Fascination with plowing...

MOST "tractor enthusiast's" seem to have it. Any good reason to plow ground. (You never hear of anyone having a "baler day") I'm sure everyone has their favorite chore on a tractor. Some people love mowing hay, others like planting time. They all have their attraction, but I still like to roll the dirt over myself.

We quit doing it on a regular basis, almost 25 years ago. First it was chisel plowing, then in the mid-eighties, we started no-tilling full time.

Over the weekend, I finished restoring a set of plows, just so I can bust some sod. (I have about 65 acres that needs to be plowed) Here is a picture of my finished product. John Deere model 416A (3x14") vintage 1958.

What is the fascination with plowing? WHy does everyone jump at the chance to do it? If that's NOT your favorite tractor chore, what is?

Let's start this week on a positive note...No sniping and argueing this week, please. John

Watch the field behind the plow turn to straight, dark rows
Feel the trickle in your clothes, blow the dust cake from your nose
Hear the tractor's steady roar, Oh you can't stop now
There's a quarter section more or less to go
And it figures that the rain keeps its own sweet time
You can watch it come for miles, but you guess you've got a while
So ease the throttle out a hair, every rod's a gain
And there's victory in every quarter mile

Poor old Kuzyk down the road
The heartache, hail and hoppers brought him down
He gave it up and went to town
And Emmett Pierce the other day
Took a heart attack and died at forty two
You could see it coming on 'cause he worked as hard as you

In an hour, maybe more, you'll be wet clear through
The air is cooler now, pull you hat brim further down
And watch the field behind the plow turn to straight dark rows
Put another season's promise in the ground

And if the harvest's any good
The money just might cover all the loans
You've mortgaged all you own
Buy the kids a winter coat
Take the wife back east for Christmas if you can
All summer she hangs on when you're so tied to the land

For the good times come and go, but at least there's rain
So this won't be barren ground when September rolls around
So watch the field behind the plow turn to straight dark rows
Put another season's promise in the ground
Watch the field behind the plow turn to straight dark rows
Put another season's promise in the ground

The 415/416 (2 bottom or 3 bottom) was built for the 420, 430, and 435. It was a (somewhat) lighter framed, truss-frame catagory 1, 3 point plow. They were updated in late '59. (MOSTLY improvements to the furrow wheel.)

Both used hss bottoms. I'm reasonably certain, but not sure that the 810 used hss400 series bottoms. The 416A used hss314 bottoms. The 416A was not offered in a 16" frame, as far as I know. John

Mitch

I would plow, disc, or later on, chisel plow allmight. The 4320 and the 4430 were cab tractors. They made it nice, but there was something fun about being out in the middle of a 200 acre field, in pitch dark, except for the tractors lights.

You got a real sense of solitude.

Sure was fun.....still is. John

Mitch

Name refers to the other thing I like almost as much as driving a tractor... that be duck and goose hunting in the fall. OOps don't tell Bob. I promise not to shoot him...Honest

I don't farm, but I live on my family's land - which, after 'bout 15 of neglect, needed a bunch of improving. I have a Rhino 1400 rear blade and a Reynolds 5 yard dirt bucket. I get the same kick out of loading dirt and shaping ditches as you guys get out of plowing. And I look for any excuse to hook to the pan or the blade!

Mitch

Allan, that's a Brillion product you pictured isn't it? I've seen a few of them around here, but I don't remember what they're called.

Time to get to the field. Soon as this morning damp dries off, going to get done with beans today. Hope everyone can get done soon. The weather is supposed to turn cold and damp here in central IN later this week. Jim.

Yes sir, it's a Brillion and appears to be about a little 10 or 12 footer; it's the only picture I could find real quick. I think at one time everyone under the sun was a buildin' the goofy things.

Did you notice the hitch? Someone's hired man must have gotten a duel a little close on a turn. Seems like the hired men are always trying to pull the implement up into their laps for some reason. :>)

Allan

They never really caught on around here. Field cultivators never did either. It was moldboard plow and disc, then almost overnight, no-till. The chisel plow had about a 10 year run in there somewhere.

We're renting a farm for next season, that hasn't been cropped in 15 years. (beef cattle patured on it) It's compacted harder than concrete. My son has been using a deep ripper on some of it. We plan on chisel plowing the rest. (Rock, BIG rock, less than 2' under suface) It tested out as good, healthy soil, just needs to be opened up.

Any excuse to plow..... ...John

Ever use one of these behind a plow? Sweetest thing since sliced bread. :>)

Allan

Right behind the plow and hit 'er at somewhat of an angle; that's what they are for.

Like I said earlier, I haven't seen a disc used behind a plow since the late 40s or maybe '50, '51....We do the discing in front of the plow if we are laying down a lot of heavy trash.

Allan

I guess I haven't seen a disc behind a plow since the late 40s.

For years, we used a four-section harrow with a 6" well-pipe leveler; but when these things came out, they cured the problem of working heavy plowed ground altogether. They leave a perfect seedbed with one pass.

But yes, a 14 or 15' model will definitely take an 80-horse rig all dueled up.

Allan

We bought a Deere "mulch finisher" and used it for 1 season. Does esentially the same job. It's out behind the barn covered up in weeds. Can't GIVE 'em away here.

You ought to see the looks on the faces at the dealership, when I go to order plow parts....

And the look on the UPS drivers face as he toted the 158 pounds of plow parts off of his truck...

(I had to explain to him, just what a plow "was") John

Never saw one with sweeps on it; we always used bull-tongues. Just don't see 'em much anymore.

But, I'm a lookin' for one, tho. :>)

Allan

It is the one thing I miss most about farming.

Very nice job on the plow! Looks like a new one.

But, I gotta tell ya, plowin' sod just isn't my favorite cup a tea; my butt is sore just thinkin' about that draft a hammerin' back at me. :>)

Cuttin' beans was always my favorite for as long as I can remember. Something about getting up at 2am and seeing how far you can get before the dew dries out. Then too, of course, the resultant pay check at the end of the day when they are run thru the combine. :>)

Later,

Allan

Notice the duck in the background?

That's BOB!

We are down to about 85 acres of corn to shell, and about 165 acres of double-crop soybeans (that won't be ready for a couple weeks) and the combine gets to rest...And so do I. It's been a good year. Corn is about 35 bu.ac. over expectations. Beans are averaging over 55 bu. ac. (Good for around here) Sold most of my beans last year, while prices were over $8.00.

Dumb luck will get you a LOOOOO OOONG way in life! John