Repairing hog damage

[JazzDad]

The feral hogs have come through and destroyed about 5 acres of native grazing pasture. I want to get this leveled out before the winter rains come, because in no time again it will be spring. (Funny how fast the seasons pass now.)
I'm thinking I need a disk harrow to break up the high spots, then some type of dragging device to level it all out. There are some holes about 18 inches deep, and some mounds almost as high. The tractor is only 19HP, so I am leaning toward a 4' disk. The future might include planting some food plots. Do you see flaws in my plan?
Any advice?
Bret

 

[Renze]

with only 19 hp you wont be able to do much more than to bust some weed germs, let alone smooth hog holes. and, a 19 hp is a narrow thing isnt it ?

I dont know what size of truck you own, but to me it sounds that the average truck would have a bit more guts than than your 19 hp tractor... disking is all about speed, momentum. The faster you go, the better the result. When disking through holes, you could tumble over with the narrow tractor, where your truck has springs and shocks all around.

 

[Nat]

That will definitly work, but I have found in the past that a landscape rake is one of the most indispensible pieces of equipment that I have. I use it to smooth the drive,level rough ground, pile brush, spread gravel/dirt, and ,oh waay, landscape.
I built mine, a 72" for a 3PH and love it. I used it today to windrow a lot of small rocks on a place I am going to sow in grass. HTH, later, nat
BTW the B allis in the pic is about 19-20 HP

 

[Soundguy]

Sounds like Box balde work to me... 19hp and a 4' blade.. and just keep it skimming the ground and drive all over the place.. maybee a chain darg afterwards if needed? depends on the vegitation...

soundguy

 

[JazzDad]

The box blade would be useful for driveway work, also. I'm just concerned (not ever having used a box blade) if I could actually smooth the dirt out. Methinks the tractor's front wheels, going through the holes, would cause the blade to dip and gouge. My little CUT doesn't have drift control.

I like the idea of the landscape rake, if that would do the job; same concern about the ups and downs.

Perhaps I'm trying to do more things than one implement is capable of. The primary job is fixing this pasture damage. The cows are not happy.

 

[Tractors4u]

Go with the box blade. If the ground is dry and hard the rake is not going to get it done. Regardless of the holes and the holes and the tractor's front end going down and the box going up, the box will do the job. It might take a few passes, but it will do it. I was fixing a pasture with mine Saturday. Mine didn't have holes from hogs, but from growing corn there for a couple of years.

I was pulling a 5 ft box behind a 36hp Kubota in 3rd gear. It was fun.

The box blade would be useful for driveway work, also. I'm just concerned (not ever having used a box blade) if I could actually smooth the dirt out. Methinks the tractor's front wheels, going through the holes, would cause the blade to dip and gouge. My little CUT doesn't have drift control.

I like the idea of the landscape rake, if that would do the job; same concern about the ups and downs.

Perhaps I'm trying to do more things than one implement is capable of. The primary job is fixing this pasture damage. The cows are not happy.

 

[wushaw]

If your 19hp tractor is 4wd then you could use a 4ft disk...with many passes then a dragg of some fashion...chain link fence, tires, log or just whatever to smoooth things out.

 

[farmerjim]

if your going to disc it up it will probably take a few passes w/ a small tractor to break it all up. then b4 seeding it up go over it 1 time w/ the disc and if possible attach a piece of pipe or wooden post to the rear of the disc that way as you disc you smooth it out at the same time then just seed it up. we used to/ i still see the large farms doing the same thing b4 seeding. we used to use d rings and some chain attached to a piece of utility pole set about 5ft off the back of the disc seemed to work well although we had a 10ft disc. i bet the same setup would work w/ a smaller disc as well.

 

[RonR]

5 Acres with a 4 ft implement sounds like a lot of seat time to me; you can interpret that as good or bad............

I'd not want to drive my truck or tractor very fast in a field that has 18" holes. Drop a wheel in that and you could do some damage, unless you can see them well.

I'd probably go with a disk. Other options would be to hire a local farmer and his disk or chisel plow. He could make two passes with a 75HP tractor and implement in 2 hrs or less. Or see if you can rent a larger tractor and implement to do it yourself.

Have you dispatched the feral hogs, or will they come back to "help you" with the next crop?

My two cents.
ron

 

[RobJ]

Yeah I think you are going to have to start all over again, heavy disk, then a big drag. For big work around here they use either an old cattle guard or 3 tractor tires bolted together. The old problem is the digging, you know how if you dig a hole, save all the dirt, then fill it right back up...you'll still have a hole, because of compaction, it seems you always need more dirt.

Hogs can make a huge mess of things.