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market-farming - Re: [Market-farming] Tillage recommendation?

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  • From: <sunnfarm AT netscape.com>
  • To: "Market Farming" <market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [Market-farming] Tillage recommendation?
  • Date: Fri, 19 Jun 2009 04:58:03 -0700

Two things I think are essential in a small tractor is enough power to pull a 16"two bottom plow fast and deep and wheel thread adjustability out to 72" center to center. In today's market that puts you in the 40 hp range. On a small farm you can buy a lot of HP in a used agricultural tractor for what you pay for the compact imitations. A small 20" wide walk behind tiller is a must have item... Bob.
Sunny Meadow Farm
Bridgeton, NJ.

--- ramoyer AT gmail.com wrote:

From: Richard Moyer <ramoyer AT gmail.com>
To: market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org
Subject: [Market-farming] Tillage recommendation?
Date: Wed, 17 Jun 2009 21:19:01 -0400

In this our first year of market gardening, am trying to choose between a 24-28 hp 4wd tractor and a mid-size walk behind such as BCS.  Hard to afford buying both this year.
 
Have about 1.5 acres in cultivation, remainder of 70+ acres in pasture and woods.   Only about 1/4-1/3 of an acre in beds now, the remainder in grains and legumes for us and the poultry.
 
Neighbors are willing to plow and disc for a pittance.  But none of them have a decent tiller.  There are only so many hours in the day to use the broadfork then wheel hoe to renovate veggie beds, even though our soil is deep loam and essentially rock free.
 
On a limited budget, should I buy the tractor (w/ loader, 4-5' tiller and bushhog) first and the walk behind tractor second, or the other way around?  I'd rather not go the $200 tiller route.
 
Question 2:
On a 4wd tractor, which wheel base is preferred to till 48" beds, most of them 100 ft long?  As long as the tiller is as wide as the wheels, does it matter if the wheel base is 48" or 55"? 
 
Question 3:
On a walk behind, which width tiller is preferred for 4" beds?
 
Thanks,
Richard Moyer
Castlewood, VA
Taking mulberries, sugar snaps, bok choy and lettuce to market now. 
 
 
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