Foggy's Deertopia Proving Grounds - Happenings
- Thread starter Foggy47
- Start date
Foggy47
5 year old buck +
Mowing day today.....and lots of odds and ends. Thought I would share a few pics.
I found a spot on my drill to mount my foam marker.....so I fabricated a few brackets from an old boat hoist and bolted it on. Routed the hoses to the back of the drill and found some exiting holes for the "blob drop". I sometimes struggle to find where I was drilling seeds last.....and the marker proved to be of value on my old drill.....so I got this done today. Need to shorten those brackets yet.....but I'm satisfied with the mount and location.
I took a load of "junk" to the landfill.....and decided to fill my fuel barrel at the same time. Two years ago I bought a "barrel Dolley" and a sling set up to lift the barrel safely. Kinda happy with my purchase and how easy it is to get diesel fuel. Got enough to get me into next year.
Then I trimmed the brush that has been falsely triggering my cameras and checked for germination on my brassica. Got just enough rain lately (maybe 1/4" total over 3 events) to germinate the brassica. We need a substantial rainfall very soon......or in my sand the brassica will be toast. A few pics.
The n I spent the rest of the day mowing my clover plots. Hopefully we get some rain....as it feels pretty dry to be clipping my clover. The weeds wont wait....so...
It's a good year to have "roots in the ground". I have some spots that have pretty fair moisture as a result of my no till practices.....other areas seems dry....but the clover is hanging on and the brassica germinated despite the dry weather.
I found a spot on my drill to mount my foam marker.....so I fabricated a few brackets from an old boat hoist and bolted it on. Routed the hoses to the back of the drill and found some exiting holes for the "blob drop". I sometimes struggle to find where I was drilling seeds last.....and the marker proved to be of value on my old drill.....so I got this done today. Need to shorten those brackets yet.....but I'm satisfied with the mount and location.
I took a load of "junk" to the landfill.....and decided to fill my fuel barrel at the same time. Two years ago I bought a "barrel Dolley" and a sling set up to lift the barrel safely. Kinda happy with my purchase and how easy it is to get diesel fuel. Got enough to get me into next year.
Then I trimmed the brush that has been falsely triggering my cameras and checked for germination on my brassica. Got just enough rain lately (maybe 1/4" total over 3 events) to germinate the brassica. We need a substantial rainfall very soon......or in my sand the brassica will be toast. A few pics.
The n I spent the rest of the day mowing my clover plots. Hopefully we get some rain....as it feels pretty dry to be clipping my clover. The weeds wont wait....so...
It's a good year to have "roots in the ground". I have some spots that have pretty fair moisture as a result of my no till practices.....other areas seems dry....but the clover is hanging on and the brassica germinated despite the dry weather.
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Wild Thing
5 year old buck +
I could have used your foam marker system when I was spraying my cover crop this year Foggy...
I always seem to miss a strip or two
Actually, it would have been nice to have when I was planting with the drill this year also. I planted my cover crop a little thinner than usual last year and I found it was more difficult to see my last pass than what it is when the thatch is thicker. Of course, with our drought conditions, it was a lot drier than normal this year also which didn't leave the trench quite as visible as it normally is...
May have to look into a foam marking system in the future...
I always seem to miss a strip or two
Actually, it would have been nice to have when I was planting with the drill this year also. I planted my cover crop a little thinner than usual last year and I found it was more difficult to see my last pass than what it is when the thatch is thicker. Of course, with our drought conditions, it was a lot drier than normal this year also which didn't leave the trench quite as visible as it normally is...
May have to look into a foam marking system in the future...
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Foggy47
5 year old buck +
^ I found that foam marker kit two years ago.....when it was on a "Fall Sale" on line. I remember thinking it was quite a deal as the price of a foam marker set up is not particularly "cheap". Somewhere I once saw a guy that made a marker system using shaving cream cans and the mechanical means to push the release via a pull cord and pulley system. I think you can still find that set-up on line.
If I were younger and needed to make some money.....I may develop a self contained electric solenoid that could be attached to a can of saving cream and electrically triggered to press that button on top. The foam would be directed thru a tube to mark the spot. A $150 gadget like that could sell pretty well for weed spraying and grain drills, etc. Marketing via the inter webs and operate out of your basement. I like it. "FOGGY FOAMER" TM Reg USPO 2023.....grin. Then......if I could make it to just fit the foggy foamer replacement cans......I could "give 'en the razor and sell them the blades".....so to speak. Works for Gillette. lol
(I did patent over 25 gadgets in my lifetime.....my wife says I am all done.
)
If I were younger and needed to make some money.....I may develop a self contained electric solenoid that could be attached to a can of saving cream and electrically triggered to press that button on top. The foam would be directed thru a tube to mark the spot. A $150 gadget like that could sell pretty well for weed spraying and grain drills, etc. Marketing via the inter webs and operate out of your basement. I like it. "FOGGY FOAMER" TM Reg USPO 2023.....grin. Then......if I could make it to just fit the foggy foamer replacement cans......I could "give 'en the razor and sell them the blades".....so to speak. Works for Gillette. lol
(I did patent over 25 gadgets in my lifetime.....my wife says I am all done.
)
Wild Thing
5 year old buck +
C'Mon Foggy - I think you've got one more left in you. Please put me on the waiting list for a "Foggy Foamer"^ I found that foam marker kit two years ago.....when it was on a "Fall Sale" on line. I remember thinking it was quite a deal as the price of a foam marker set up is not particularly "cheap". Somewhere I once saw a guy that made a marker system using shaving cream cans and the mechanical means to push the release via a pull cord and pulley system. I think you can still find that set-up on line.
If I were younger and needed to make some money.....I may develop a self contained electric solenoid that could be attached to a can of saving cream and electrically triggered to press that button on top. The foam would be directed thru a tube to mark the spot. A $150 gadget like that could sell pretty well for weed spraying and grain drills, etc. Marketing via the inter webs and operate out of your basement. I like it. "FOGGY FOAMER" TM Reg USPO 2023.....grin. Then......if I could make it to just fit the foggy foamer replacement cans......I could "give 'en the razor and sell them the blades".....so to speak. Works for Gillette. lol
(I did patent over 25 gadgets in my lifetime.....my wife says I am all done.
Foggy47
5 year old buck +
Send $100 deposit money to the care of the Deertopia Proving Grounds, QDMA Headquarters Building, Pequot Lakes, MN. BR549. This will hold your spot on the waiting list.C'Mon Foggy - I think you've got one more left in you. Please put me on the waiting list for a "Foggy Foamer"
Wild Thing
5 year old buck +
Troubles Trees
5 year old buck +
I am just jealous of y'alls tractors man! Nice setups guys! 
Foggy47
5 year old buck +
I started out with a used JD 790 that had a decent loader on it and was in real nice shape. Paid $10,000 for it. Got along with it ok....but it was really hard to position for use with my stump grinder due to the gear shift......which really needed a HST transmission. Upgraded to a JD 3320 HST......and was pretty satisfied with that tractor for many years. I ground over 3000 (lost track maybe 4000??) stumps out of my trails and food plots with that grinder. The bug caught up with me and I decided I needed a CAB with HVAC. No going back now.I am just jealous of y'alls tractors man! Nice setups guys!
Pretty happy with my Kubota Grand L 3560 HSTC. It's much more beefy in most every way......and has adequate HP for the things I do with 5 and 6 foot wide implements. The only remaining wish is occasionally I would like the tilt feature on the 3 point (I have a hydraulic top link). I'll likely not add it as it would require another valve and I dont need it enough to justify the expense. I've owned the Kubota about 5 years now.....and I am glad I traded when I did. Prices went crazy for a time.....but I think supply and prices have stabilized now.....from what I have read.
Questions on your flail mower. I am considering one of those. We have a lot of long rows of tree tubes that require maintenance for 3 yrs or more. My bush hog sticks so far back that turning is risky. Do you have a side shift? I think I would one with a centered fix position. Having it stick out to the right seems problematic to me.
Thanks,
Thanks,
Foggy47
5 year old buck +
I have the side shift on mine and I use it that way quite a bit. Allows me to get a bit wider on trails and roads.....and closer to buildings and parked implements when mowing. One thing it does do tho....is require adjustment for weight on the right when side shifted as the extra weight makes is hang lower on the right than when centered. I do try to find a "happy medium" as I do not adjust for the different operation modes (a tilt cylinder on the three point would make it easy). I get along with it pretty well......and I really like the safety and mulching and even spread produced by the fail mower.
I still have a rotary cutter....but have not used it since getting the flail mower 3 years ago.
Thank you. What HP tractor and mower width do you have? I have 13,000 native trees in rows, they cover about 45 acres. I'm a little undersized with the tractor (L3901), but a bigger machine would be hard to operate in tight conditions. I think the flail mower would save me a lot of time and accidental tube grindings! I have some slopes where the return trip with the mower off centered would be a hazard. So I think I'll try to find one that is centered. Even most fixed units are off-center.
Tedd
Foggy47
5 year old buck +
I have a 38 HP tractor.....which in reality puts out about 30 PTO HP as the hydro and cab air rob some HP. The flail mower is by Woodmaxx and it's a 78" wide model with the side shift hydrualic cylinder. I'd buy it again for my needs. They also offer a centered version for less money. Woodmaxx had a good reputation with the folks on Tractor By Net (or had one .....the last time I read about them). I had planned to get hammers but instead got the flail knives......as that was all that was available at that time. I'm happy with the knives.....and have gone thru up to 3" saplings with the unit (tho not a steady diet). I bought an extra set of belts and an extra set of knives when I purchased the unit. Shipping was prompt.
The machine has been great. I did have one issue early on......where a bolt backed out near the belt drive and it smoked a belt. I replaced all three with the spares I had bought.....and now have the two belts for a backup. No other issues to date. I like the flip up access panel in the back....as I have rolled up some wire in the machine once.....and that made it relatively easy to do the service work.
lazy_turtle
Yearling... With promise
Do you have a link for these pliers? Had a heck of time with our county’s drill this spring.
Foggy47
5 year old buck +
Here is the one I bought. Seems to do the job just fine.
Wind Gypsy
5 year old buck +
I’ve got the ROPS version of foggys tractor and the non side shift version of his flail mower. Very happy with both. When going through willows and really thick fibrous grass the tractor is a little low on HP for that 6’ mower but a guy just has to slow down a bit.
Foggy47
5 year old buck +
Agree. I'm always surprised how much power it takes to run a mower......and how much power it takes to run at high speeds with a tractor. Seems odd.....as they have so much pulling torque.....yet can be bogged down by these things. When I was buying a tractor....the L3860 with a Cab was about the biggest tractor I could buy that would fit under a 10 foot high door.......or I may have bought the next larger tractor. Still, I am happy with the power I have and the implement sizes I own are right for my property.
Foggy47
5 year old buck +
Much of my land has some degree of thatch.....but the higher areas are now toast. Low ground holds a bit more moisture.....and the clover there is hanging on pretty good.
Wind Gypsy
5 year old buck +
The thatch thing is interesting. Being new to this, especially no-till, at what point is there too much thatch/residue tying up nutrients?
After mowing and nuking RCG all spring and summer last year and then drilling rye/clover in mid sept, there is still a pretty tough layer of duff from the RCG sod. That duff has been great for keeping moisture this dry spring/summer but I wonder if the microbes are unable to help the whole system because of how much carbon there is from the RCG and following rye residue.
@Foggy47 - you can tell me to take my stuff into a different thread if you desire
After mowing and nuking RCG all spring and summer last year and then drilling rye/clover in mid sept, there is still a pretty tough layer of duff from the RCG sod. That duff has been great for keeping moisture this dry spring/summer but I wonder if the microbes are unable to help the whole system because of how much carbon there is from the RCG and following rye residue.
@Foggy47 - you can tell me to take my stuff into a different thread if you desire
