Got another implement!

[J-Mech]

Originally Posted by Shaner

Only time I've seen one of those for actual farm use is during a drought or when the ground gets so hard. All it does is break up the crusty soil. My neighbors have one. It hasn't been used in eons!

Nope. It's a weed control device. Invented and used before chemical was around. Young farmers think they are worthless, or just for hard ground. Not the case. VERY useful tool, if you know how to use it, and when.

We hoe'd 3 days after planting, and every 3-4 days thereafter until it started damaging the crop. Then, we got the cultivator out.

Our granddad decided to go all organic on our farm in the 90's. Now, I'm not going to preach that using to chemical is the way to go, as I have farmed both ways. I will say this: There is a lot about farming that has been forgotten in the day and age of chemical and GMO seeds. There are ways to control weeds, that work. I believe that chemical can be used, but it is not needed at the rate that it is currently used. A moldboard plow, disk, rotary hoe, and cultivator are not worthless pieces of equipment. They are just forgotten because farmers got lazy, and didn't want to spend all their time in the field. So, now they just spray, and go play. Too bad. They could raise a better crop if they used old ideas with new technology.

[mjsoldcub]

Well said j-mech...wish the guys around here would listen to something like that...farmers got lazy, and greedy..crazy around here, you should see their equipment!!! taking out all the water ways, subsoil the s#%t out of it, spray everything to death, juice it full of anhydrous, grow corn or beans for years (22yrs in one field, straight!!!) Then wonder where the top soil went, just rocks and clay...and then we even pay for it.!!?? Subsidies!!? WTF?!..hardly anymore family farms...my rant done....nice hoe bud....came up on a small farm myself, remember pulling one of those when we did limabeans....sure dont see those anymore...just a big articulator with chiselplow and field finisher, set the gps, like 45min for an 80acre parcel....crazy....

[SS5150]

I spent a lot of hours on my Uncle's old flat fender 806 and a JD rotary hoe. Not a bad job really. I don't think they've used it in several years.

[Berwil]

Thanks for the explanation and pics! Makes sense now, just an oversized garden weasel! LoL

So can we consider this write up to be the first in your "Throwback Thursday" series where you break down and explain older or no longer used farming techniques and equipment to us less informed "city slickers"? HaHa

Bill

[zippy1]

Great addition to the ever growing fleet
Also must commend you on a great explanation of lost farming techniques.
I also remember the days of lying in bed listening to the frogs, crickets and Whippoorwills along the swamp by my place when I was a boy, back when we did our farming the "old fashion" way.
Today I rent it to the neighboring farmer, and we here......... things have changed dramatically in field preparation and maintenance.

[PaulS]

Wow JMech that thing looks like a real worm chopper to me. Could you remove any of the interior tines and use it as a cultivator?

[ACecil]

Great pics, Jonathan! You were moving along!

[jimbob200521]

Looks great! Always wanted a little guy like that around here. Love the pics, as well

[IliketheRedcubs]

Hope you learned something, and remember, when you hoe, DRIVE FAST!!!

Our 3 point hoes shield was bent up pretty bad from all the flying stones! Some even got past it and would zing past your ears and hit the fenders or the dash! Thank goodness I never got hit in the back of the head!

[Nitro]

I really enjoy the old farming wisdom that pops up here. I never got to work the farm when I was a kid, by then Pap's had grown over and Dad and I lived in town. It's good reading, I'd like to implement it one day and pass it along to my boys. Thanks for sharing!