I'm still debating on a drill purchase as a 3-point type would be great for my multiple small plots. No small box is a dealbreaker for sure on the smaller drills. I almost bought a 3p600 last fall, but now I'm thinking a 606nt pull type will suit me better. It'll require lots of maneuvering and/or simply broadcasting the small plots. Most of my acreage is now in some recently acquired farm/tillable, so the towable makes sense for me (other than the added cost)
That used one is a pull behind and around 17K,Theres also a 4 row JD 7100 planter for around 4K
My biggest plots are 9, 3, and 1 Ac. I have several in the 0.25-0.5 Ac range. The rest are smaller. One of the small drills would be great for the micro plots, but would be very time consuming on 9 Acres, I'd imagine. Most of the smallest plots are long and skinny where much more time would be spent maneuvering than actually planting, but they're so small, it still wouldn't take long.How small of plots are we talking? I planted a few 1 acre plots with a 3' tow type drill and it wasn't awful.
Yeah, I'm not advocating a small drill at all, just giving an example of what was livable for me with a small pull type. Get as big as your tractor can handle. I'd love a 606NT.My biggest plots are 9, 3, and 1 Ac. I have several in the 0.25-0.5 Ac range. The rest are smaller. One of the small drills would be great for the micro plots, but would be very time consuming on 9 Acres, I'd imagine. Most of the smallest plots are long and skinny where much more time would be spent maneuvering than actually planting, but they're so small, it still wouldn't take long.
If I had all large plots, I'd just get the pull type and be done with it. The 3p600 makes the most sense from a practical standpoint, but (as you know) they seem a bit tricky to dial in. My tractor is an L4240HST, so the 3p606nt is too much for it. I will mostly be planting clover, brassicas, cereal grains and switch screens, so I'm guessing the 3p600 will work. The biggest advantages for the min-till is the ability to get it back in the woods for my small plots, much less storage room required, and cheaper. The disadvantage (vs pull type NT) would be more wear and tear on the tractor, less certainty planting into residue and possibly more fussing around to adjust for conditions. I thought something like a 4' Stealth Pro with coulters might be a decent compromise, but the lack of a small box is a dealbreaker for me.Yeah, I'm not advocating a small drill at all, just giving an example of what was livable for me with a small pull type. Get as big as your tractor can handle. I'd love a 606NT.
I'm somewhat confident I don't need them as I currently have no problems no-tilling corn and beans with a 3 row Jungman Wildlife planter. It uses Yetter planters with double disk openers behind sharktooth residue "managers". I just looked it up and it weighs 600#, so 200 per row, but I wouldn't need to cut as deep with the min-till drill. And....Given the price savings over the NT, I could get the 3p600 AND a flail mower.I don’t know that I’d want coulters unless there’s a lot of additional weight that accompanies them.
I'm somewhat confident I don't need them as I currently have no problems no-tilling corn and beans with a 3 row Jungman Wildlife planter. It uses Yetter planters with double disk openers behind sharktooth residue "managers". I just looked it up and it weighs 600#, so 200 per row, but I wouldn't need to cut as deep with the min-till drill. And....Given the price savings over the NT, I could get the 3p600 AND a flail mower.
That is what I have too. Have had good success with drill performance anywhere I have used it. 3P500 and Woodmax 78".Now you're talkin.. that's my setup. 3p600 and a WoodMaxx 78 flail mower. I think together they were pushing $10k less than current going rate for a 606NT..
All flail mowers are somewhat slower than a rotary cutter. But they will chop up a finer mulch and distribute it evenly across what you cut. I've mowed cornstalks, heavy grasses (very slow) and lots of brushy stuff up to 3" diameter with mine. It is better than I expected in brush....but a bit slower in heavy grass than I imagined too.I may join you two in the 3p600/WoodMaxx 78 club. I know you both do similar plots/rotations to me in MI. I think I've convinced myself the 3p600 will be the best all around for me. As for the WoodMaxx, I'm wondering how fast you can mow with it. I know that depends on what you are mowing, but I'd mostly be mowing clover, alfalfa, and sometimes rye or corn stalks.
Thank you for the great info Foggy. I don't see myself needing if for any really heavy stuff (I have a Kunz mower for that if I need it). It sounds like the knife blades are plenty durable for my needs, and should cut plenty fast through clover or alfalfa. One of the best attributes is the small footprint, as I am running out of room for implements!All flail mowers are somewhat slower than a rotary cutter. But they will chop up a finer mulch and distribute it evenly across what you cut. I've mowed cornstalks, heavy grasses (very slow) and lots of brushy stuff up to 3" diameter with mine. It is better than I expected in brush....but a bit slower in heavy grass than I imagined too.
Nice thing with a hydrostatic tractor is that you can slow down quickly to match the load......or if you want to go faster just take a smaller pass at it. The flail is far safer to work around too. Not much goes flying out from under the cutting unit. It retains the debris and chops it fine......kida why it takes longer I suppose. But the time is worth it in the mulch provided.
I did keep a six foot rotary cutter and it's in great shape. I have not used mine since I bought the flail mower about 6 years ago. I have not sharpened or changed my blades either.....tho they now need it due to hitting some stones and such. My Flail will offset hydraulically.....and I do like that feature when working close to trees or ditch banks.
If my flail broke tomorrow.....I'd buy another one just like it. I did get knives.....and I am satisfied with them.....but I wish I could compare hammers on a similar machine. No regrets.....just wonder. If your buying a flail....plan ahead....'cause they sell out of some sizes and choices.
I may join you two in the 3p600/WoodMaxx 78 club. I know you both do similar plots/rotations to me in MI. I think I've convinced myself the 3p600 will be the best all around for me. As for the WoodMaxx, I'm wondering how fast you can mow with it. I know that depends on what you are mowing, but I'd mostly be mowing clover, alfalfa, and sometimes rye or corn stalks.
The worst I've had was in driving into a really thick Johnson grass area on my land. I suppose it was over three feet tall and thick. Man...took some slow going to chew that up and let it go thru the machine. I'm wondering if I have to mow thru the switchgrass....how that might go.I would have got one size smaller on the flail if it were in stock when I wanted it. The 78 is handful for my whopping 28.5 PTO HP when ive got tall thick rye or sorghum to mow. I need to go pretty slow or it gets bogged down. I bet it'd go through most clover and alfalfa pretty well on my tractor unless it's super tall/thick. I had a banner crop of balansa last spring/summer and it was a handful at times.