Anyone Plow With A Double Middle Buster?

Utopia Texas · Dec 20, 2014

My family did most of the work here on the farm in the last 45 years using small 20 HP to 40 HP tractors to do work that really required larger machines, but all was done well just taking a lot more time. I have a large field I need to plow soon and then level out with a disc and then tooth harrow. I have recently upgraded to a 75 HP NH and was wondering how well it might pull a 2 plow middle buster rather than a single plow. Any advice with a double plow or is the work similar? I have looked on line locally for new and used double middle buster plows and have had no luck so far. Down here they appear to be as rare as hens teeth!

Big Barn · Dec 20, 2014

Your farm history is similar to mine. However I am not familiar with 'double midde buster' Could you describe it? Perhaps I know it as something else.

Terry

HEC · Dec 20, 2014

I pull a 3 bottom plow with a 57 HP tractor with no problem . I will have to put it in 4wd if the ground is a little wet or going slightly up hill as I'm using r4 tires. I don't know about the middle buster thing , I can't imagine it would roll the sod over but don't know .

Big Barn · Dec 20, 2014

We were able to pull a 4 x16" roll-over (two way) plow with a FWA 75HP tractor with no problems.

Terry

Big Barn · Dec 20, 2014

HEC said:
I pull a 3 bottom plow with a 57 HP tractor with no problem . I will have to put it in 4wd if the ground is a little wet or going slightly up hill as I'm using r4 tires. I don't know about the middle buster thing , I can't imagine it would roll the sod over but don't know .

Just googled middle buster. It's actually what I thought it was. We used to use them for hilling up potatoes at one time. You are right. Not very effective for primary tillage.

Terry

Utopia Texas · Dec 20, 2014

What we call a middle buster plow is not like a mole board plow that turns the soil over in one direction/side, rather the middle buster creates a furrow in the center and throws soil both right and left of center. Our soil is River bottom soil that is a sandy loam with no clay so a middle buster plow easily throws soil in both directions with very few clods if any depending on how wet the soil might be when plowing.

sixdogs · Dec 20, 2014

I have used one through five middle busters but never as primary tillage. In clay they would likely do a poor job plus compact too much. A moldboard plow would be OK but a hefty chisel plow with twisted shovels or even straight ripper type "shovels" would work fine. They do a great job, leave a good amount of trash on the surface and don't compact very much.

I could see middle busters as a secondary tool to hold already worked soil over the winter. That's what I used mine for.

Big Barn · Dec 20, 2014

Utopia Texas said:
What we call a middle buster plow is not like a mole board plow that turns the soil over in one direction/side, rather the middle buster creates a furrow in the center and throws soil both right and left of center. Our soil is River bottom soil that is a sandy loam with no clay so a middle buster plow easily throws soil in both directions with very few clods if any depending on how wet the soil might be when plowing.

Yes, but you would end up with multiple furrows. If your sandy loam is relatively 'clean', and don't need to turn over sod (which a moldboard plow would accomplish) then just use a disc harrow. If you feel you need deeper tillage to facilitate better drainage or for deep root crops then you could use a chisel plow. A disc plow if you can find one big enough to utilize your 75 HP would also work well. Not to be confused with a disc harrow. The disc plow utilizes a large( 24"+) diameter angled disc to replace the moldboard of a conventional plow. Typically a 30-40 HP tractor could pull a 3 bottom DISC plow in lighter soils.

Terry