Dragging a Pasture

Anonymous Poster · Feb 16, 2003

Hello Hans--I am sure that method works very well and is better than doing nothing at all--However--I have a neighbor that has a PHD in Parisitology (studys parisites in all livestock) and how to manage them. He writes articles for some of the major monthly farm publications. He actually does controlled field tests on his farm and based on his findings, he suggests pasture rotation grazing practices and the chain-type harrows for the best all round pest control. We personally have used the chain-type harrows in test plots and usually realize excess stimulated plant growth that we use for harvest or pasture, equilivant to the rate of applying a 100 lb of ammonia nitrate per acre. We run a 200 head cow/calf operation in Ky and by using this management tool, we have reduced our herd IBR/BVD and Pinkeye type outbreaks by 50% and get the extra forage growth as a added side benefit. This translates into extra 2-3 thousand dollars profit in our pockets at the end of the year. In my younger days, I have used disc harrows, well casings,telephone poles,field cultivators,spike harrows, etc and none come close to the all round positive results that I get from the Chain Harrows.--Ken Sweet
Sweet Farm Equipment Co.

cowboydoc · Feb 16, 2003

Ken,

I couldn't agree more with you. You are right on with our findings as well. We have used other methods and nothing comes close to the exact same way that you explained. I can't even tell you how much more we've gotten from our pastures and money in the bank and in the cattle. The only other thing that we do is that we use the aeration teeth in front of the harrow at times.

JRP · Feb 16, 2003

What does a chain harrow look like?

Any photos?

jrpoux

MarkStewart · Feb 17, 2003

chain harrow pics

MarkStewart · Feb 17, 2003

Check out this guy's method. web page

GlennT · Feb 17, 2003

I store my two sections of chain harrow vertically. I built a 4'x4' frame of 2x4s, with crosspieces to hold it upright and steel castors to facilitate moving it around. I put in heavy hooks on the top 2x4 and hang a section of chain harrow on each side. This works pretty well; although, it takes some muscle to hang up each section. I normally use one section of chain harrow when maintaining my gravel yard and driveway and this allows me to transport the harrow by hanging it from a boom pole. I have a question. I am going to reseed a small pasture and was planning on purchasing a small disk harrow for this. Wouldn't a disk harrow do a better job of loosening the soil and creating fissures to catch and hold the seed, fertilizer and moisture? Or would it be better to disk the pasture to loosen the soil, apply the seed, and then go over it with the chain harrow?

cowboydoc · Feb 17, 2003

I'd disc, plant, and then harrow. Our planter has the harrows already on behind so we do it all in one pass after we've disced it up real nice.

DeanQ · Feb 23, 2003

A drag harrow is just the thing you need. It's great to drag and level arenas and like the others have said to drag your pastures. To move it I would recommend making a harrow lift like the one I have attached pictures of. I would have bought one but the lift was as much as the drag! Mine only cost about $85 to make (including the New Holland blue paint). I based it on pictures of commercial ones.
DeanQ

GlennT · Feb 24, 2003

DeanQ. You sure did a nice job on that lift. A boom pole is ok, but obviously it doesn't lift the harrow at the corners and keep it spread out like your's does. Nice work!

Soundguy · Feb 25, 2003

That was a nice deal he had.... I've been moving mine with the boom pole, and rolling it up.. think I may go agg a rear stiffener pipe.. then a ring to attatch it to the boom pole so it will lift on the corners too!

Soundguy

Anonymous Poster · Feb 25, 2003

Hello DeanQ--That is a nice rig--A comparable setup factory made from "Fuerst" lists for around $350--I always said a welder and cutting torch makes (by saving) more money on the farm or homestead than most other comparable investments--I bought my first 103 acre farm in 1973. All my tractor and tools to fully operate cost me $800--Of course, I built a lot of my machines myself--Ken Sweet
Sweet Farm Equipment Co.

markie61 · Mar 28, 2003

I've seen two ads recently for "pasture harrows". Is this just another name for these "chain drags"?
Mark

cowboydoc · Mar 28, 2003

http://www.countrymfg.com/cgi-bin/shop.cgi/page=flexible_tine_harrow.htm/SID=1048897403.8728

Something like one of these is what you want.

GlennT · Mar 30, 2003

I'd like to throw this into the hopper. I talked to some local ranchers and a rep at a seed company and they expresed the opinion that it was best to disk, harrow, plant and then ROLL the pasture. Apparently, using a harrow after planting buries the seed too deep and it doesn't germinate. Anyway, it sounded reasonable so that's what I did and I'm waiting anxiously to see the results.

Anonymous Poster · Mar 30, 2003

<font color="red"> using a harrow after planting buries the seed too deep and it doesn't germinate </font>

Hello GlennT--What type seed are you putting in?--Ken Sweet
Sweet Farm Equipment Co.

cowboydoc · Mar 30, 2003

I'd agree with rolling but unless you are planting in sand you need to run a harrow afterwards to get some dirt on top of the seed. You won't throw much more than a 1/2" of dirt on top of the seed which is just what you want. With the harrows Mr. Sweet and I have talked about you will be fine.