Turn timber land into pasture land

[Jagsare1]

Not sure if this is the correct forum for these questions. Have 31 acres of which approx half or more is timberland that was cut, cultivated and left unplanted. This land is full of rows holding water and thick heavy brush. I can bush hog a lot of it but there are some trees that are too big for that and I can take care of those. My question is two fold. I think both questions affect the other. First, what technique do I use to smooth the land and get rid of the rows? Second, how do I handle the water(loaded question since you can't see it)?

Concerning the rows, my plan is to bush hog and then start with a disc harrow and work the land in multiple directions to knock down the rows? At some point, I can use a box blade and/or drag to smooth it a little. I am not looking for manicured land but I do want it smooth enough to call it a pasture. I know I can hire a bulldozer to smooth it but trying to see if I can do this with the equipment I have.(I actually don't have a disc harrow for the moment).

Concerning the water, most of the rows are holding water because it has no where to go. I believe a lot of the water will be taken care of once the land is a little smoother. It is NOT in a flood zone and wasn't wet(mostly) when we started looking at it. But there is a lot of water in the tree stands and I don't know if that is swamp or just standing water due to how the land is currently. I am going to thin the treed areas so I can get a better idea what I am facing.

Have a 38hp tractor to work with. Open to suggestions and advice. I am currently exploring a relationship with a local farmer to work the land, plant on it for his benefit and my benefit is the land work. Maybe a bad idea, don't know yet.

What would you do?

 

[Diggin It]

I am currently exploring a relationship with a local farmer to work the land, plant on it for his benefit and my benefit is the land work. Maybe a bad idea, don't know yet.

What would you do?

If he's got a BIG tractor with a BIG disc and knows how to use them, let him have at it. It'll be done much faster than anything else you can do.

 

[RoyKing]

If the stumps are gone or rotted, a very large tractor and disc could fix it. If the stumps are still there then a large frontend load with root rake can clear it quickly and leave you with large burn pile. Front loader could do it all in one long day.

 

[Jagsare1]

99.9% of the stumps are gone. I have found a couple. It is so muddy right now with the excessive rain that I am not sure I could pull a disc but at least it sounds like maybe I am on the right path?

 

[Thomas]

If you got the time and the horse power give it try...maybe box blade or back blade might help in the rough spots.

 

[defranks]

I'm just curious where you are.

 

[Frankenkubota]

I'm just curious where you are.

Me too, I’m in a similar boat, misery loves company.

If you got that Georgia/Carolina orange mud, good luck!

 

[jeff9366]

Concerning the rows, my plan is to bush hog and then start with a disc harrow and work the land in multiple directions to knock down the rows? At some point, I can use a box blade and/or drag to smooth it. I am not looking for manicured land but I do want it smooth enough to call it a pasture. (I actually don't have a disc harrow for the moment).

Have a 38hp tractor to work with. Open to suggestions and advice.

A Disc Harrow with 7-1/2" spacing between the pans will leave your land smoother than a Disc Harrow with 9" spacing between pans. Disc with 7-1/2" pan spacing will be easier to pull behind your 3,100 pound bare weight tractor because of more "float".

Mahindra 1635 with 4-WD will pull a box frame Tandem Disc Harrow with 20" diameter pans, the minimum weight Disc Harrow which will efficiently move dirt. Research Tandem Disc Harrows 72" wide.

MORE: https://www.tractorbynet.com/forums...disc-harrow-selection-compact.html?highlight=

https://www.tractorbynet.com/forums...ing-three-point-hitch-mounted.html?highlight=


TANDEM DISC HARROW ADJUSTMENT:

Shorter Top Link = more weight on front gangs.

More weight on front disc gangs throws dirt OUT. Use on ridges to disburse dirt.


Longer Top Link = more weight on rear gangs.

More weight on rear/wider disc gangs gathers dirt in. Straddle the swales.

The faster you disc the more dirt is moved.

As the field is smoothed, adjust hydraulic Position Control so disc is in lighter contact with the soil.

 

[jeff9366]

Mahindra 1635 - dimensions

2018 - 1600 Series
Compact Utility tractor

Dimensions:
Hydro ROPS Weight: 3075 lbs [1394 kg]
Shuttle ROPS Weight: 3086 lbs [1399 kg]
Hydro cab Weight: 3527 lbs [1599 kg]
Wheelbase: 73 inches [185 cm]
Length: 123.8 inches [314 cm]
Width: 63 inches [160 cm]
Height (ROPS): 90.2 inches [229 cm]
Height (cab): 88 inches [223 cm]
Ground clearance: 12.2 inches [30 cm]

 

[TractorGuy]

A lot of the equation has to do with how much do you want to spend and how much of a hurry you are in. You should figure out where the water is going to go before you start. My property has a gradual slope towards a swamp but the swamp isn't on my property. I have been damming up the bottom so the water doesn't run directly off. It has to puddle at the bottom and soak in.

I've been working a much smaller area with a disc harrow and landscape rake. I think a tiller would work better but can't justify the cost for the little use it would get.

In my case i had to dig out the stumps to start so I bought a full size backhoe.

I've been piddling along at it for about 5 years.