Tiller TILLER FOR ROCKY GROUND

[flusher]

Don't know how big these food plots are. But if they're relatively small (~1/4 acre) I'd consider running a middle buster (potato plow) over the ground before attacking it with the tiller. You might be able to remove the larger rocks by hand after plowing before risking damage to your tiller. The other advantage is that you would be able to use a smaller tractor (20-25HP) to handle this type of plow.

I have a B7510HST (21HP) tractor, a KK XB middle buster ($135 at Tractor Supply) and a used Yanmar RS1200 rototiller (48" wide, $300). My 10 acres varies from lotsa clay to gravely loam. I wouldn't characterize my place as extremely rocky but I have patches where the rocks are the size of small potatos. Hence the plow.

 

[flINTLOCK]

2 primary plots are 1.5-2 acres each. Plan to develop several more smaller plots as time allows. The ideal solution would be to find a local farmer or rental store with larger HP machine- 50-70 HP to do the initial sod busting with chisel plow or heavy disc. We could keep the plots in shape by mowing crop when necessary and lightly disc them down the road when next planting season comes around. Unfortunately, no local farmers in our area. Rental places only seem to handle small machines.

 

[Trev]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">(
I have a B7510HST (21HP) tractor, a KK XB middle buster ($135 at Tractor Supply) and a used Yanmar RS1200 rototiller (48" wide, $300). My 10 acres varies from lotsa clay to gravely loam. I wouldn't characterize my place as extremely rocky but I have patches where the rocks are the size of small potatos. Hence the plow. )</font>

When you say "the plow", you mean the KK XB middle buster? Sounds like I could use one of those also. Dig up the Spring rocks, pay the kids a few bucks to move them somewhere, and then get out the rear tiller?

I have "small potatos" up to "watermelons" which appear every Spring. I hate to keep beating up my tiller...

Got a link to one of these babys? I've often thought that something of that sort might be helpful. Maybe I can ask my wife for that for Christmas, which, if I'm not mistaken, is today. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Tks,
Bob

 

[flusher]

Here's the link to the KK middle buster/sub-soiler.

Middle buster

It has Cat 1 hitch pins that are spaced close enough for the 3pt hitch on sub-CUTs.

 

[Trev]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Here's the link to the KK middle buster/sub-soiler.

Middle buster

It has Cat 1 hitch pins that are spaced close enough for the 3pt hitch on sub-CUTs.

)</font>

Thanks, Flusher.. that's pretty much what I thought we were talking about.. but I've also seen some which are much narrower.. so wasn't sure. This might be just the thing for my situation.. break up the soil, locate rocks, etc. Must take a while to use, though, as it looks like it would take many passes back forth before one had an acre or three broken up adequately?

Thanks again,
Bob

 

[sweettractors]

We handle new Tufline and used at our website Sweet Farm Equipment LLC--Ken Sweet

 

[nomad]

Disk plow will be better than tiller. But, it will still not be so good if the rocks are big. If I were you, I'd rent a "rock picker" for an hour for the first operation of the field and then, would go for tiller or disc plow.

 

[HayDR]

Nomad has awoke from his long winter's nap.

 

[Vjf]

Here's what I do to prepare soil for small food plots. I take my 6 foot box blade, drop the scarifers down to the desired depth, for me 3 to 4 inches, and extend the top link way out so that front cutting edge is not dragging soil and filling the box, but the back cutting edge is sorta smoothing and helping to break up large clumps of soil. It will take me a few passes to get the soil the way I want it, and I'm only doing small plots, less than 1/4 acre, but it works good for me.

 

[Egon]

Wonder what his hourly rate is for picking rocks? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Egon /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif