pasture rehab

BigGary · Oct 27, 2004

Lighten up guy!
I respect your opinions. Even though you have incorrectly assumed that I have always had a luxury Tractor.
Heck I have a 22HP machine and love it! But it is as is my new machine a compromise.
I have been at this land clearing and trying to keep the brush down for 30 years. I know what is possible and more importantly what is practical.
I waited until I was able to buy the machine that was the best fit for my situation, and I assure you if I needed larger machine I would have bought a good used one instead of paying $ for the shine of a new one.
If some guy wants to buy a sub compact to maintain his lawn and 50 foot drive way it's his nickle. But I am not sure where they go from lawn mowers with loaders and a three point hitch tractors. Get my point?

Soundguy · Oct 27, 2004

Disc and drag would be my choice. If they were any deeper.. maybee plow.. then disc then drag..

Soundguy

MMM · Oct 27, 2004

I guess grandpa would hace called it a Cub. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif CUTs weren't born yesterday. The 4020 vs 20hp thing ain't even worth discussin

Henro · Oct 27, 2004

On another thread somone asked what is the best foot wear for tractor operation??!!
I think he got 45 responses in about the same time I got 4 to a real question about real use of tractor and land. 

Can't help but think you should be happy with this...

You got quality responses from those who could contribute. The other thread got responses from those who had something to say about footwear on the tractor...maybe more here are into footware than are into pasture rehab?

If you want more replies, and are more interested in quantity than quality, I suggest you post a thread titled "'What footwear should I use when rehabbing my pasture?" /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

All said in good fun. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

One thing nice about TBN is that often you get replies to questions from those who have something to say, and don't have to sort through a bunch of BS posts to find the quality posts... /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

Not speaking when you don't have anything to say is a positive trait where I hang out... /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

Poncho · Oct 27, 2004

Brush trees 4-5" in diameter will hang you when using a boxblade with the scarifier teeth down. I agree with many of the other comments... I just got done putting in some food plots for hutning season that had small scrub oaks, misc trees, grasses and shrubs. Bush hogged first, went back next day and box blade with teeth down to dig up roots. Disced and planted the next weekend. For smoothing... that would depend on the soil.... if sand, then you could use a section of chainlink fence dragged behind to smooth it out a little (with a weight like 6x6 on the front). If soil is something more substanative like clay the you could try dragging a length of railroad tie or something similar behind. You could use a series (couple of times) of discing and then dragging to geta little smoother than doing just once.

BigGary · Oct 28, 2004

Henro,
I try to wear my old Rocky boots when working in the rocky New England soil. Get it! /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
You are right on and I am glad to have found this interesting treasure of knowledge and experience and intend to visit as often as possible.
I will get my boy to show me how to post pics and will try and share my pasture progress with the other members.
Thank for your perspective.

BigGary · Oct 28, 2004

Poncho,
I rip or dig these 4-5 inch root systems out and would not be dealing with them with the box scraper. What would be there is the thousands of smaller roots left from them and the larger stumps.
I am going to ask the dealers around the area if they have a used one that I can rent/trial to see if it would work and see if this is the way to go.
Thanks for the response.

MMM · Oct 30, 2004

Watch what you rent or buy. Your apt to tear up a light duty boxblade with 48hp on big roots. Been there. I figured out it was better to chop roots with disc and leave them for humus. This land was completely reverted to forest though. Best of luck.

have_blue · Oct 30, 2004

( Horses dont have hydraulics or anything either.)

The horses I have seen definitely had hydraulics.

Naw, I totally agree. I agree with your longer provious post too. We don't need to get into any er, yellow hydraulic fluid pressure contests about tractors. As you so deftly pointed out, all tractors are cool and useful, regardless of size, age, or color. I even like 1/16 scale models and tie tacks.

Westonium · Nov 1, 2004

My 32HP CUT seems suited for the terrain and acreage I have. I went with new because, well, I don't need another vehicle to learn how to repair. I'm a technology kind of guy so this JD4310 seemed like a good fit.

I'm a bit new to tractors, but I am not new to the concepts of growing grass.

If you want a nice pasture - get the big stumps out, disc it, RAKE IT (get the big rocks you just brought up out and any leftoever big stumps), level it, seed it.

The grass seed to use is determined by the critters destined to munch on it.

Levelling with sand would be a bad idea since pasture grass wont grow in it very well. If your soil is heavy clay, that sand will eventually mix nicely and give you a lovely brick-like surface. Fill with correctly processed mulch (as in was allowed to get to 140 degrees F to kill the weed seeds) and dirt if you have ruts so nasty its easier that way. If the top soil is crummy - that might be a way to go. Routine mowing will get rid of most of the weeds in the long run. I assume a few won't bother you.

As for footwear - its muddy season and I tried cowboy boots for the first time and they are a blessing. My steel toed workboots get so mucked up and take forever to clean. I can make it inside the house with the cowboy boots without being screamed at because I can at least get the bottoms cleaned off in a couple seconds.

I also go for the weather durable aussie-style (according to my friend) cowboy hat. It keeps the rain off of me (no cover on mine yet) and is generally practical...Whoops no-one asked about head-wear. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif