Drilling in the rain

howboutthemdawgs

howboutthemdawgs

Active Member
Of course when i finally get to rent a drill for the weekend to plant my beans it’s gonna rain Friday, Saturday and Sunday. I’ve never used a drill before so I’m not what affect this will have? If it’s just the minor inconvenienc or getting wet, so be it but I’m more concerned with the operational aspect. The ground is all untilled so I’m not worried about mud and my tractor is 4wd so I should have no problem pulling it. Anyone ever till in the rain?
 
It’s not ideal. I assume it’s a no-till drill? If the ground is too soft, the coulters don’t cut the vegetation; they just push it down causing hairpinning.

What type of drill, what are you planting, how many acres?
 
cutman said:
It’s not ideal. I assume it’s a no-till drill? If the ground is too soft, the coulters don’t cut the vegetation; they just push it down causing hairpinning.

What type of drill, what are you planting, how many acres?
Click to expand...

it’s a jd1590. Yeah sorry no till. About 5-6 acres. I really dont want to cancel so I may just have to make chicken salad out of...you know. It’s 5.5 hours away and I have 2 month old at home so rescheduling is not easy.

*it doesn’t look like a total washout. More like chances of showers on and off from
Friday am to Sunday.
 
You can make it work. I’d be ready to plant immediately to get everything done ASAP. 5-6 acres shouldn’t take long. Light rain is ok but a heavy rain that causes surface puddling will mess you up.

Have you ever used a no-till drill before and what will you be planting into? What’s your soil temp?
 
Is your showers supposed to be light or heavy rain? I’ve seen where the soil will crust over if it gets to hot a dry to quickly after planting and the plants can’t break through to the surface.
 
1590 is gonna run hydraulic down pressure and runs a single disc opener. If you plant in wet soil you run the risk of packing the sidewallof seed trench and packing shut with closing wheel if it’s wet. Light rain will be fine. Take a handful of soil and squeeze it in your hand see if it crumbles apart or makes a ball. Good luck tough call to make a couple days out.
 
I'd get out there asap and try to get it done before the bulk of the rain. If the drill works without clogging with mud it will work out ok.
 
If you grab a hand full of soil,squeeze it into a ball,toss it on the ground and it falls apart,plant. Otherwise ,don't. It ain't worth the clean up.
 
Got it done. Wasn’t perfect but not a disaster. Got 4-5 acres in out of about 7 I had I hoped. A 10’ drill is a beast. Too big for my plots but beggars can’t be choosers. Top seeded joint vetch everywhere else. At the end of the day if it works out great if not it beats sitting at home
 
howboutthemdawgs said:
Got it done. Wasn’t perfect but not a disaster. Got 4-5 acres in out of about 7 I had I hoped. A 10’ drill is a beast. Too big for my plots but beggars can’t be choosers. Top seeded joint vetch everywhere else. At the end of the day if it works out great if not it beats sitting at home
Click to expand...
You wouldn't want a drill much smaller than 10' wide to plant 4-5 acres of beans. Soybeans are pretty forgiving, so if nothing eats the beans when they come up your planting should be a success.
 
Mennoniteman said:
You wouldn't want a drill much smaller than 10' wide to plant 4-5 acres of beans. Soybeans are pretty forgiving, so if nothing eats the beans when they come up your planting should be a success.
Click to expand...
I think it was more the shape of my plots combined with size of my tractor. I have 53hp tractor and while it pulled fine, when we got on a hill with some soft ground we had to abandon that plan and plant those areas downhill. I’ve only had my place for a year and half, I’m steady working on making the plots more user friendly for planting. I wasn’t handed a finished canvas that’s for sure!
 
howboutthemdawgs said:
I think it was more the shape of my plots combined with size of my tractor. I have 53hp tractor and while it pulled fine, when we got on a hill with some soft ground we had to abandon that plan and plant those areas downhill. I’ve only had my place for a year and half, I’m steady working on making the plots more user friendly for planting. I wasn’t handed a finished canvas that’s for sure!
Click to expand...

I feel your pain, but it is very satisfying.


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