DRAFT CONTROL

jinman · May 15, 2006

( Problem is too many rocks to plow deeply. )

Can you give us an idea of what sizes of rocks you are talking about: softball, football, basketball, Volkswagen?

I think normal position control will do fine for plowing at a controlled shallow depth. It sounds like you don't want to go too deep anyhow and I might suggest making multiple passes and getting deeper each time. Start out slowly. Once you find the problem areas, you will be able to adjust your speed as needed. I could be wrong, but I would think a gear drive tractor in the range of the TC45 would do fine for the size food plots you are describing. You asked specifically about the New Holland, but there are lots of brands and options that would work fine. Just be sure to have position control. I just don't think draft control will be a big help in rocks. It's more for different soil types and conditions than for rocks.

jinman · May 15, 2006

( Problem is too many rocks to plow deeply. )

Can you give us an idea of what sizes of rocks you are talking about: softball, football, basketball, Volkswagen?

I think normal position control will do fine for plowing at a controlled shallow depth. It sounds like you don't want to go too deep anyhow and I might suggest making multiple passes and getting deeper each time. Start out slowly. Once you find the problem areas, you will be able to adjust your speed as needed. I could be wrong, but I would think a gear drive tractor in the range of the TC45 would do fine for the size food plots you are describing. You asked specifically about the New Holland, but there are lots of brands and options that would work fine. Just be sure to have position control. I just don't think draft control will be a big help in rocks. It's more for different soil types and conditions than for rocks.

flINTLOCK · May 15, 2006

Thanks for the feedback. Most rocks are football size or smaller. A few much larger ones are scattered about and will need to be excavated or avoided. Since soil condition is marginal, only want to till top 4 inches or so, at least early on. I think chisel plow with depth control of some type or box blade with appropriately adjusted teeth, possibly used with hydraulic top link would loosen up the rock enough to landscape rake. Will disc when larger rocks removed. I have been test driving TC45A and TC45DA recently with enthusiasm. Hope to convince rest of hunting club to spend $$ from recent cell tower erection on habitat improvement which requires more than just ATV, elbow grease and a chainsaw.

flINTLOCK · May 15, 2006

Thanks for the feedback. Most rocks are football size or smaller. A few much larger ones are scattered about and will need to be excavated or avoided. Since soil condition is marginal, only want to till top 4 inches or so, at least early on. I think chisel plow with depth control of some type or box blade with appropriately adjusted teeth, possibly used with hydraulic top link would loosen up the rock enough to landscape rake. Will disc when larger rocks removed. I have been test driving TC45A and TC45DA recently with enthusiasm. Hope to convince rest of hunting club to spend $$ from recent cell tower erection on habitat improvement which requires more than just ATV, elbow grease and a chainsaw.

flINTLOCK · May 15, 2006

Although off topic of draft control, I mentioned landscape rake for gathering rocks brought to surface by chisel plow. Since I haven't worked with LR before, is this a reasonable expectation if rocks are loose enough to pick by hand??

flINTLOCK · May 15, 2006

Although off topic of draft control, I mentioned landscape rake for gathering rocks brought to surface by chisel plow. Since I haven't worked with LR before, is this a reasonable expectation if rocks are loose enough to pick by hand??

daTeacha · May 16, 2006

A position control 3 point with a box blade that has the scarifiers set down below the blade portion should do the job for you. It will also double to maintain your trails if needed. And, after those food plots start working for you, you can use it to maintain the deer trails that will turn into deer highways from the traffic. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

A box blade is fairly heavy, so your thoughts toward the -- -- 45 size tractor are pretty good. You could probably get a TC or DX 34 to do the same job for you for less money. How hilly is your ground? Will you need 4 wheel drive or will standard two wheel drive work?

A second line of thought -- my Izaak Walton chapter has found it very useful to have some fence around our property. Nothing amazing, but enough to make it impossible for the "lost" to say they didn't know they were on private land. Our biggest problem is at our second parcel, which is another 120 or so acres that is primarily farmland and rented out to one of our members who is rebuilding the soil while farming it.

Consider fencing the worst areas for trespassers. For that, you may find the 45 size tractor too big and the ATV too small, so the smaller 34 might be just the ticket. A 2 acre plot is not a lot of ground to work and the smaller tractor might be handier.

I presume you have a place to store this equipment on site. If so look at overhead clearance needs when you're shopping. My DX 29 is tall enough that I need to lower the ROPS and watch my head when going through a standard garage door. If you're going to be hauling it back and forth, look at the weight of the tractor with all implements mounted and tires loaded. It adds up pretty fast. My "2400 lb" tractor with loader and counterweight but no loaded tires is pushing 4400 lb.

daTeacha · May 16, 2006

A position control 3 point with a box blade that has the scarifiers set down below the blade portion should do the job for you. It will also double to maintain your trails if needed. And, after those food plots start working for you, you can use it to maintain the deer trails that will turn into deer highways from the traffic. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

A box blade is fairly heavy, so your thoughts toward the -- -- 45 size tractor are pretty good. You could probably get a TC or DX 34 to do the same job for you for less money. How hilly is your ground? Will you need 4 wheel drive or will standard two wheel drive work?

A second line of thought -- my Izaak Walton chapter has found it very useful to have some fence around our property. Nothing amazing, but enough to make it impossible for the "lost" to say they didn't know they were on private land. Our biggest problem is at our second parcel, which is another 120 or so acres that is primarily farmland and rented out to one of our members who is rebuilding the soil while farming it.

Consider fencing the worst areas for trespassers. For that, you may find the 45 size tractor too big and the ATV too small, so the smaller 34 might be just the ticket. A 2 acre plot is not a lot of ground to work and the smaller tractor might be handier.

I presume you have a place to store this equipment on site. If so look at overhead clearance needs when you're shopping. My DX 29 is tall enough that I need to lower the ROPS and watch my head when going through a standard garage door. If you're going to be hauling it back and forth, look at the weight of the tractor with all implements mounted and tires loaded. It adds up pretty fast. My "2400 lb" tractor with loader and counterweight but no loaded tires is pushing 4400 lb.

flINTLOCK · May 16, 2006

Hope to eventually clearcut and prep at least an additional 8 acres over the initial 2 that we are nearly ready to plant. I'd love to get a loader to add frontweight and for it's utility. Not sure about finances. Rather get rotary cutter, disc, york rake and box blade when push comes to shove with $$. Wanted the additional HP to run medium sized rotary cutter which is rated at 40 HP and up. Will need to add weight box to front to off-set weight of implements. Fairly hilly, sometimes wet areas will require 4WD.

flINTLOCK · May 16, 2006

Hope to eventually clearcut and prep at least an additional 8 acres over the initial 2 that we are nearly ready to plant. I'd love to get a loader to add frontweight and for it's utility. Not sure about finances. Rather get rotary cutter, disc, york rake and box blade when push comes to shove with $$. Wanted the additional HP to run medium sized rotary cutter which is rated at 40 HP and up. Will need to add weight box to front to off-set weight of implements. Fairly hilly, sometimes wet areas will require 4WD.