bullockcm
Bronze Member
Wemsit, what are your plans for next year and beyond on the 8 - 10 acres? How you intend to use the land could play an important role in how you need to prep the land and what implements will be the best match for your use. Whatever means you end up using to break the ground will benefit from performing a burn down on the existing vegetation. Typically this means an application of Roundup or the like and a waiting period of 2 weeks, sometimes a second application and waiting period may be necessary. I don't care for using chemical but it does have it's place and converting 30 year old sod to workable ground is one in my opinion especially if using an implement other than a moldboard plow.
Chisel plows and the field cultivators mentioned in this thread are nice tools to have especially after the initial ground breaking is done. In my limited experience a tiller or moldboard plow are significantly better at the initial ground breaking. As Jeff's post notes both chisel plows and field cultivators are conservation plows and designed to leave residue and a portion of the surface undisturbed. Depending on your future use you may need the full surface disturbed and broken up. Depending on your soil these tools plus an appropriate disc harrow may accomplish this.
Last note to your original question: I believe your tractor would pull the Fred Cain 7 shank field cultivator, I pull a 7 shank from another manufacture with a Kubota L4240 and with R4 tires I always run out of traction before power. I suspect you would only be able to pull a true 5 shank chisel plow to the depth you mentioned and depending on conditions even that could be tough. Does your tractor have draft control?
Chisel plows and the field cultivators mentioned in this thread are nice tools to have especially after the initial ground breaking is done. In my limited experience a tiller or moldboard plow are significantly better at the initial ground breaking. As Jeff's post notes both chisel plows and field cultivators are conservation plows and designed to leave residue and a portion of the surface undisturbed. Depending on your future use you may need the full surface disturbed and broken up. Depending on your soil these tools plus an appropriate disc harrow may accomplish this.
Last note to your original question: I believe your tractor would pull the Fred Cain 7 shank field cultivator, I pull a 7 shank from another manufacture with a Kubota L4240 and with R4 tires I always run out of traction before power. I suspect you would only be able to pull a true 5 shank chisel plow to the depth you mentioned and depending on conditions even that could be tough. Does your tractor have draft control?