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TO TILL OR NOT TO TILL?

Within the farming community, it is easy to spark a lively conversation by asking a “to till or to no-till” question. We have seen the many benefits of no-till over the years. There are however, times when tillage is the wisest, or only, choice.

Tillage may be needed for those who decide against purchasing a heavy no-till drill. Disking can size and stabilize heavy stalks to prepare a fall seedbed for small grain. Remedial tillage will help level ruts caused by heavy equipment which was operated in very wet conditions. A deep-till ripper is needed in many soil types found in the Northeast. This is done in order to eliminate ponding and allow water to percolate through the soil. 

FALL TILLAGE TIPS

In any event, as one considers the ongoing need or desire for some form of tillage, a few common sense reminders are appropriate. Below are the most important tips to consider for fall tillage.

• Be sure that the machine is pulling/operating level. Both front to back and side to side. It is not uncommon to see more harm than good being done to a field when the operator is not focused on the fine job of soil prep/residue management.
• Replace worn soil-engaging parts when needed, and not after it is too late. Ripper tips are far cheaper than the shanks which hold them. Badly worn blades on a disc harrow will greatly inhibit its ability to function well. A collapsed c-flex hanger will limit a tillage tool’s capacity to perform a level job if the machine has been operated in rocky conditions. This should be checked thoroughly before taking the tool to the field.
• It is a good idea to store winged equipment in the unfolded position. When bearings are exposed to weather for extended periods of time, they should be slightly over-greased and in a vertical posture. This will minimize water penetration into the bearing. This is especially important in colder climates where freezing will take a toll on bearings.
• Also, regardless of the season, if a blended mist of one part diesel fuel and two parts hydraulic fluid are sprayed over a machine, especially one with soil-engaging components, it will minimize rusting and help to sustain paint luster.

BENEFIT FROM THE LATEST INNOVATIONS WITH NEW EQUIPMENT INVESTMENTS.

Replacing outdated equipment with the latest innovations can often lease to a return on investment which far outweighs the initial cost. Our Sales Team is well-versed in the knowledge of tillage and fitting new equipment to your needs. 

Customers have come to expect excellence from Agriteer and the products we represent. Landoll designs and builds specialty tillage equipment which matches this commitment to excellence. 

Tom and Andy Bollinger are a father-son duo who operate a dairy/crop farm in Lancaster County. They often deal with heavy residue cover, and rutted or compacted soil. According to Tom they need seedbeds which are “as level as a mirror”. This gives their 23′ Landoll 7530 a chance to shine. Andy observed, “This machine has enough weight to penetrate in the toughest conditions and yet has plenty of built-in floatation and hydraulic leveling capacity that it really levels well in all our different fields.” He added, “It is very versatile and with the in-cab adjustment for gang angle, the performance is just tough to beat.”

The Landoll 7530 is just one of many products that we are prepared to spec in order to fit your tillage needs!

TILLAGE EQUIPMENT AVAILABLE AT AGRITEER

At Agriteer, we specialize in offering the very best new farm equipment. We also offer used equipment you can trust. This includes new tillers and used tillage equipment from brands such as Sunflower, Landoll, and Kinze. Our Team of equipment specialists are always available to help you make the best purchase for your needs.