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  • From: Etienne Goyer <etienne.goyer AT outlands.ca>
  • To: market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: Re: [Market-farming] new tractor - wheel spacing - tillage tools
  • Date: Wed, 22 Sep 2010 01:05:59 -0400

On 10-09-21 12:31 PM, frank ventura wrote:
> Sean, it may be but, boy are they pricey! One can buy a new 70hp tractor
> or..an Imants spader. I can't see how they justify what they charge for it!

I know the price can vary a lot (particularly so with used implements),
but how much is an Imants.

I had a look at their web site, seems like an interesting machine.
There does not seems to be many being traded used, and I could not find
a North American dealer.


> -----Original Message-----
> From: market-farming-bounces AT lists.ibiblio.org
> [mailto:market-farming-bounces AT lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of Sean Albiston
> Sent: Tuesday, September 21, 2010 9:03 AM
> To: Market Farming
> Subject: Re: [Market-farming] new tractor - wheel spacing - tillage tools
>
> The best single pass tillage tool in my opinion is an imants rotary tiller
> (spader.) I went through a host of tillage implements and a couple of
> tractors with various spacings until I figured that out. With an imants
> tiller with harrow and a flail mower, you can pretty much plant into any
> tilled bed after one pass. Worth considering. The crankshaft spaders
> might be more ecological in some folks minds, but I don't believe the
> contrast is that big. I've run over piles of spotted salamanders that
> crawl out of the soil after I pass over them. Crankshaft spaders aren't
> one pass implements either. Wish I would have read this conversation 10
> years ago.
>
> sean Stillwater, MN
>
>> by hand (yuck), wishing we could make a single pass. We had thought about
>> getting a very small tractor for the time being, with the thought that we
>> "could always upgrade later". But now I'm wondering if we should just
>> bite
>> the bullet (and the wallet) and get a larger tractor now so that we don't
>> have to go through this song and dance again. Jury is still out on that
>> part
>> but the conversation has given me a lot to think about.......
>> Kathryn Kerby
>> frogchorusfarm.com
>> Snohomish, WA
>>
>>
>> In a message dated 9/15/2010 7:46:28 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time,
>> frank.dragonflyfarms AT gmail.com writes:
>>
>>
>> I went through the same exercise this spring and don’t envy you and
>> your
>> decision. We had a Farmall A and a compact tractor and we were looking
>> for
>> a larger tractor to manage larger fields quicker. This year we took on
>> about 25 acres of which more than half is in cover crop and I didn’t
>> want to
>> spend weeks managing it with a 2 bottom plow and small light disc.
>> My goal was to try to match the wheel spacing with my compact tractor so
>> that either tractor could be used in a pinch. When my compact tractor is
>> eventually replaced I could then bump out the wheel spacing on the newer
>> tractor. My compact tractor (Century 45hp) had to be set at 52” c-c,
>> straddling a 40” bed so that a larger tractor at its most narrow setting
>> could
>> straddle the same bed. With this setup I do one or two rows per bed and
>> can
>> lay 4’ plastic. Sometimes we do 3 rows/bed for lettuces, but it’s
>> harder to
>> cultivate. We bought a slightly used JD 5525.
>> I think your challenge will be that the tractors you are looking at
>> won’t
>> go wide enough for two rows with your smaller tractor and they won’t go
>> small enough to match the spacing of your smaller tractor. Perhaps I am
>> wrong
>> though. I think you need to bump up to the utility class rather than the
>> compact to go 72” c- c.
>> Things I would look for would definitely be the telescoping links,
>> creeper
>> gear for transplanter, loader that can lift a full pallet(2000-2500lbs)
>> from a delivery truck, rear remotes. As a side note I hate the new
>> box/pin
>> three point arm stabilizers. The old style turnbuckle is much easier and
>> accurate to work with.
>> Thx,
>> Frank V.
>> Dragonfly Farms
>> _www.dragonfly-farms.com_ (http://www.dragonfly-farms.com/)
>>
>>
>> From: market-farming-bounces AT lists.ibiblio.org
>> [mailto:market-farming-bounces AT lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of Beth
>> Spaugh
>> Sent: Wednesday, September 15, 2010 3:45 PM
>> To: 'Market Farming'
>> Subject: Re: [Market-farming] new tractor - wheel spacing
>>
>> I was thinking 6 foot on center, since the 6100 could drive back and
>> forth
>> twice in that area. Driving to market this morning I realized I need to
>> think of inner wheel spacing as that will determine "bed" width, and look
>> at
>> how the full 42" of the current rototiller fits in. It might be that a
>> slightly narrower wheel spacing will just straddle one pass of the
>> rototiller for bed prep. I am only 5'4" so don't step across even 4 foot
>> beds well
>> so I use the term "bed" loosely. I can see planting some things in
>> closer
>> rows than my current 36" will increase production - carrots, mini
>> cabbages,
>> lettuces, ...
>> Thank you.
>>
>>
>> Beth Spaugh
>> Rehoboth Homestead, Peru, NY
>> Farm Fresh Food Club CSA - _http://rhomestead.com_
>> (http://rhomestead.com/)
>> Become a Fan on _Facebook_
>> (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Rehoboth-Homestead/261550161286)
>> Garden fresh vegetables, organically grown, and pastured chicken, duck,
>> and geese
>> "How we eat determines, to a considerable extent, how the world is used."
>> - Wendell Berry
>> "Without power over our food, any notion of democracy is empty." -
>> Frances
>> Moore Lappe
>>
>>
>>
>> ____________________________________
>>
>> From: market-farming-bounces AT lists.ibiblio.org
>> [mailto:market-farming-bounces AT lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of
>> sunnfarm AT netscape.com
>> Sent: Wednesday, September 15, 2010 8:35 AM
>> To: Market Farming
>> Subject: Re: [Market-farming] new tractor - wheel spacing
>>
>> Do you want a tractor with a 72" center to center tire tread or a tractor
>> that will straddle a 72" wide bed?. I don't think this can be done on
>> compact tractors like the models you named. The older style JD's in the
>> 38+ hp
>> range from the 1970's used rack and pinion wheels that went out to 90
>> inches. The same can be done on the older Farmalls. You might want to
>> look into
>> an older tractor just for cultivating that is what every vegetable farm
>> does here in S Jersey. The telescoping lower lift arms you mention are a
>> great
>> time and back saver... Bob.
>>
>> --- lists AT rhomestead.com wrote:
>>
>> From: "Beth Spaugh" <lists AT rhomestead.com>
>> To: "'Market Farming'" <market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org>
>> Subject: [Market-farming] new tractor - wheel spacing
>> Date: Tue, 14 Sep 2010 22:18:18 -0400
>> I am going to bite the bullet and get myself a tractor since DH doesn't
>> get things done on time, and I don't like to use his JD 2010 with the
>> funky
>> gears plus idiosyncrasies, plus heaven forbid I might change something. I
>> figure if I mentally spread the cost out over 5 years I can easily
>> increase
>> production (and time for marketing) to make up $5,000/year (So much for
>> the
>> rant). I have been hemming and hawing for two years on this, trying to
>> decide on bed/wheel spacing. I finally settled on 6 foot last week and
>> went
>> shopping, expecting to find something that can be 6 feet now and moved
>> back
>> to 5 feet if I change my mind later. Found some good tractors (good
>> service dealers here are Kubota and JD) with narrower wheel spacings.
>> Dealers
>> are researching how much the wheels can adjust, and whether the front
>> tires
>> also move out enough.
>> Now I am second guessing myself. I plan to use this tractor to use the
>> loader/forks, pull a plastic mulch layer (currently
>> lay_ilman/options/market-farming_
>> (http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/options/market-farming)
>>
>>
>> ____________________________________
>>
>> Netscape. Just the Net You Need.
>>
>>
>>
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