Don't think I'll get a chance to test the plow....

[Absent Minded Farmer]

A couple of wrong parts, a little rain & then four inches of snow. All this leads me to believe that I may not be doing any more plowing this season. There is a slight chance we'll have a dry spell, but I'm not holding my breath.

So, in the event I can't get back to plowing, what are my options? About all I know is, the corn stubble needs to be plowed under in the fall. I'm at just about the half way point on 35 acres & most of it was chopped. I have about two acres of shelled corn to plow under, too.

Yes, I would have LOVED to have been done with this nonsense a month ago. Looking for a different plow & not getting the "go ahead" until just before Thanksgiving have dictated otherwise. Also, if I would have known my plow was pooped out & that was indeed the tool I would be using to till 35 acres... the D@MN thing would have been rebuilt a long time ago.

Mike
 

[Aaron SEIA]

Plow it in the snow. If it's not too wet underneath it'll go ok. The snow ill be a blanket keeping the ground from freezing.
AaronSEIA
 

[paul]

What is next year's crop on this ground? You are pretty far north, like me, so some of the southern folk might not quite understand your prediciment, for them spring heavy tillage is almost prefered.

Small grains go into cornstalks real easy, light disking.

Soybeans you can get by with some disking, got more time in spring to wait on planting beans. You can spring plow it, but thst can bite you if the weather is wrong, and the weed flush is something amazing... Can make it work somehow.

If you plan to plant corn on corn, well it'll work out but if the weather is wrong it'll ding you some, as well as insects and fungus and Goss' Wilt become much bigger concerns. I plant about 25 acres of corn on corn the cattle graze, so it's got some trash munched off, but still is about what you have, and I let it wait for the later planting, work it up with the disk, the field cultivator, and it works out.

--->Paul
 

[4020guy]

Both Paul and Aaron are correct. I've ploughed lots of snow down. If the ground was frozen a bit the frost will come out under the snow as long as it doesn't get too severely cold. Bare ground with a bit of frost gives really good traction but if it is frozen under the snow it is pretty slippery. We try to work all the heavier ground and corn stalks in the fall with the soil saver or plough. The lighter soybean or stubble gets disked or cultivated in the spring. We find this far north tillage makes the ground warm up alot faster in the spring. Most times any primary tillage[deep] on heavier ground in the spring can turn into a disaster. My thoughts anyway. I'd give her a try. The only month I've never done tillage in is Feburary. Good luck....Ron
 

[Earl-IL]

Call in your local antique tractor club & they will plow it for you. You might have to furnish the fuel & food. Our tractor clubs are looking for ground to plow .
 

[4020guy]

Oh yeah, if you do get it ploughed, finish the headlands as soon as you are done the field. That packed tramped area will freeze like really fast. Sometimes before you are done the field.....Ron
 

[casenut1]

plowing under snow puts nitrogen in the ground.
 

[Dalet]

[JMS/.MN]

Did a lot of plowing in the snow...usually put the left dual on for a bit extra traction and weight. That snow is actually giving your ground a lot of insulation, buying you time. No reason not to plow as long as you can pull it and the frost doesn't get too deep. And some figure some extra nitrogen as well.
 

[TW]

I"ve done a lot of plowing in these conditions. As long as the ground isn"t frozen throw a chain on the left tire & go to it. I used to do this with a Farmall 300 & "H".
PS. I am only a couple miles from you.
 

[El Toro]

I would as Tw suggested and plow it. I need chains on my garden tractor since it has turf tires. I plowed my garden in Feb since we didn't get any snow and very little rain. We got the most rain on Oct 29 when that storm Sandy hit the east coast around 7 inches. Hal
 

[Absent Minded Farmer]

Well, that certainly rids me of any uncertainty I had about my H & two bottom. Encouraging, actually. I could have sworn I had seen guys turning the snow under, but it has been so long I wasn't sure.

Now, where on earth did I put those tire chains?! Lol!

Mike
 

[Absent Minded Farmer]

That's good news! I had thought at some point in my life, I had seen plowing done with snow on the ground & wouldn't you know there isn't an other plow in the ground around me when I'm thinking of it.

Always good to hear from a neighbor on the forum. Which direction are you from me? Email's open if you'd like....

Mike
 

[Absent Minded Farmer]

I'll have to give plowing a try tomorrow, then. The dual wheel idea is great, but I don't have any extra 11.2x38's. Between fluid & a single weight on either rear tire I think there's enough ballast there. Sould probably dig out my chains, though.

Thanks,

Mike
 

[Absent Minded Farmer]

Will do, thanks!

Mike