Tillage Preparation
It’s time to get your soil ready for planting, and that means tillage! Taking the time to properly calibrate your equipment will save you time in the long run and keep fuel and equipment costs down. You’ll also maximize yield potentials through a better seedbed. Whatever you’re after, whether it’s residue management, seedbed prep, or to lessen compaction, a well-adjusted implement will mean fewer trips to the field and crop performance.
At Birkey’s Farm Store, we know it can be tough getting everything ready and aligned with all the different projects in your life, tillage included. That’s why we’ve put together this short guide to help out. Keep reading for some tips and tricks to preparing your tilling equipment and soil. If you have more questions, don’t hesitate to call or come into one of our 17 locations throughout Illinois and Indiana.
Prepping the Tools
The first step in preparing for tillage is getting your implements in order. First, pair your tools and speed. This means not overpowering the implement. As a general rule, 8 to 10 HP per foot to pull a tandem disc harrow at 5 to 6 mph. Some tillage tools can go faster, but this could create ridges and furrows you don’t want. Higher speeds can also damage the tillage tools or cause them to bounce, which will make for inconsistent tillage depth.
Next, adjust the tongue to match your tractor’s drawbar height. It’s important to keep the tillage tool level and moving smoothly. This optimizes fuel use and reduces wear and tear on the drawbar and other components. Now match the attaching point of the tongue to the tractor drawbar height to level out the frame. The goal is a straight line of draft to the tool. A bad alignment can cause the front or rear of the implement to dig in excessively. To finalize tool attachment, ensure proper leveling both side to side and front to back.
Field Check
Start by checking your field for signs of uneven operation. This is important if you’re not the only operator around and might run into another’s shoddy work. Nothing will do except for a visual check, so get out there! Also, once you get going, you’ll want to hop out and check to make sure your equipment is doing the work you need it to be doing. You’ll be able to go over the tillage lines and make sure everything is nice and straight. This is also a great time to get anything else out in the field out of your way.
Tractor Check
Second to your implements, your tractor needs to be checked for proper operation during tillage operation. Start with the basics like tire pressure, fluid levels, and electronic functionality. You want even tire pressure, topped off fluids (or replaced fluids that have grown too viscous and discolored), and a functioning battery that won’t give up on you when you’re only halfway done.
If your tractor utilizes hydraulic power transfer, you might want to purse the lines. Air left in the lines can allow the wings to sag, which can then mess with your tillage. With the implement hydraulics connected to the tractor, raise and lower the implement several times so the system can fully cycle. This is also a good opportunity to ensure your gauge wheels are set up properly. Use a tape measure to ensure the settings for gauge wheels is consistent, which will prevent front-wing corners from gouging. Finally, before beginning, set your tillage depth. Another rule of thumb is to set tillage depth at 1/4th of the blade diameter. (A disc harrow with 24-inch blades should be set at no more than 6 inches.)
Getting your soil and equipment ready for some serious tillage doesn’t have to be a daunting task. With a bit of know-how, preparation, and attention to the details, you’ll be ready to go in no time. And if you’re in need of new tillage equipment or just want to check out our selection of parts, service, and the best agricultural equipment, head to Birkey’s Farm Store! The Birkey’s network serves the Illinois communities of Annawan, Arthur, Bloomington, Casey, Galesburg, Gibson City, Henry, Hoopeston, Macomb, Mattoon, Newton, Oakland, Polo, Prophetstown, Shelbyville, and Urbana, as well as Williamsport, Indiana. Our staff of knowledgeable and courteous professionals is ready to answer all your questions and help you find the right equipment for the work that’s important to you. Come in today and discover the true meaning of customer satisfaction!