Jsheds
Bronze Member
I've been reading the forums here for many years and appreciate all the help and experience offered, but I've still got quetions. I'm not new to tractors, but have no experience with farming beyond a small backyard garden. I have about 10 tillable acres in northeast PA that I would like to experiment with. It's been more than 10 years since the soil has been worked. I've been keeping the weeds and small brush mowed and did try roto tilling some small patches last spring, but even with the tractor mounted tiller, the sod layer made for slow going. The soil is pretty good, not sandy, but no clay either however there are a LOT of fist to grapefruit sized stones. What I would like to do this year is plow the fields to turn the sod over and disc then plant.
I have a Ford model 1910 4WD tractor with a loader and ag tires. It's about 30 engine horsepwer. The Ford literature says that this tractor will pull a 2 bottom plow, but doesn't say what size. Anybody know what size plow I can pull with this tractor? I was guessing a 2-12" or 2-14" but would like more than a guess before I spend money on a plow that I can't pull. Will I need coulters to cut the sod to be able to plow these old fields? What about trip shanks for the stones? I would like to have a bigger tractor, but I don't for now. So what can I realisticly do with what I have?
My other question is about planters. I would like to be able to plant corn, sunflowers, pumpkins, beans as well as some some smaller seeds like radishes. I've read every thread I can find on planters, but I'm still lost. What would be a good fit for my tractor? I would like to be able to place fertilizer at the same time as planting, and realize that maybe one planter can't plant all the seeds I want to use. I'm looking for a simple machine that is easy to maintain with good parts avilability. I see Ford 309's, JD 290's, MF 039's etc. Will one of these do what I need? Or would I be better off looking at a new planter from Cole or Yetter or someone else? How big of a planter can I use with this tractor? I see a lot of 4-row pull type planters for sale for less than a 2-row 3-point, but don't know if I could use one of those or not?
Thanks for your help!
I have a Ford model 1910 4WD tractor with a loader and ag tires. It's about 30 engine horsepwer. The Ford literature says that this tractor will pull a 2 bottom plow, but doesn't say what size. Anybody know what size plow I can pull with this tractor? I was guessing a 2-12" or 2-14" but would like more than a guess before I spend money on a plow that I can't pull. Will I need coulters to cut the sod to be able to plow these old fields? What about trip shanks for the stones? I would like to have a bigger tractor, but I don't for now. So what can I realisticly do with what I have?
My other question is about planters. I would like to be able to plant corn, sunflowers, pumpkins, beans as well as some some smaller seeds like radishes. I've read every thread I can find on planters, but I'm still lost. What would be a good fit for my tractor? I would like to be able to place fertilizer at the same time as planting, and realize that maybe one planter can't plant all the seeds I want to use. I'm looking for a simple machine that is easy to maintain with good parts avilability. I see Ford 309's, JD 290's, MF 039's etc. Will one of these do what I need? Or would I be better off looking at a new planter from Cole or Yetter or someone else? How big of a planter can I use with this tractor? I see a lot of 4-row pull type planters for sale for less than a 2-row 3-point, but don't know if I could use one of those or not?
Thanks for your help!