps in front rather than planting wheels). What about something like this
?

Thanks again-

 

[Farmwithjunk]

I appreciate your taking the time to explain in detail why the 71 looks to be a poor choice for this type of seed.

Do you have any suggestions on what would be a better choice within a budget under $1500 or so? I'd be using a JD 520 and I'd need something that could plant into some debris (the 71 setup I was looking at had cultivator sweeps in front rather than planting wheels). What about something like this
?

Thanks again-

If you're dead set on OWNING whatever you choose as a planter, that drill is probably a decent choice based on the budget...

If it were me....I'd look at RENTING a power seeder/slit seeder/overseeder.


Like these.... http://www.landpride.com/main_products/main_seed.html Most are available with "native grass" seed box, which will do a fantastic job, rather than a giant compromise, which is what a row crop planter would be at the very best.

Or...Check with local soil & water conservation district/county extention office, to see what they have to rent.

 

[dieselscout80]

I know this is a old thread, but I found this.

Interseeding Small-seeded Forages into Sod with Conventional Corn/Soybean Planters

https://store.extension.iastate.edu/Product/Interseeding-Small-Seeded-Forages-into-Sod-with-Conventional-CornSoybean-Planters-Conservation-Reserve-Program-Issues-and-Options-PDF

 

[CoyPatton]

If seeding a fairly large new yard area, no standing grass, I would look for something similar to a wheat drill. They have been used for soybeans when I was much younger and around the farm actively. The old drills tended to be a drop system similar to drop spreaders. If a typical rural town yard area, depending on how much was to be done (more than 1 house) I would use a walk behind or handheld broadcast spreader on prepared soil and then cover with straw.
For over-seeding a yard, I would again use a broadcast spreader, but depending on the grass present, I may or may not use straw.
Regardless the seed will need moisture to germinate so plan to water following seeding unless you get plenty of rain.

 

[dieselscout80]

I’m thinking about interseedind legumes into our pastures.

 

[Wyobuckaroo]

Any idea whether a Deere 71 seeder with the appropriate plate would do a decent job planting bromegrass/wheatgrass seeds?
+++
Try it... Even with a corn plate, you have nothing to loose.. Do some short rows and see...

The only thing I can think of it may be a little tough, irregular depending how much trouble the opener has dealing with existing grass..