Vertical Tillage

[Tucker]

I agree Freewheat. Three quarters of land, three land-owners across the fence and kitty-corner. Canola. One deep-tilled in fall, one burned everything black two weeks before seeding to 'warm things up'. I didn't even harrow after combining the fall before on mine. We all seeded the same day, we all swathed the same day. Looked like there wasn't more than a bushel per acre difference in yield. That 'warm-up' thing I think is bullshit.

[freewheat]

Yeah I forgot to mention. I don't even harrow anymore either. Aesthetically pleasing to the eye? Yes! Dollars and sense monetary return? Debatable IMO.

Unless one makes a real mess at combining, and needs to smash up some lumps or poorly spread and chopped straw, (I have my fair share this year!!!),heavy harrows are an expensive implement, that to me is un-necessary to increase ones bottom line.

This study backs me up...

http://www.reducedtillage.ca/article41.aspx

With no yield benefit, yet with higher costs, we can see what the net return will be. Negative. Perty fields for sure, nice straight stripes in the fields, but at least in that study, no yield benefit. I found it interesting at least...

[cottonpicken]

Coming from the shitest farmer i see the best farmers doing it so check your premise

[greybeard]

The fields that grew the best crops here are untouched or harrowed.
The shit poor crops are mostly tilled.
Most of that was swamp when homesteaded.
The water table is at the surface.

[Daylate]

Maybe we should be just doing a headland with a $3000 disc, light it up and sit in the tractor with a beer and do some agrivilling and watch it burn.

[Daylate]

Oops. Forgot about the hernia creating ruts out in my fields. 4 every 35 ft. Bang bang bang bang,

[Daylate]

We got our own juice rig this year. So were spikin in hydrous hydrous hydrous. Just finished all our boggy packed rutted canola stubble tonight. Wanted to hit our worst 1/3 of our cereal stubble. But not sure if that's an option with the forecast. Putting on fert makes me feel like I'm doing something meaningful anyway

[furrowtickler]

freewheat - you get done?

[freewheat]

Furrow. 50ish acres barley left. And more snow overnight! I am admitting defeat. Its over.

[furrowtickler]

Greybeard - interesting , it was the exact opposite here. We were done seeding wheat before most guys started - they were waiting for the soils to warm up.
There was a huge diff in canola emergence and early season vigour here, some canola just sat and did nothing for 2 weeks after emergence in heavy stubble.
In this area too much H2O was not as much the issue it was cold temps. The heavier rains that cause delays came right at the end of May and early June
Who knows about next year - every spring if different.