need to clear small and medium sized rocks from pasture. What is the best tool?

[nybirdman]

My Northern NY place has been farmed since the 1850's.I have miles of "rock" fences and I am still picking tons of rocks every year.

 

[David Wayne]

4 teenagers looking for spring work

My grandpa always said to expect, one teenager-a days work, two teenagers-half days work, three teenagers-no work.
If it were me, I would try using front loader & landscape rake. Keep your eyes on craigslist for a used one, when done sell it.

 

[oosik]

About 6-8 years ago I hand picked one of my smaller meadows - around an acre. Then I disked it - BIG mistake. Exposed 2X to 3X as many rocks as previously picked. That small meadow has been left to go back to nature.

 

[TerryR]

It was asked how many acres, approx. 10 acres pasture and trees. It was sub harrowed years ago when it turned up a lot of rocks. Many were already present. The rock sizes very from small to very large. Any disking will turn many back up to the top.

You describe them as very small to very large. To me that means from 3 inch to 6 foot diameter. Is that what you are dealing with? Or something very different?

 

[bigtiller]

You describe them as very small to very large. To me that means from 3 inch to 6 foot diameter. Is that what you are dealing with? Or something very different?

I'm interested it the answer to that aswell. Awhile back in another thread, the author described small to medium as 1 to 3 inches.

 

[TXgreenjeans]

You describe them as very small to very large. To me that means from 3 inch to 6 foot diameter. Is that what you are dealing with? Or something very different?

1" to over 1 foot diameter. There are some larger ones, which could be six feet by the top of one I see. Large ones are much easier to get.

 

[CCWKen]

They grow in middle Tennessee. Every year is a new crop.

Yeah, they grow like tatters down here. There's a fresh crop every year. Even had to get the dozer out in the field a few times to move some in the 2-3,000 pound range. I can't imagine how those things float to the top. I have those saved under a tree for use in later landscaping, maybe. Those rascals can be hard on equipment. You can't push rocks back into the ground--They just pop right back up like corks along with new ones.

When you have 'em, you gotta pick 'em. Use whatever tools you have or can get that works in your soil. Except for the big ones, a tiller and rake works down here. Then scoop them up with a loader.

I've added to the pile since this picture was taken.

 

[breadtrk]

Yeah, I agree that the whole push them back down is ridiculous, ain't even a reasonable solution for someone who want's to solve the problem. Bring them up, however you can, pick them up and remove them however you can, plan on doing it again in a couple years.

 

[TomSeller]

They make a good deep roadbed if you do haul them out.

 

[quicksandfarmer]

You describe them as very small to very large. To me that means from 3 inch to 6 foot diameter. Is that what you are dealing with? Or something very different?

To me "small" means one person can move it, "medium" means a tractor can move it. "Very large" means it's a named feature on topographic maps or is visible from orbit.