Help with culitivation implements

Would a "disc plow" be used for plowing or discing. Is there a difference in a "disc" versus a "disc plow"? When I think of plow, I usually think of a "moldboard" plow. What is the difference in a "moldboard plow" and " a "disc plow"? I know what they look like, but what determines selecting one over the other? Will a "disc plow" disc and plow?

If I want to put in improved pasture for horses (a few acres) over native grass, what implements do I need (for MF 135)? What is the best approach for putting in the pasture?

Lastly, thank you all for this forum. I have learned a great deal and I am very appreciative for everyones participation and involvement.

Thank you!

If your soil as never been worked you may
find that a heavy 150+hp tractor with a rock picker attachment might be a better preparation
for plowing. Once you do this you shouldn't need the picker again, but you will still be picking a few stray stones for a few years.

You can then use your moulboard plow, (or disk plow) and used right after the picker, it won't have to work hard due to the loose soil.

In cold climates plowing is usually done in the fall so the freezing will help break up the clods. In the spring and when the surface layer
in dry enough you go over it with a disk harrow weighted (with stones).
Make no more than 3 passes, as you will pack the
soil too much. First 2 passes set blades at angle
last pass straight.

This will prepare your seed bed and break up the clumps of earth. Next is sowing seed. Then
a light pass with the disk arrow again without
weights to just cover the seed.

Then you go over it with a roller to make the soil contact the seed tighter and give the birds a hard time.

I use this plow behind a '67 Oliver 550 on my place to prep land for new seedlings. Use this exclusively due to stumps etc. I raise alot of planted pines (pulp and saw timber). Believe me, far as I'm concerned, ain't NOTHING STUCK like a turn plow in a fatlighter stump!!! HTH,
ShepFL

• ShepFL's 550 & disk plow

Thanks for the caution on the roots, cause I've got'em, and the reference to the photo in the gallery.

Ted

Here's a pic of a disc. You use it after you have turned the ground with either a disc plow or a moldboard plow.

If you have pretty tough soil or a lot of vegetation cover a disc plow will cut in and do a bettr job than a moldboard.

In my pastures I turn the soil, then disc it till the soil is fine gritted, then harrow it, then seed it, then harrow it again and then roll it with a packer of some sort.

I add the extra harrow after the final discing to make sure the soil is level and uniform.

Thanks, that is exactly the information I was after. Can you give me some idea of the differnce between a "disc plow" and a "disc". Do they look the same, only the "disc plow" bigger disc and heavier overall than the "disc"?

Around 'here' it is very, very unusual to see a 'disk plow' - there must be some reason they were never popular 'here' & wouldn't bother trying to fool looking for one. Things may be different 'there' however.

Do you want to seed with an older grain drill, or with a little 3-point braodcast spreader? Either works, it's up to you. :) Otherwise I think you have the basics down.

For good plowing, you need to hit the rains just right. 'Here' is is much better to plow in fall, let the ground mellow over winter, field cultivate (or disk), harrow, plant, & harrow. Spring plowing oftem makes hard lumpy bricks for ground unless you learn to play the rain game right. Plow fairly dry, work the soil right away lightly, hope for rain in the next 24 hours, and then work it again to get rid of the lumps.

But, soil conditions might be much different 'there.'

I also see people call a 'disk' a 'disk harrow'. And a field cultivator has the same type of shovels on it as a row crop cultivator, just no gaps for rows of course! For big farms field cultivators are much more popular than disks these days, BUT the older small field cultivators did not have good clearance & plug up something bad!

--->Paul

Thank you for the info. regarding the "disc" vs the "disc plow".

Like I might have said in one of my earlier posts, I want to put in some improved pasture for my wife's horses. That is why I am getting info. on implements. Gonna try and get away with using as few implements as possible. Probably do one paddock (2 -3 acres)at a time and keep the horses out while the improved pasture is getting established. Have some clearing to do in the paddocks (now in native grass), I will leave the large established trees and remove anything from 3" diameter down. I'm hopeful I can pull these out verses cutting them down. I plan on trying the truck (or tractor) rim chained against the tree trunk method and pulling real slow.

I want to thank you for the feedback that you have given me on various topics. They have all been helpful and much appreciated.

Ted

The drag helps level the ground nice & fine. The plow rips up that old packed weedy stuff. The disk chops it back down again so you can drag it & make it nice & level again.

About the only question is the kind of seeder you get. I have only used an older grain drill with a grass seed attachment, make a nice even stand of oats, wheat, etc. and meters out the alfalfa & clover that I plant.

I hear the broadcast seeders work too, a little less perfect, but for grass type seed isn't so terribly important. Anyhow, I have no experience, so can't say.

Are you going to fertilize at all? Hire from the local fert dealer, or??? On small horse plots it doesn't pay to get to darn involved in the fertilizer stuff, but as long as you are working it up it would be good to get some N, P & K in there before you drag before seeding to start things off good. The fert dealer can help with soil samples, or they can kinda estimate from what crop you plant, what it uses up.

Thanks for the complement, this web site is my therapy session. I'm farming, and during the stresses of the day & seasons, I find it relaxing to take a quick break, chat a little here. Unfortunately sometimes I am in the house for some REAL stressful reason (5 inches of rain, a busted $350 tire, etc.), & my attitude is a little short around here, I say things with more of an edge than I mean to. Hope everyone understands. :)

--->Paul