Smoothing 9 acres

   / Smoothing 9 acres #1  
E

Eric_Phillips

Platinum Member
Joined
May 16, 2005
Messages
706
Location
Rochester, NY
Tractor
FarmTrac 270DTC
I have about 9 acres of a field that had corn in it three summers ago, nothing has been done to it since. I have been talking with several people about how to smooth out the furrows. The two methods I have heard are to plow disc and cultipack. The other is to just use a back blade. I am looking to get the land smooth enough to run a finish mower over it a couple time a year and to turn part of it into horse pasture. I live in western NY and the field now has weeds, roses and some small willows and other trees trying to grow. Any suggestions?

Eric
 
   / Smoothing 9 acres
  • Thread Starter
#2  
I have about 9 acres of a field that had corn in it three summers ago, nothing has been done to it since. I have been talking with several people about how to smooth out the furrows. The two methods I have heard are to plow disc and cultipack. The other is to just use a back blade. I am looking to get the land smooth enough to run a finish mower over it a couple time a year and to turn part of it into horse pasture. I live in western NY and the field now has weeds, roses and some small willows and other trees trying to grow. Any suggestions?

Eric
 
   / Smoothing 9 acres #3  
Hi Eric,

Your profile shows your don't own a tractor yet. I'd hit the local rental place and see what they have available. For 9 acres, you could rent something a little bigger. Most people here don't like disk harrows, but if this ground was worked a few years ago, and all you want to do is level it, I think it would work.

You would likely need to work it once, wait 10 days and after one rain, then work it again.

Once you find a price to rent this, see if you have a local farmer that would be willing to do it for near the price of the rental. If you are lucky, you probably can. A medium sized tractor & implement could do the 9 acres in a few hours.

If your local rental place has only small stuff, hiring a farmer is likely cheaper. Is there any ground in cultivation near your place? If so, keep your eyes open and stop the guy when he's in the near field. No hauling, no special trips, might get a good deal.

Hope this helps.
ron
 
   / Smoothing 9 acres #4  
Hi Eric,

Your profile shows your don't own a tractor yet. I'd hit the local rental place and see what they have available. For 9 acres, you could rent something a little bigger. Most people here don't like disk harrows, but if this ground was worked a few years ago, and all you want to do is level it, I think it would work.

You would likely need to work it once, wait 10 days and after one rain, then work it again.

Once you find a price to rent this, see if you have a local farmer that would be willing to do it for near the price of the rental. If you are lucky, you probably can. A medium sized tractor & implement could do the 9 acres in a few hours.

If your local rental place has only small stuff, hiring a farmer is likely cheaper. Is there any ground in cultivation near your place? If so, keep your eyes open and stop the guy when he's in the near field. No hauling, no special trips, might get a good deal.

Hope this helps.
ron
 
   / Smoothing 9 acres #5  
</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I have about 9 acres of a field that had corn in it three summers ago; nothing has been done to it since. I have been talking with several people about how to smooth out the furrows. The two methods I have heard are to plow disc and cultipack. The other is to just use a back blade. I am looking to get the land smooth enough to run a finish mower over it a couple time a year and to turn part of it into horse pasture. I live in western NY and the field now has weeds, roses and some small willows and other trees trying to grow. Any suggestions?

Eric )</font>

I have 15 acres of land that was fallow for years. I had the same problem with uneven ground and weeds. I killed two birds with one stone. I am leasing out the land. I get paid for the lease; the farmer is planting corn alternating with soybeans. Now in year two. Weeds are gone, ground is almost smooth and my taxes have dropped now that the land is being farmed. I guess that is three birds?
Bob
 
   / Smoothing 9 acres #6  
</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I have about 9 acres of a field that had corn in it three summers ago; nothing has been done to it since. I have been talking with several people about how to smooth out the furrows. The two methods I have heard are to plow disc and cultipack. The other is to just use a back blade. I am looking to get the land smooth enough to run a finish mower over it a couple time a year and to turn part of it into horse pasture. I live in western NY and the field now has weeds, roses and some small willows and other trees trying to grow. Any suggestions?

Eric )</font>

I have 15 acres of land that was fallow for years. I had the same problem with uneven ground and weeds. I killed two birds with one stone. I am leasing out the land. I get paid for the lease; the farmer is planting corn alternating with soybeans. Now in year two. Weeds are gone, ground is almost smooth and my taxes have dropped now that the land is being farmed. I guess that is three birds?
Bob
 
   / Smoothing 9 acres #7  
Seems like a box blade would be perfect. Get the stuff mowed down pretty short and then run the BB over it and it should be nice and smooth.
 
   / Smoothing 9 acres #8  
Seems like a box blade would be perfect. Get the stuff mowed down pretty short and then run the BB over it and it should be nice and smooth.
 
   / Smoothing 9 acres
  • Thread Starter
#9  
Sorry about the old profile. I do own a FarmTrac 270DTC and a 6' KK disc. I have been making some fire brakes around the brush the builder pulled out of a drainage ditch. The disc works fine for that. With some more weight I could probably get the whole 9 acres done but it would also need a drag or something to smooth it off. We are putting up a barn and the wife wants a riding ring so we have been talking with contractors to get all that work done. With my lack of skill with the FEL I would hate to see what damage I would do to the barn or ring foundation. The two ways I spoke of to do the field came from the two contractors I have already talked to. It sounds like either method would work just depending on the equipment they have. I guess I will wait to see if there is a big difference in their bids. I would love the seat time in the tractor to do the work myself but I have too many other projects outstanding and she wants to get the horses home.

Eric
 
   / Smoothing 9 acres
  • Thread Starter
#10  
Sorry about the old profile. I do own a FarmTrac 270DTC and a 6' KK disc. I have been making some fire brakes around the brush the builder pulled out of a drainage ditch. The disc works fine for that. With some more weight I could probably get the whole 9 acres done but it would also need a drag or something to smooth it off. We are putting up a barn and the wife wants a riding ring so we have been talking with contractors to get all that work done. With my lack of skill with the FEL I would hate to see what damage I would do to the barn or ring foundation. The two ways I spoke of to do the field came from the two contractors I have already talked to. It sounds like either method would work just depending on the equipment they have. I guess I will wait to see if there is a big difference in their bids. I would love the seat time in the tractor to do the work myself but I have too many other projects outstanding and she wants to get the horses home.

Eric
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
 
 

Footer Links 1

Top