Seeders No-tlll drill vs other attachments for seeding

[cptkel]

Hello all

This is my first post here.

I recently purchased a Kubota L3901. I am seeking advice on an attachment I could use for seeding. I would like to sow a mix consisting of clover, grasses, and some pasture vegetables (daikon, turnips, herbs, etc). I would like to do this on some of my 12.5 acres. I am leaning towards a no-till drill. Currently, I have a stand of old foxtail straw, chickweeds, and other pasture weeds.

Is there a drill that my tractor could handle? If not, could you offer some suggestions of how I could go about this with no or minimal tillage/plowing?

Thanks!

 

[MHarryE]

Try looking at seeders from Brillion. They make small to large grass seeders. I am not familiar with the seeding depth of some of the seeds you mention but grass seed needs to be planted shallow. I was recently reading a grass seed planting depth chart (because grass seed isn't cheap) and 1/4" to 1/2" was optimal. When the seed was planted at 2" germination was 19%, rising to about 65% at 1" and 93% in the 1/4 to 1/2" range. I think Brillion had a seeder with 2 rollers, the first to break up and flatten the soil and the rear to tamp the soil around the seed placed at the shallow depth. I remember seeing some short 3 point seeders at auctions and dealers.

 

[DJ54]

I've been thinking of one of these Zip Seeders for a couple of years. All seem to be too far away for me to go look at before buying. I missed one last year withing driving distance by a few hours on CL. This looks like a decent one in VA. Garden Seeder

 

[Dadnatron]

Talk with your local County Extension before you purchase a drill. Often, they have one or have access to one and will help you to insure you are optimizing your choices on both seed and planting. Also, your local Co-op or seed dealer will often have one to rent or free if you purchase seed from them.

 

[flusher]

No-till drills plant seed in rows.
A planter like the Brillion plants seed in a solid stand. However, you need to prepare the soil by plowing, discing and running a cultipacker over the soil to bust up the clods and smooth the field.

I'd mow the field as short as possible. Plow it with a heavy disc with an attached drag harrow. And then use a broadcast spreader on the 3-point hitch to plant the field. This will give you a solid stand.

Good luck

 

[DJ54]

If you'd have posted this back the first part of Feb., with your location, you could have utilized Frost Seeding. I've done it several times with very good success..!!

 

[jenkinsph]

No-till drills plant seed in rows.
A planter like the Brillion plants seed in a solid stand. However, you need to prepare the soil by plowing, discing and running a cultipacker over the soil to bust up the clods and smooth the field.

I'd mow the field as short as possible. Plow it with a heavy disc with an attached drag harrow. And then use a broadcast spreader on the 3-point hitch to plant the field. This will give you a solid stand.

Good luck

I agree ^^^^

On a small space of 12 acres or less I would plow or till it and broadcast seed. You can use the broadcast seeder to put out fertilizer as needed later on. I would hesitate to buy a drill for a one time planting of a small plot.

 

[MORRISONSTEEL]

Basic no-till drills will have no more that about 130-190 lbs of pressure/opener available to them. True no-till drills will have over 400 lbs available to them. Decent plain jane disk drills will have as much as 120-160 lbs of opener pressure. So don't be lured by the no-till advertising it is very possible to accomplish the same thing with just a drill, assuming you are not planting in the pavement. I agree w/ dagnatron, many extension agencies will have small drills available to rent and are typically pretty reasonable. Or like jenkinsph and flusher says, prepare the seedbed and broadcast it.

 

[Btown]

If you'd have posted this back the first part of Feb., with your location, you could have utilized Frost Seeding. I've done it several times with very good success..!!

Never heard of this. What do you do?

 

[cptkel]

I have actually been told by several local farmers to try the ag extension office. I have called once, but they said the budget didn't allow for it in my county.

I thought broadcasting had a poor success rate? This is simply scattering seed over the ground, right?

I really would rather not buy a no-till, not to mention I don't think my tractor could handle most. What would be the difference between a no-till and a simple drill be? I don't have any plows or tillers yet, either.

Thanks for advice so far!

 

[jeff9366]

Your seeds are all small. Consider a Ferguson "Yardmaker": Aerator Products $2,000


GOOD REVIEWS: 'Yardmaker" threads from T-B-N archive: Google

 

[jenkinsph]

I have actually been told by several local farmers to try the ag extension office. I have called once, but they said the budget didn't allow for it in my county.

I thought broadcasting had a poor success rate? This is simply scattering seed over the ground, right?

I really would rather not buy a no-till, not to mention I don't think my tractor could handle most. What would be the difference between a no-till and a simple drill be? I don't have any plows or tillers yet, either.

Thanks for advice so far!

Drills are nice to have but they are not cheap. For your use I suggested tilling and broadcasting seed and fertilizer because I felt your cost would be less these tools. I would not broadcast seed on untilled ground with the exception of annual rye.

I don't have a drill yet because of cost, I like them and have used them on a few occasions. If you look at all the pictures below and know that all of these were broadcasted with a simple spin spreader you can draw your own conclusions.

The third picture is about 8 days after planting, you can see the results after a month in the first picture (same field).

 

[cptkel]

This would be a simple solution for sure!

What I would be concerned with is the planting depth, do you think this would be an issue? I have read that 1/4" to 1/2" is ideal for most of the species I want to plant. Or perhaps the aerators are adjustable?

Thanks jeff

 

[C4Ranch]

IMO, for seeds like that your money would be better out into a cultipacker. Legumes, wheat, different story.

 

[jenkinsph]

This would be a simple solution for sure!

What I would be concerned with is the planting depth, do you think this would be an issue? I have read that 1/4" to 1/2" is ideal for most of the species I want to plant. Or perhaps the aerators are adjustable?

Thanks jeff

The problem with tools like the yardmaker is that only a small percentage of the seed actually falls in the holes. Most of the seed gets dropped on the ground. A drill has much better control of where the seeds are dropped.

Not saying an aerator/spiker seeder won't work but it isn't as effective as a drill or tilling and broadcasting. Tilling and broadcasting has the advantage of giving the new seedlings a better chance to grow good roots more easily. The existing weed roots and grasses are knocked back and have less of a strangle hold.

C4Ranch made the suggestion of a cultipacker, and I agree that would help too.

 

[gilbertmsg]

If you can find a Jacobsen 548 seeder this would work great for you. I borrowed one from my local golf course. They use to over seed the tees in the fall with winter rye. I have 10 acres, 5 in grass and I had great results without breaking the ground up. I would like to fine one for myself.

Eddie

 

[jenkinsph]

If you can find a Jacobsen 548 seeder this would work great for you. I borrowed one from my local golf course. They use to over seed the tees in the fall with winter rye. I have 10 acres, 5 in grass and I had great results without breaking the ground up. I would like to fine one for myself.

Eddie

Do a search online, I found this one in a few seconds in PA for $650 don't know how recent the ad is though. Looks good and would be a good way to go. If it was closer to me I would check it out.

 

[jeff9366]

I am seeking advice on an attachment I could use for seeding. I would like to sow a mix consisting of clover, grasses, and some pasture vegetables (daikon, turnips, herbs, etc) on some of my 12.5 acres. Could you offer some suggestions of how I could go about this with no or minimal tillage/plowing?

What I would be concerned with is the planting depth, do you think this would be an issue? I have read that 1/4" to 1/2" is ideal for most of the species I want to plant. Or perhaps the aerators are adjustable?

IMO, for seeds like that your money would be better out into a cultipacker. Legumes, wheat, different story.

First I need to admit I have never used nor seen a Ferguson Yardmaker. However, I have considered buying one for food plot planting and follow T-B-N Yardmaker threads.

If you read the T-B-N archived threads in Post #11, actual users like this equipment. It puts moderate pressure on the seeds as it rolls over them. The cylinder can be filled with water, if desired, increasing pressure on the dropped seeds. However, no respondent in the archive threads reports filling the cylinder, although several note that option. A simple drag, such as cyclone fence or old tires, could be pulled behind the seeder.

(I own an Everything Attachments Cultipacker, so I know how helpful rolling in seed is to germination.)

I looked on eBay yesterday and there are no used Yardmakers for sale presently, but I have seen them in the past. Easy enough to set up a permanent search with e-mail notification when a Ferguson appears.

Ken Sweet, Sweet Tractors in Kentucky, is a Ferguson agent and advertiser here on TBN. I have bought refurbished equipment from Ken and been happy. The one quote he gave me on a new implement, a drop ship from the manufacturer, was good. (KEN SWEET: sweet@scrtc.com) Sweet's motto is: "We ship fast and cheap."

Ferguson probably has distributors everywhere peanuts are an important crop, as peanut implements are Ferguson's specialty. A call to the factory in Suffolk, Virginia (757) 539-3409 would supply a local dealer who could give a more refined quote than the $2,000 I posted.

Those of you that read my posts know I am dedicated to the KISS PRINCIPLE: "Keep It Simple, Stupid". This is one reason I have been considering a Ferguson rather than more complex gear. I only have five acres plus my yard to plant annually. I am sure a heavy drill would be more economical relative to seed but for five to ten acres the margin would represent small change.

 

[powerscol]

Two options - have you looked around for rental equipment. Some dealers have demo models around, and a good agg rental place will have one to rent.

Second option look in the phone book for landscape seeders - if this is a one time deal you may save. Your best advice so far is to till up and broadcast. I did this with good success using a small broadcast seeder behind my garden tractor. However after broad casting I ran my drag harrow to cover the seed and the wheel rolled it to get dirt/seed contact.

 

[cptkel]

I would have to agree with most of you. A drill is probably not economically efficient.

However, I am not big into tilling. Is there a method for minimun tillage? What sort of equipment would do the least amount of soil damage? What do people use these disc attachments I see all over for?

I have not yet found a good local place to rent equipment. I am always looking.