Starting From Scratch - Food Plot Equipment
- Thread starter HB_Hunter
- Start date
HB_Hunter
Well-Known Member
You can get equipment to the site(s) 
.
I've invested in a tractor (Kubota MX5800) and am starting to look at implements for plotting. I have access to lots of helpful tools (tiller, 3pt spreader, cultipacker, disc, bigger tractor, 2 bottom plow, etc.), but have only invested in a chest spreader. I'd like to start using my own stuff for obvious reasons.
Ultimately, after looking at cultipacker prices and considering soil health and time investment, I am strongly considering saving up for a no till drill. Just wondering if this is a crazy idea...
. I've invested in a tractor (Kubota MX5800) and am starting to look at implements for plotting. I have access to lots of helpful tools (tiller, 3pt spreader, cultipacker, disc, bigger tractor, 2 bottom plow, etc.), but have only invested in a chest spreader. I'd like to start using my own stuff for obvious reasons.
Ultimately, after looking at cultipacker prices and considering soil health and time investment, I am strongly considering saving up for a no till drill. Just wondering if this is a crazy idea...
.
I plant about 20 acres as well. If you can swing it;
No till drill (I'm using a Great Plains 706NT)
No till 2 row planter (JD 7100 with row cleaners)
3 pt sprayer
3 pt spreader
Bush hog
8 foot disk
After lots of trial and error, that's what I've ended up with and I think it's going to work really well in the years to come.
No till drill (I'm using a Great Plains 706NT)
No till 2 row planter (JD 7100 with row cleaners)
3 pt sprayer
3 pt spreader
Bush hog
8 foot disk
After lots of trial and error, that's what I've ended up with and I think it's going to work really well in the years to come.
HB_Hunter
Well-Known Member
Stupid questions...why do you need the 8' disk/3pt spreader if you are all no till? I also thought the GP 706NT could be used to plant corn/beans. Are the seeds too big?
The disk was bought before the no till drill and planter. I kept it because tillage does still have a place on the farm I manage. I don't plan on disking much going forward but I will have to disk sporadically.
A drill will never plant corn or sunflowers as well as a planter. You can plant those with a drill, but it's much more random.
A drill will never plant corn or sunflowers as well as a planter. You can plant those with a drill, but it's much more random.
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Wild Thing
Member
I would go with a minimum of 40HP tractor but for 20 acres 50 or 60 HP would be preferred. Before I bought anything else I would make sure I had a front end loader bucket for the tractor. I've been doing food plots for 30 years now so I have accumulated quite a bit of equipment. If I had it to do over again, I would have bought a field cultivator (vibra shank) before I ever bought a disc. I have a disc, of course, but I also have a 12' cultivator as well as a 6' - 3 pt cultivator and they can turn over dirt much more seriously than my disc.
I just bought a new Land Pride 606NT, no-till drill this year so I don't see using my cultivators or disc much at all in the future except for new plots I may open up as well as travel corridors and snake trails.. I have already sold my conventional grain drill and will be selling my John Deere 7000, 4-row planter soon. As previously mentioned, the planters do a far superior job of planting corn than a no-till drill does, but you can get OK results with the drill for deer food.
I am currently planting 16 acres and have finally picked out most of the rocks and stumps so I hope to progress into the No-Till arena for many reasons too numerous to mention if you don't already know. Consequently, after the tractor and no-till drill, the most valuable implements for me are a 3-Point sprayer, a 3 - Point cyclone spreader for fertilizers and a brush hog or rotary mower. That is not to say that I don't need my ATV sprayer and pull behind spreader, cultivator, disc, cultipacker, etc for travel corridors, snake trails and new plots so I probably won't be selling them any time soon.
I just bought a new Land Pride 606NT, no-till drill this year so I don't see using my cultivators or disc much at all in the future except for new plots I may open up as well as travel corridors and snake trails.. I have already sold my conventional grain drill and will be selling my John Deere 7000, 4-row planter soon. As previously mentioned, the planters do a far superior job of planting corn than a no-till drill does, but you can get OK results with the drill for deer food.
I am currently planting 16 acres and have finally picked out most of the rocks and stumps so I hope to progress into the No-Till arena for many reasons too numerous to mention if you don't already know. Consequently, after the tractor and no-till drill, the most valuable implements for me are a 3-Point sprayer, a 3 - Point cyclone spreader for fertilizers and a brush hog or rotary mower. That is not to say that I don't need my ATV sprayer and pull behind spreader, cultivator, disc, cultipacker, etc for travel corridors, snake trails and new plots so I probably won't be selling them any time soon.
Elkaddict
Well-Known Member
We are up to 18 acres and use the following:
Cultipacker
Disc
3pt spreader
Bush hog
ATV mounted sprayer
Hand held spreaders for clover/brassicas
Most of our plots were woods 18 months ago so we have real rock issues. But for this, I would be more inclined to spend the money on a nice no-till. Our corn/beans have come in fine using the 3pt spreader to broadcast. If I were starting from scratch, I would steer clear of compact tractors. Mass really matters more than stated HP, and its nice to have more power without having to rev the motor. Also, I'd spend the $ on a cabbed tractor. I would like a 3 pt seeder so I could plant brassicas more precisely (I tend to overseed and miss spots) but haven't pulled the trigger. For me, its a time vs. money thing.. The final thing I'd like but haven't been able to justify is an ag lime buggy. Spreading pallet's of pellet lime just to maintain ph get's old
Cultipacker
Disc
3pt spreader
Bush hog
ATV mounted sprayer
Hand held spreaders for clover/brassicas
Most of our plots were woods 18 months ago so we have real rock issues. But for this, I would be more inclined to spend the money on a nice no-till. Our corn/beans have come in fine using the 3pt spreader to broadcast. If I were starting from scratch, I would steer clear of compact tractors. Mass really matters more than stated HP, and its nice to have more power without having to rev the motor. Also, I'd spend the $ on a cabbed tractor. I would like a 3 pt seeder so I could plant brassicas more precisely (I tend to overseed and miss spots) but haven't pulled the trigger. For me, its a time vs. money thing.. The final thing I'd like but haven't been able to justify is an ag lime buggy. Spreading pallet's of pellet lime just to maintain ph get's old
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HB_Hunter
Well-Known Member
Thanks for the input everyone. I'm all in on a tractor. I spent lots of time debating and ended up with the kubota mx5800. I really wanted HST transmission and a smaller body to get around the logging roads. It's around 6000lbs with filled tires and the FEL. It's worked well so far.
I've got some research to do now.
I've got some research to do now.
Satguy
Active Member
In Missouri just about every local NRCS office has a no till drill for rent. I am sure Kentucky has the same.
swat1018
Well-Known Member
Many USDA service centers have them, but the problem is everyone needs them at once. Add in the problem that many of us don't live near our farms and need them on the weekends, it can be a real issue.
Satguy
Active Member
Thats why I bought a 6ft tiller and a 2 row planter. I cannot justify the the expense for a drill for wildlife habitat plots. If I decide to plant natives I will rent it from the NRCS office.
