DISC OR TILLER?

[bowhunter3030]

I NEED ADVICE ON WHAT TO BUY. SHOULD I GET A TILLER OR A DISC? I WANT TO PLANT MORE FOOD PLOTS. SOME SPOTS JUST HAVE WEEDS, NOW, OTHERS HAVE GRASS. CAN I GET BY WITHA DISC FOR LESS $$ OR SHOULD I JUST SPEND THE MONEY AND GET THE TILLER? IN ABOUT THREE MORE YEARS, I WILL HAVE TO REPLANT 8 ACRES OF IMPERIAL WHITETAIL CLOVER WITH THE SAME. MY DEALER HAD A DISC FOR $750 OR A TILLER FOR 2K. ANY BRANDS TO LOOK FOR WITH PRICES WOULD BE HELPFUL. I WAS TOLD THE SIZE TO GET WAS 58 INCHES FOR MY B3030.

 

[RonR]

Your question is a lot like "should I buy a .22 or a .357?" It depends.........

A disc in multiple passes will get the ground CLOSE to what a tiller could do in one pass. Never will be as good as a tiller would. Might be good enough for a food plot.

Discing can be done at higher speed than tilling.

Have rocks? A disc will tolerate rocks much better than a tiller.

Have other jobs to do with it? Might influence your decision.

8 acres is a lot to do with a small tiller or disc.

Ron

 

[bowhunter3030]

I UNDERSTAND THE .22 OR .357. I WAS A GUN DEALER FOR 20 YEARS. I USED MY GRIZZLY 660 AND A CULTIVATOR THE FIRST TIME TO DO THE 8 ACRES. TALK ABOUT A .22. THE FIELDS WERE BEAN FIELDS SO IT REALLY WASN'T TOO BAD. I HAVE NO ROCKS, BUT IF I USE A TILLER ON MY PATHS THROUGH MY WOODS, WHAT HAPPENS IF IT HITS SOME TREE STUMPS? IT LOOKS LIKE FOR THE LONG HAUL THE TILLER WOULD MAKE IT EASIER. AM I BETTER OFF BUYING FROM MY DEALER OR ORDERING ONE FROM THE NET? I DON'T KNOW IF THESE THINGS HAVE MANY PROBLEMS OR NOT.

 

[caddison]

If you ever wanted to do a little work on the side the tiller would come much closer to helping in this department. There are alway's folk's looking to have their gardens tilled....would also help to offset the cost. 8 acres would take some time....but then what is more enjoyable than seat time on your tractor.....well maybe nailing the big buck that comes to the feed plot!!! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif It's all good!!

 

[Darren]

Since you got a bunch of stuff on order, you might get a discount on the tiller if you buy from the same dealer. In this area, folks usually put the food plots up in the woods, in part, to keep deer out of their gardens, or so they hope. They'll often dig out a small water hole in the same area for wildlife. Water holes are especially important in drought years because you don't want deer congregating at a few watering places. That's when a disease like blue tongue can decimate the population. It get's spread when the deer end up at the same place for water.

Deer in this area have been mismanaged to the point they're causing extensive damage because of the overpopulation. Most of the understory has been eaten out in the forests. Which means nothing is surviving for future lumber harvests.

It's an interesting situation. When you see deer browsing beech buds they're down to the least likely choice on their menu. The DNR in this state has started publishing guidelines for deer numbers for various purposes. You're always welcome to come to WV and hunt. It's not unusual to see herds of deer in the fields with the cattle.

 

[gduff]

I’ve done some work like this for people with a tiller. The one’s I have done seem to want it more “roughed up” instead of a thorough tilling job like you might do for a garden with multiple passes etc. I set my tiller on a shallow setting and roughed up the soil. Next we would broadcast the seed and follow by another shallow pass with the tiller. Everything came up fine. If you do it in this fashion 8 acres would not be an overwhelming amount. If you do a thorough tilling job it would take a lot longer, but it would be doable. If you go much larger you might consider a plow and harrows. If this is going to be very much an occasional thing you could also try renting.
I used to have a B7800 and my tiller is a 53” DelMarino. It has a slip clutch so if you did hit something this would protect your equipment. Some have shear pins, which amount to the same thing. I now have a L3830, so the tiller is a little small, but fortunately it is an offset model so I can cover my tracks with the right tilling pattern. Eventually I will probably get a 72”. I have had this a few years and I paid $1650 for it, so $2000 sounds about right. Personally, I would go with the tiller. Good luck with your decision.

 

[DUMBDOG]

If you are in an area where there is a TSC, they have a 60 inch tiller that should sell for under $1200. It is gear driven and holds up real well. Last year I tilled 40 acres with one.

 

[Freds]

I've been in the same shopping mode for a couple weeks now and am leaning heavily towards the tiller.
From everything I've been told talking to different dealers and farmers in the area, if there is any kind of growth on the land then you need to plow the ground (turn it over) and let it sit a while before you disc it. If you really want it smooth then you should run a harrow over it after you disc it. The price of a plow and disc new (and I guess they have "options") is about the price of a tiller, which will do a better job in less passes. I haven't been able to locate any used in my area or tillers for that matter either.
While I enjoy tractoring... I look to get the jobs I'm doing done and don't really care to build up my hours in the seat or on the tractor.

I'd go with the tiller, but I'd look around because prices vary a good deal on the different makes and models. Just look at the recent posts and questions on them.

 

[frank_f15]

I think i would go with the tiller, for food plots it don't have to be tilled to garden specs + you could break the 8 acres up and do a few acres each year, on a rotating basis as needed. This way it is not so much of a chore.

 

[Alan L.]

I've had a disc for 4 years and a tiller for less than 48 hours. Get a tiller.

The only advantage a disk would have is if you have a field of dirt with no vegetation, the disc will go through it fast, and churn it up good. But if there is any growth on top it will take several passes.