Mobile No-Till Setup

[Iowannabe]

Hello everyone. My first post here.

My family and I have 4 hunting properties scattered around the area and I'm looking to get away from the tilling-to-plant practices. In total, I plant about 10 acres of food plots a year. I'm looking to gather opinions on what to purchase for a mobile no-till setup using one of the tractors I already have. I have a Kubota sub-compact tractor, which has a 680lb 3-point lift capacity, and a John Deere 4 series tractor, which has a 2500lb 3-point lift capacity.

My guess is nobody will recommend using the sub compact for using a no-till drill, but I figured I would toss that out there if someone knows a good mobile method.

I've used my John Deere 4 series with a buddy's Great Plains 606NT pull style drill, which it does well with, but it's not real "mobile". I would have to trailer them separately to each property, which I would rather not do.

Any recommendations on what drill/brand to purchase for one of these machines? It seems like the Great Plains/Landpride and the Genesis are the most common. Are the heavy no till drill necessary, or would a minimal-till do the job without having to till?

 

[IowaBowHunter1983]

10 acres a years, genesis 5 will do great. Very mobile, legit no till, under 2500 lb capacity. Under heavier use (more acres) I'd def go GP.

 

[Daver]

Welcome! Caveat...I will share some thoughts, but cannot answer all of your questions based upon personal experience.

I too have a compact tractor, LS 4140H, which I believe is rated for 2700 pounds on the 3 point lift. I currently use a Truax Flex-II drill with fair success. (I need to get it to close the seed bed furrow better. This could just be an additional adjustment and/or replacing some "tired" springs, etc.) It is a tow behind model and does feature three seed boxes. I think it is cutting a sufficient furrow and dropping seed reliably, FWIW.

I am strongly considering getting a Genesis 5, which is a 3 point device, that is around 1800 pounds. So I think I can use it with my tractor.

I am drilling more and more and tilling less and less...but am not fully no till...yet.

With that said, I don't think there is anything viable for your smaller tractor...but I think a Genesis, or similar, would work with your 4 series no problem. I will probably buy the Genesis because I am a place in my life where I can generally afford things AND I am trying to avoid "saving money" only to have to buy something a second time when I get annoyed and frustrated.

 

[Iowannabe]

10 acres a years, genesis 5 will do great. Very mobile, legit no till, under 2500 lb capacity. Under heavier use (more acres) I'd def go GP.

Thanks for the thoughts. I do think the Genesis 5 would be a good fit.

If a guy wanted to purchase a Great Plains unit (I have a dealership near my home), are there any thoughts on which model? No-till vs min-till?

 

[smithhunter1975]

Agree with Genesis, really like mine. Only potential regret is that it wont do fluffy natives. Other comment is that trailering your tractor, i assume loader, and a 5’ genesis is a heavy load. Not sure how far apart your farms are but likely going to need a heavy trailer and 3/4 ton truck to haul them together.

 

[Sligh1]

Thanks for the thoughts. I do think the Genesis 5 would be a good fit.

If a guy wanted to purchase a Great Plains unit (I have a dealership near my home), are there any thoughts on which model? No-till vs min-till?

U won’t regret anything Great Plains. Is the one u have now a pull type & that’s why u need to trailer them separate or what’s reason for that? I like pull type better but harder to trailer. But with big enough trailer- think it’s doable

 

[Iowannabe]

U won’t regret anything Great Plains. Is the one u have now a pull type & that’s why u need to trailer them separate or what’s reason for that? I like pull type better but harder to trailer. But with big enough trailer- think it’s doable

The one my friend lets me borrow is a 6' no-till pull type 606NT. The wheels make the unit wider than any trailer width I have available to use. With that said, I generally just hook it up to my truck directly to pull it down the highway.