150 years worth of Gopher mounds

[dbeeler]

I've got about 35 acres of sandy loam soil in east Texas that's had cows on it since the Civil War. I bought it last year and plan to cut hay on it. It's not just a flat surface with some mounds that need knocked down. It's mounds on top of mounds on top of mounds, all with grass grown up thru them. It's miserable even in a pickup at 3mph. It will take something that can do more than just knock off the top couple inches.

I have access to a 70hp tractor and a skid steer. I've looked at everything from a box blade to a harley rake. Disc keeps popping up as the answer but has anyone tried anything else on similar conditions? The reason the skid steer option came to mind is because then I'd be riding on smoother ground. But it might be so slow it would take a month.

It has really good grass, so the plan is to smooth it in the spring before it greens up. I'm just not sure there's a good option other than buying a disc and strapping myself to the seat.

 

[crashz]

If it's that bad, I'd rent a dozer for a week, smooth and level it, then disk and re-plant.

 

[loggin]

I've got about 35 acres of sandy loam soil in east Texas that's had cows on it since the Civil War. I bought it last year and plan to cut hay on it. It's not just a flat surface with some mounds that need knocked down. It's mounds on top of mounds on top of mounds, all with grass grown up thru them. It's miserable even in a pickup at 3mph. It will take something that can do more than just knock off the top couple inches.

I have access to a 70hp tractor and a skid steer. I've looked at everything from a box blade to a harley rake. Disc keeps popping up as the answer but has anyone tried anything else on similar conditions? The reason the skid steer option came to mind is because then I'd be riding on smoother ground. But it might be so slow it would take a month.

It has really good grass, so the plan is to smooth it in the spring before it greens up. I'm just not sure there's a good option other than buying a disc and strapping myself to the seat.

Perhaps you could show us some photos so we have a better idea of what you are dealing with. That way we can likely make better recommendations.

 

[dbeeler]

I use home grown harrow rake with section of RR track towed behind.... My issue is how to get rid of the gophers....

I've looking for a poison attachment for a tractor at the moment. Gonna poison in a grid pattern after getting it smooth and then I'll just have the new mounds to knock down til their dead.

 

[dbeeler]

Perhaps you could show us some photos so we have a better idea of what you are dealing with. That way we can likely make better recommendations.

The problem is that you can't actually see the mounds looking out across it (except the new ones) because they're covered with grass. Walking across it you'd never think it's even rough. Get in a pickup or tractor and it's completely different. Multiple people turned down cutting it last summer because of how rough it is even though I was offering it for free. This picture is right after cows were taken off last winter. Now I've got a few inches of grass on top because there wasn't enough for a 2nd cutting this summer.

 

[jeff9366]

I've got about 35 acres of sandy loam soil in east Texas that's had cows on it since the Civil War.

I have access to a 70hp tractor.

The Disk Harrow is a secondary tillage tool. You are barely going to penetrate even moist soil with a Disk after hooved animals have been on it more than ten (10) years.

You need to start with a Moldboard Plow or a relatively rare Disk Plow, which is not a Disc Harrow. Both are designed for primary tillage, inverting hard though moist soil.

After plowing, go over the plowed ground with a Disk Harrow with at least 20" diameter pans, first in one direction, then at 45 degrees for the second pass, then 45 degrees in the opposite direction for the third pass, if necessary. A Disk Harrow is designed to flatten and level plowed fields WHEN PULLED OVER MOIST SOIL AT A BRISK PACE.

Once the soil is relatively level, consider using an All Purpose Plow, also known as a Field Cultivator to aerate your land 12" deep. An All Purpose plow will not ridge your newly level field appreciably.

Disc Harrow Selection For 18-45 Horsepower Tractors (Revision 2b)

Disc Harrows come in numerous types. However, for 18-45 horsepower tractors the three point hitch mounted, Tandem Disc Harrow, secondary tillage implement, is ubiquitous. Tandem Disc Harrows are manufactured in two structural types: Angle Iron Frame and Box Frame. Box Frame Disc Harrows are...

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ADJUSTING Three Point Hitch Mounted TANDEM DISC HARROWS

If you are considering the acquisition of a Disc Harrow, first read this LINK covering Disc Harrow selection: LINK: Disc Harrow Selection For 18-45 Horsepower Tractors (Revision 2b) The Three Point Hitch mounted Tandem Disc Harrow is a secondary tillage implement. The Disc Harrow is a...

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Dirt Dog - All Purpose Plow / Field Cultivator REVIEW + PICTURES

Dirt Dog All Purpose Plow / Field Cultivator Dirt Dog Model APP 66-5 Total Width 66", Working Width 62", Five Tines, Weight 284 Pounds, Paid $835.00 (2010) Field Cultivator: A Three Point Hitch mounted, secondary tillage implement, used to perform operations such as soil aeration...

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[oosik]

So.... what that picture shows is basically new mounds. I think I would start by applying poison first. Knock the critters down and THEN worry about leveling the land.

How about this. A controlled burn. Then either a heavy duty rototiller or heavy, heavy land plane grading scraper. Scarifiers down on the LPGS - just enough to bust up the surface crust.

I'm looking at the same job - later this year. Poison all the @#$% pocket gophers. Then level my one offended lawn with my LPGS behind my tractor. It's will be about a ONE acre project.

 

[loggin]

The problem is that you can't actually see the mounds looking out across it (except the new ones) because they're covered with grass. Walking across it you'd never think it's even rough. Get in a pickup or tractor and it's completely different. Multiple people turned down cutting it last summer because of how rough it is even though I was offering it for free. This picture is right after cows were taken off last winter. Now I've got a few inches of grass on top because there wasn't enough for a 2nd cutting this summer.

Kind of hard to tell how high those mounds are. If they are a foot or so, a few runs with a toothed disc harrow might do. Or if they are bigger a spring shank cultivator and a disc harrow or a blade to smooth.

 

[jeff9366]

I have access to a 70hp tractor.

Is your tractor 2-WD or 4-WD?


The fundamental importance of TRACTOR WEIGHT eludes many tractor shoppers. Tractor capability is more closely correlated to tractor weight than any other single (1) specification.

Sufficient tractor weight is more important for most tractor applications than increased tractor horsepower. Bare tractor weight is a tractor specification easily found in sales brochures and web sites, readily comparable across tractor brands and tractor models, new and used.

 

[jyoutz]

I recommend consulting with NRCS on gopher control operations first; otherwise you are wasting your time smoothing the land. There is an implement called a burrow builder that allows you to run it behind your tractor and create underground burrows and inject poison bait. NRCS should be familiar with that. If not, contact USDA Animal Damage Control services. Until you turn the gopher metropolitan area into a small village, any work on rehabbing the pasture is a waste of time.