How do I disc the pastures to prep for planting

[Panache]

Draft control controls how much pulling effort is expended on the 3PH and adjusts the height to achieve a constant pressure. Actually, to me, on uneven ground it becomes more useful. if you come to a rise and the front of the tractor is raised, the disk will go down in the ground more. Draft control will notice the increased drag and automatically raise the disk. If the front of the tractor goes into a depression the disk on the back would come out of the ground but draft will sense the change and automatically lower the disk down.
I think I have my speed set to high. If I remember right this just controls how quickly the hitch is lowered. Hook up your disk and raise it up w/ the position control. change the lift arm valve to a different setting and lower the position control lever. Notice the difference in the speed. the disk goes back to the ground.

Start at one end of a long straight strip that you have made several passes over with your disk with draft off. Then go done the same path and start to raise the draft control but leave the position control all the way down. at some point down the pass the disk will start to lift but not come all the way out of the ground. Leave you draft setting alone once you have the depth you want, just use the position control to lift at the end of the row for turning.

 

[Zork]

Wonderful advice Whiskey..

 

[stevenf]

Well Whiskey, You'll be happy to know that indeed it works better to just seed the fields have everyone clear and then straighten the gangs out on the disk and run it light and fast. We got almost 2 acres done plowed, seeded and covered. When I went back and looked at the fields after we finished you could still see a seed once in a while but pretty much everything has a light cover of moist soil over it. The reason we wanted to get it in this weekend so bad is the weather folks are forecasting showers for mid week and I wanted to take advantage of the posibility of rain if we get it it'll be an awesome planting. After spending 2 days from sunup to sundown on this I can honestly say I've had enough tractor for a day or so. I feel like I've been road hard and put up wet. The discing went great after I started using the lift the disk and make the turn method and then do an X thru the middle to finish it out. Although once I staightened the gangs to cover the seed I just went straight and kept my overlap to a minimum so I didn't cover the seed to deep. Thanks to everyones ideas my honey came out and helped seed and took some pictures so hopefully I can post them tommorrow once I'm at work where I can get some rest. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Steve

 

[stevenf]

It took me all day lots of questions and a new program but heres the pictures of one of the food plots we seeded on Sunday.
Steve

 

[Argee]

Nice pics....a little small. What kind of soil was it? Looks like it may have been damp clay when you started working it.

 

[stevenf]

Argee, Its was untilled Texas top soil and the pictures were my first attempt with Microsoft Digital Image Suite.
Steve

 

[MicroPilot]

With Draft control you would set the position control all the way down. Draft is then adjusted to keep the implement engaged with the ground at certain depth in relation to the ground speed.

 

[cowboydoc]

I would be very surprised to see much of what you planted to grow in that.

 

[stevenf]

cowboydoc, I'm going to go with the my glass is half full frame of mind until april. I know from the pictures that it doesn't look like much but the disk did a good job without adding any weight and after working the land numerous passes to break it up it loosened up nice and I was pulling down to the disk axle most the time. We are just starting our spring here and the rains are intermittent but I'm able to irrigate the field closest to the house so it'll probably do the best. I'll post some pictures of the fields once they start growing and I'll hope to surprise you. I was able to fertilize with granular type fertilizer so I hope this will improve my chances as well.
Steve

 

[sticky]

Steve,

I am too a city boy gone country and have learned of how much fun it is to grow foodplots for wild life. One thing I have learned is things I read don't always grow on my property the way I was told they would due to many different factors. I would experiment with different types of seeds maybe a few lbs each seperate from or even mixing with other seeds in certain areas. next years food plots will be better than this years because of what you will learn about growing and what the animals go crazy over.

Around here and in Missouri, the conseration departments have seed drills they will let you use for free or it is like 6 dallors an acre rental. Your germination rate will be way better and your seeds will be distributed evenly. They will give you free advice and in Indiana and Missouri, they have given me free seeds. About 100 lbs. in Missouri this year.

When I put oats in in September,(the deer wnt crazy on them) I took 3 huge branches and chained them together and dragged them behind the tractor. I just baught oats at a grain elevator for 6 dallors for 50 lbs.