Cultipacker needed?

[Mitigator33]

Putting some food plots in for deer. I have a set of disk and a plow but do not have a drag harrow or a cultipacker. I a cultipacker really needed when planting or can I just rig up a fence and drag it and be OK. What are the benefits and reason for the cultipacker over a drag.

I am not a farmer and am a weekend warrior that only farms for deer and turkey so that may help you with the suggestions. I ran a search and read a lot of info already on this subject but wanted to ask anyway. Thanks for your help.

 

[foggy1111]

A cultipacker assures good seed to soil contact and firms the seed bed. The small ridges and indentations also hold moisure and afford better germination.

You can get along without a cultipacker by using a drag, a chain link fence.....or simply packing with multiple passes with a 4 wheeler. However a cultipacer does a better job.

So much will also depend on soil types and if you get a good rain right after you broadcast your seed.

I've planted with and without a packer using the techniques above. The packer gives better results but any method works OK when done correctly.

 

[Mitigator33]

Thank you Foggy!

 

[LeadPoison]

I have planted hundreds of acres of food plots over the past 20 years and have never used a cultipacker. I just give them a light drag with some chain link or some freshly cut brush and let Mother Nature do her thing.

Despite this, I still want one and a tiller! There is something just satisfying about manicured dirt.

 

[Farmwithjunk]

Some soils, and some crops respond better if a cultipacker is used. But, as previously mentioned, they aren't a must. I've taken advantage of a couple state programs to pay partial cost on grading and seeding of waterways and filter strips on my farm. To qualify, our soil & water conservation programs REQUIRE use of a cultipacker after seeding. In that case, I used a seeder with an integral cultipacker. There are a number of benefits, although cost is a major consideration too. Those dang things bring a heck-of-a price these days.

 

[Storm56]

I have been food plotting for about 15 years now. For several years I did not use a cultipacker. After I added one I noticed that my germination rates were higher and that the crops came in much more evenly. This also helped with weed control as the plants came up pretty much all at the same time and evenly thus helping to shade out the weeds.

So I would say it pays to use one. What with the high cost of lime, seed, and fertilizer I like to see maximum production for the money spent, and a cultipacker does add to getting the most out of my dollars spent.

 

[flusher]

Some soils, and some crops respond better if a cultipacker is used. But, as previously mentioned, they aren't a must. I've taken advantage of a couple state programs to pay partial cost on grading and seeding of waterways and filter strips on my farm. To qualify, our soil & water conservation programs REQUIRE use of a cultipacker after seeding. In that case, I used a seeder with an integral cultipacker. There are a number of benefits, although cost is a major consideration too. Those dang things bring a heck-of-a price these days.

Right on. I'd love to have a nice 6-ft Brillion seeder but even used these things run $3K.

 

[Mitigator33]

Thanks to all the responses. I have about 6 acres to plant total with 5 different plots so I think I will go ahead and get one that way there are no issues. I am going to be spending a pretty penny on seed, fertilizer and line anyway. Sent of the soil samples last week so we will see what they say.

Thanks again.

 

[deere5105]

Not far from you in Mississippi. We have used a homemade cultipacker on occasion, but usually just run a disk lightly over it after seeding to provide a little cover to the seed. Tried using a drag harrow, but wound up having issues with grass clumping and dragging. So far the disk option seems to work well for us. We usually shoot for 1/4" to 1/2" cover which is barely removing the tracks in most situations.

 

[Farmwithjunk]

Not far from you in Mississippi. We have used a homemade cultipacker on occasion, but usually just run a disk lightly over it after seeding to provide a little cover to the seed. Tried using a drag harrow, but wound up having issues with grass clumping and dragging. So far the disk option seems to work well for us. We usually shoot for 1/4" to 1/2" cover which is barely removing the tracks in most situations.

That works too.... Just this past spring, I reseeded a piece of ground where our church tore down an old house on the property. (about 1/2-acre) The demo contractor did a decent job of rough grading, so I disced it up good, threw down about 20lbs of Ky31 Fescue, then set the disc gangs as straight as they'd go and made a pass over everything. The seed germinated quick and filled in for a nice solid stand. In just a few weeks we were MOWING it!

Ya don't always have to do things the most complicated way possible. There's a lot to be said for simple....

 

[Mitigator33]

With the amount of money I am going to have to spend on seed and the amount of time, effort and money I have invested getting it to this point I do not want to mess it up now. I think I will just spend a little extra and get the cultipacker then hope for rain.

 

[dirtrustler]

I'm a food plot nut and bought a cultipacker (used) a couple years back. It's a 7 footer - paid $1200. Too much, but that's what they go for these days - too many deer nuts out there, making them a valuable commodity. You can always poor-boy it with a Rube Goldberg solution but if you can afford it, by all means buy one. You will get more germination from the tiny seeds like clover and chicory. Good luck.

 

[trook]

High price....tell me about it. I just bought a really nice used 8ft Leinbach for $1k. At first, the price seemed WAAAAYY high, but after you research the subject, my only alternative for an 8ft packer was to spend $1,400 - $1,800 for a new one or older used one!!


I'm looking forward to some nice food plots this fall.

Although the cultipacker is not absolutely needed, it definitely has its place, and it helps with germination and a level seed bed.

 

[Storm56]

Guess I did pretty good. I bought an 8 foot Brillion 3 point hitch model that was used but still had 90+ % of the paint on it for $1100. The 3 point works fantastic for me because my plots are spread out over my property which is mostly wooded. Just pick them up and go!

 

[flusher]

With the amount of money I am going to have to spend on seed and the amount of time, effort and money I have invested getting it to this point I do not want to mess it up now. I think I will just spend a little extra and get the cultipacker then hope for rain.

Look around your area--I'll bet there's a cultipacker out there with your name on it.

I found this 9-ft cultipacker a few years ago about 40 miles from my place at a feed and seed store that had a lot of old refurbished tractors and implements for sale --paid $600. I'm sure you have similar outfits in your area.

 

[Mitigator33]

Great idea. I have been calling around and as of yet have three leads that I need to go check out.

Thanks.

 

[Farmwithjunk]

I'm stunned every time I see a price on a cultipacker these days. It wasn't all so long ago they'd not even draw a bid at auctions. No one wanted them. Most were sold for the scrap cast iron. I hauled a few home for junk myself. I can remember about 20 years ago, buying THREE fairly decent ones for $4. They ended up getting scrapped. If we knew then what we know now........

 

[flusher]

I'm stunned every time I see a price on a cultipacker these days. It wasn't all so long ago they'd not even draw a bid at auctions. No one wanted them. Most were sold for the scrap cast iron. I hauled a few home for junk myself. I can remember about 20 years ago, buying THREE fairly decent ones for $4. They ended up getting scrapped. If we knew then what we know now........

I think the popularity of food plots is a large factor in driving up the cost of cultipackers and grain drill/drop seeders. The prices for this stuff on eBay are stratopheric compared to the good old days.

I've been looking for a 6-ft Brillion seeder for several years--no luck finding one in my price range ($1-1.5K).

 

[Farmwithjunk]

I think the popularity of food plots is a large factor in driving up the cost of cultipackers and grain drill/drop seeders. The prices for this stuff on eBay are stratopheric compared to the good old days.

I've been looking for a 6-ft Brillion seeder for several years--no luck finding one in my price range ($1-1.5K).

For sure the food plotters.....Plow prices went ballistic too. Usta be able to find NICE 2-bottom Ford 101's and Massey 43/62/66's for $150-$200 by the truck load. Now they're 3 or 4 times that much for the good ones, and just about as much for worn out junk.

Feebay and Craigslist haven't done anything to hold down prices either....

 

[wolc123]

They sure are getting tougher to find, but you never know when you might get lucky and find one reasonable. Last fall, I got a 4 ft Brillion at a garage sale for $40. It had a couple broken wheels, but I was able to fix it up with some I took off of my old 8-footer (that was a little too wide for food plots anyway) and I had no problem at all selling it for $300 this spring. A couple weeks ago, I found another 8-footer with rotted out bearings and a broken frame for $50. All the wheels are good on that one, and it will make a nice winter project, welding up the frame and making new wood bearings. It is easy to make new wood bearings, which I did for my old 8-footer (now about a 7 footer), in a little over an hours time. Old cultipackers are simple to work on and they do make a big difference in how well a foodplot with small seeds (clover, brassicas, etc) germinates when compared to just dragging a log or sometin like that. I also like them for medium-sized seed like rye and wheat and using one on broadcast seed gives me nearly as good of results on these crops as when I used a grain drill in the old days. I also use mine for the final soil prep pass prior to planting large seeds like corn and soybeans. For that, I hook the cultipacker behind a drag, prior to using a row-planter which gives me a "cultimulcher". The row planter is still the best way to go with those larger seeds, as with those, germination that results from just broadcasting and cultipacking is not nearly as good. I would rate the cultipacker as my second most important food-plotting tool, behind only my JD 246, 2-row corn planter. 2-row corn planters are another item that has hit the stratosphere in prices in the last few years thanks to the increasing popularity of food plotting, especially if they have functioning fertilizer attachments as does my 246.