I'm painting my 15" centers tool right now. I have the primer on this morning, now eating a quick lunch, then color this afternoon. Assembly later this week.
I still have not panted one acre this fall. Rain, rain, rain. Early morning, I had a phone call to a neighbor that will be broadcasting the rest of his winter wheat today as the soil was farmed and there is no way to get the drill out there.

I've decided to not clean the residue from the strip, but instead, as it is a narrower strip, incorporate the residue. I have the ability to put a blade in front of the tine to reduce the disturbance, or, as I wish to do in the fall, create more disturbance, but contain it with a pair of cupped coulters. In other words, catch the blow out from the shank, and put it back in behind the shank almost in a small hill, then slice it up and mix it up with wavy coulters.

I also battle slugs as you must being in the UK. The more disturbed soil in the strip should deter the slug to stay in the isle where the residue cover still exists.

IMO.

 

Got 'er all painted up?

Bruce

 

Doorknob, will you then seed on 15'' rows or some sort of paired row system?
Whats the advantage of strip till wheat, the same as corn, soil warming?

Russ

 

Yep, got some color on it Bruce.

I'll try to get some updated pics today as I have some of the Roll a cone components installed. I'm a little slow assembling as I am the only one here. The boss is on vacation and i have to spray in the mornings and assemble in the afternoons. I have to be careful when by myself as no one would find me for a couple days otherwise.
Thanks for asking about it.

Everyone will have their own reasons for doing what they do when it comes to using other concepts applied to their own crops. My purpose is a one pass, or when needed, a two pass planting system.

We are mostly a perennial small seed grower. So we have some different conditions and timings to go into. We also have different nutrient needs and placement needs.

The normal methods in this area, to have even a partially successful crop behind a perennial tall fescue crop, takes anywhere from 10 to 14 trips over the field with heavy tools and horsepower. It's all broad acre, full width, tillage.

I've been there, done that, and cant see it being viable to stay competitive in the near future. I wont get into my views on soil health at this time, but I feel it needs to be addressed as well in the coming economy.

 

I forgot to add that yes, I personally do plant with a twin row system. I have 2 openers 4" apart on 15" centers. Been using it for a couple years now with great results, so I hope to continue with it.

This field is tilled using full width cultivators. Twin row soybeans at an angle, then twin row tall fescue under the beans for the next several years crop.

 

That makes sense Doorknob, getting away from all that tillage somehow is a good move.
I have slugs too, wouldn't wish them on anyone.

Russell