Field Cultivator or disc?

I have had people tell me to get a field cultivator with shanks 6" apart, staggered on 3 tool bars with 8" sweeps. I originally thought about a tandem disc, but was told they leave a rough field on the edges where the outer discs kick up the dirt.

Any way I have the chisel, a wheat drill, and am just missing the intermediary equipment. Like I said it is just for hobby, but since I am going to go out and buy something I want to get what will work best.

The disk will help break up hard clods. It will cut up heavy trash, like lots of cornstalks, or heavy wheat straw. Other than that, it is a land packer & we have come to realize it does not make a good seedbed, more of a hard plow-pan in our clay soils.

The field cultivator, with a 2-3 bar harrow attachment on the back of it, will make a much better seedbed 90% of the time. The only issue really is trash, as mentioned. Old units had the bars too close together. As they get newer, the bars got spaced farther apart, then a 4th bar was added on real new ones & all the shanks are spaced farther apart.

For $1500 I would expect a pretty new unit with good spacing, harrow attachment, etc. 'Round here anyhow.

Cultimultchers are not good in trash, they really plug up. Make wonderful seedbeds in clear dirt tho.

Tillers tend to overwork the soil, using up hp & time.

I think in small grain stubble, the field cultivator will work out for you fine. Chisel in fall, field cultivate in spring, and plant.

For cornstalks, you would need to either chop the stalks with a stalk chopper (flail mower), or disk it several times, before chiseling it, then the field cultivator would should likely will handle things in spring.

If I had to get only one, I'd go for the field cultivator unless there was a good reason for needing the disk - if you are in that 10%.

--->Paul

I did some pricing today and a 15' 3pt, 3 bar 4" field cultivator(used) is going to run $1000. I figure a good 3pt disk is going to be about that amount or more. (I need everything 3pt as some of the areas I am working are small and fenced and it is a pain turning pull type stuff around)

Someone mentioned to me trying a rototiller. Something like this http://www.ccmachinery.com/tillers.htm the SR series either 90" or 105". Seems like with the chisel I could break up the soil and then the tiller should do a good job of preparing the seedbed wouldn't it? True these are pretty narrow, but I am not trying to cover large acreages. At a cost of 3k I don't know. Maybe good if it is replacing two other implements?

• tiller

we use a field cultivator by far the most as it levels better ( oh it does have a harrow behind it) it doesnt pull hard either..

we have to keep all the above equipment because you just never know what the conditions require.

Pete

I just call 'em a "packer". Best thing since sliced bread. They have fallen out of favor with most folks 'cause no one plows anymore.

They pull pretty darned hard, but your tractor ought to handle a 15' model okay.

Allan

Someone mentioned to me trying a rototiller. Something like this Link the SR series either 90" or 105". Seems like with the chisel I could break up the soil and then the tiller should do a good job of preparing the seedbed wouldn't it? True these are pretty narrow, but I am not trying to cover large acreages. At a cost of 3k I don't know. Maybe good if it is replacing two other implements?