First time plowing

[vtsnowedin]

Yup. I saw his constant adjustments over about a 4 row period. I'll work on it.

Thanks again for the pointers VT. Hope you have a good year and harvest.

Well I don't have a tractor at present and the 5045E I ordered isn't even promised until late June much less delivered. And both of us are working full time so there is no real need or time to grow anything beyond what we put in the kitchen garden. If the new tractor comes by the 4th of July I plan on doing a lot of past due brush hogging then plow up and plant two or three one half to one acre food plots and seed them down to "Wildlife beneficial species" then post an armed guard through the fall to make sure horned bucks don't steal all the feed from the fawns, turkeys and other beneficial wildlife. :licking:

 

[FrankNOhio]

That'll be my next challenge in the spring... we've got serious deer packs.

Moles, rabbit and deer.

I don't think I have enough bullets for them all.

 

[vtsnowedin]

That'll be my next challenge in the spring... we've got serious deer packs.

Moles, rabbit and deer.

I don't think I have enough bullets for them all.

Well stock up the next time you go to Walmart you wouldn't want to let them get the upper hand. It's a good sign having the wildlife competing to use your land. It shows that it is a quality piece of ground. From you photos I have to agree with them.

 

[Looking4new]

Well, at least you won't have to worry about putting meat in the freezer.
Venison roasts, Venison & Rabbit stews.:thumbsup:

 

[FrankNOhio]

This is a change in topic from my plow issues, but anyone have any good ideas on moles? When we bought the property I hadn't realized how big a problem these were because the previous owner never mowed or cut the fields. So under all that tall grass / brush I found networks of mole (or vole) push up tunnels.

I can't use toxic chemicals due to our organic aspirations.

I've started with the metal plunger fork traps, but man there are alot of these tunnels everywhere. We have a family of Barred owls around and cat and I've lured Turkey vultures to the property with various road kill, but it seems even that much natural help won't keep up.

Just wondering if anyone has had particular success with moles.

 

[Looking4new]

More hungry cats.

 

[djradz]

I think you are right. You haven't found the balance point where the weight of the soil on the moldboard equals the resistance from the ground below. Your plow being a one bottom and pretty light may be hard to get just right. The foot of the plow (The vertical bar that rides along the edge of the furrow) is quite short and thin so it can knife into the soil instead of running along as a runner supporting the plow at the right height. A gage wheel might be the answer but first I"d try adjusting the top link a little longer aiming the point up a bit to find the balance point. If you go too far the plow will start to climb out of the ground, then you can go back shorter. Even the expert in the video made ten adjustments to get it right.

I'll second these recommendations. Usually, WHEN IN THE FURROW, and at the depth I want, I'll have the top link adjusted so the landside (foot/runner) is flat/level or slightly lower at the back.

 

[FrankNOhio]

Thanks. Had not paid attention to that foot/runner till now. I'll check it next time I'm out there. Much appreciate the details.

 

[idaho2]

Frank,

Does your new (ordered) tractor have a draft control lever next to your 3pt up/down lever. If it does, suggest you read this section of the manual for your new tractor, very important to know how this works before operating it. This control is very important once you have your depth of plowing achieved. Basically the top link is connected to a sensor that detects pressure of the plow. Once the depth is achieved (proper plow setup) the draft control is then raised to point of where the plow just starts to lift. This is now your draft control position for the plowing depth of the plow.

idaho2

 

[FrankNOhio]

Idaho2, man I tell you what... That draft control is EXACTLY what I need. Unfortunately, it's not on my tractor and it's listed as 'optional' in the manual. The guy I bought the tractor from wasn't much of a salesman and that was one of many options he never mentioned, and I didn't know better to ask at the time.

I'll be ringing him up to see what it would take ($$$) to get that option because it sure sounds like what I'm needing.

Of course, that guy being such a poor salesman, by the time he gets back to me, I may (hopefully) have mastered, or at least wrangled, my way to a smoother plowing.

Thanks for the notice on that option.