Implement Process for Preparing New Land

[voisin]

Hi All,

Sorry if this isn’t the right sub-forum - this is my first post! I have bought 5 acres of pretty hard packed land (used to have horses on it, and hasn’t ever been plowed or otherwise broken up). It is full of rocks of varying sizes. There are no stumps, and the land slope is pretty gradual.

I am looking to buy either a BX or a B series with associated implements to break up the land, remove rocks, and get areas ready for planting.

The part I am unclear about is what order of implements to use to break up the land and prepare for planting?

I assume once it is broken up, it would be a cultivator or a harrow, but to get to that stage do you start with a scarifier like the SF25, or a plow like the MP10 or a pulverizer like the SP20?

Thanks in advance!

 

[jimh406]

What are you wanting to plant?

Fwiw, you are looking at small tractors with little capability for significant ground engagement. You might consider hiring a local to rock pick etc since it will be a one time thing depending on what you are wanting to plant.

 

[NorthwoodsLife]

Auger some holes in the ground, and take the dirt and have a soil analysis done.
See what you're working with as far as the soil type and nutrients.
Hard pack sometimes means high clay content. Horses or not. Not so good for crops.

Next step would be figuring your cost to make it good.

A hired dozer with scarifier will do in a few days what will take you a year on a BX or 6 months on a B. If the soil is even worth your time.

If that isn't what you want to try, or want to hear, get a box blade for your new BX or B and run the shanks gradually deeper in multiple directions. Then pick up the rocks.

If the soul is worth the time buy a rear tiller and till it in multiple directions after the rocks are gone. Throw down some gypsum and fertilizer, till it in good... and start your farm.

The gypsum will break down the clay. The fert will bring in nutrients.

Plows and disc harrows at planting time. And between crops.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

A BX or B is really not up to the task of working land to get it up to the condition to plant anything.
Find a local farmer with a BIG tractor to plow it and disk it.

 

[85Hokie]

I agree with all above - get a soil test, pay a dozer to do the break up that land.
The and B and BX are great machines - but neither will pull something to break up hard packed land. They both will lose traction quickly.

 

[Amarillo]

I use a disc harrow to break up compacted or un-worked land. I follow up with a tiller prior to planting. I have used a L3301 and MX 6000 for that work.

 

[Tzerne5]

when converting ground for planting (assuming trees are already gone) I rip it and turn it with a 3 bottom plow, then use a rotary tiller, cultipacker, then plant and cultipack again. If you have a seeder like a Brillion or something similar you can cultipack/seed/cultipack again all at once. I'm saving up for one

 

[GreensvilleJay]

I made a 1 acre veggie patch for the neighbour that'd been no-tilled for 45-50 years....
the steps I took using my Allis-Chalmers D-14 (35HP +)

1) ran subsoiler N-S then E-W, left for 2 days
2) ran 3F plow N-S then left for 2 days
3) ran 3d plow E-W then left for 2 days
4) ran 7', 9 tooth cultivator N-S ,then E-W, then left for 2 days .Option :use discs if you have them.
5) ran 5' rototiller N-S then E-W
6) suggested she start saving compost and add in the fall

The reason for the 2 days in between is to let Mother Nature help break down the hard soil into usable dirt.
Each operation was an easy ,short mornings fun, except the subsoiling..hardpan was HARD !
Going North---> South then East----> west breaks up the soil and tends to level it.
Compost( grass clipping, cow manure, kitchen scrap, chicken manure, everything that biodegrades) into a long pile,turned over every 4-5 days are needed. the more ,the better.

Everyone's land is different but generally speaking ,you need to break up the hardpan and add a variety of nutrients.

Yes a BX could do it, but bigger is better. It gets the job done faster and better,just costs you cash to pay neighbour, though it is a ONE time cost IF you add compost EVERY year ,assuming veggie gardens.

 

[Lencho]

Are you planning to do all 5 acres at once or can you work it a bit at a time?
A small tractor will take some time but you may not want 5 acres of bare dirt.
Consider a subsoil plow and then maybe a tiller. Work it over time and get to know your new land.