Grain drill advice for foodplots

[HCJtractor]

We plant various food plots and have always plowed, disked, and broadcast seed and covered it with a drag harrow. Obviously very labor intensive. As I was hunting yesterday over an old plot, I was wondering what it would take to no-till instead. I would like the ability to plant grains and perhaps clover, maybe also beans, by just drilling them with one pass.

What no-till drill would work for this? My criteria is first, it needs to be fairly small, no wider than a 7 feet overall (with a 5 or 6' planting width) I would like it to be able to make planting less of a chore and reduce time. THe abiliy to plant various size seeds would be nice. I would not mind a used one but new is o.k. also. Problem is here in upstate S.C., farming is not big so dealers are few and used ones are also rare. Cost is a factor but I realize they are pricey. What are my options??

 

[flusher]

We plant various food plots and have always plowed, disked, and broadcast seed and covered it with a drag harrow. Obviously very labor intensive. As I was hunting yesterday over an old plot, I was wondering what it would take to no-till instead. I would like the ability to plant grains and perhaps clover, maybe also beans, by just drilling them with one pass.

What no-till drill would work for this? My criteria is first, it needs to be fairly small, no wider than a 7 feet overall (with a 5 or 6' planting width) I would like it to be able to make planting less of a chore and reduce time. THe abiliy to plant various size seeds would be nice. I would not mind a used one but new is o.k. also. Problem is here in upstate S.C., farming is not big so dealers are few and used ones are also rare. Cost is a factor but I realize they are pricey. What are my options??

Find a used one on eBay or craigslist and fix it up. You still should spray the foodplot with Roundup, let it work for a week or so, then mow the dying ground cover real short before using the no-till drill.

 

[Foodplot]

If you want top-of-the-line, visit Truax Seed Planting Equipment.
They have a variety of sizes and a single unit can be equipped with small seed, NWSG, and large seed boxes, so you can plant the native species we should all be planting as well as exotic annuals.

You can occasionally find a used one, especially in areas where a CREP or CRP project run is expiring.

 

[HCJtractor]

I have seen reports on the Truax and the Kasco. Anyone have knowledge of either of these, in regard to performance and cost? We would need a narrow one, in the 5 to 7 foot range. A no-till feature would also be desirable. Could these drill plant a variety of seed from clovers to corn, or is that impossible?

 

[clemsonfor]

I have seen reports on the Truax and the Kasco. Anyone have knowledge of either of these, in regard to performance and cost? We would need a narrow one, in the 5 to 7 foot range. A no-till feature would also be desirable. Could these drill plant a variety of seed from clovers to corn, or is that impossible?

Clover, is tiny! But if anything would plant it, would be a grain drill that is used to "drill" wheat and rye and so forth. Corn is "planted" with a planter that is used for larger seeded things like corn and beans and peas. They are two different animals.

 

[OldMcDonald]

Have a look at the thread started by spurlocktool on the Build-it-yourself forum (page 12 at the time of posting) and called My home-built no till seed drill. I have built two on similar lines, although relying purely on one tube inside another with a seed box over so that seed flows in and out as the holes match up, also scarifier type tines instead of discs, but you seem to already have discs. I have sown black eye peas, corn and sudan grass this year - total of about 11 to 12 acres. I always broadcast clover and grass seeds and just drag two chains spaced about a foot apart with light angle iron to cover.

 

[TripleR]

Have you checked with your local ASCS to see if you could rent one?

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

Could these drill plant a variety of seed from clovers to corn, or is that impossible?

There are drills that will plant both large and small seeds by using seperate seed boxes.

They are NOT cheap though, and often you can get similar results by just mixing your seeds together

 

[TripleR]

There are drills that will plant both large and small seeds by using seperate seed boxes.

They are NOT cheap though, and often you can get similar results by just mixing your seeds together

Our Great Plains drill has the separate box and we can plant grass seed or corn and beans.

 

[sweettractors]

If you wait until after a rain, you can do fine with a conventional drill at lots less money. We used a #10 International and a JD 8200 for years here on the farm with no problems drilling anything we needed. Ken Sweet