Firminator Cultivator and Planter

[Deadrise]

Considering a combo 6’ disc / planter / packer like the firminator. Anyone using one for impoundments or dove fields? Comments?

 

[hhpage]

I have used a Woods PSS72 seeder for the past 9 years (similar in concept to Firminator). I call it my poor man's drill. It is much more efficient for sowing narrow plots/strips than broadcasting and I consistently get uniform stands of most species that I plant. The biggest drawback is related to soil conditions when sowing. My soils are heavy silt loams that are real sticky when they are moist/wet. This limits the timing of plantings to those times when soil conditions are close to ideal, even though I have scrapers on the drive roller and cultipacker.

While I typically use it for impoundments and dove fields, I feel like I could probably do just as well broadcasting and cultipacking for many of the things that I plant. I also find a row planter to be a better option for larger seeds that need specific planting depths. If I were starting over, I would bite the bullet and buy a no-till drill and eventually add a row planter.

Also, if you think that you are going to get away with "one pass" tillage and planting, you will probably be disappointed.

 

[Little Ruddy]

Looked at the price of that unit (new) ended up buying a used disc, two row flex planter, seed drill and cultipacker. Have planted all types of seeds with no problems. Just couldn't swing a Firminator, but have heard good results with that unit.

 

[Deadrise]

Thanks guys. I’ve been planting awhile now at sites a fair bit from home. I was looking for a magic device to combine required planting implements into one device to make mobilization easier. It might be worthwhile to continue hauling a disc, planter, and cultipacker. We have had good success with herbicide and a home built no till drill for corn and sunflowers. Unfortunately, that rig does not work for all applications.

 

[Little Ruddy]

Heard that. This will be the first year to not plant a Spring crop. Usually put in corn, beans, sunflowers,Milo etc. But with the high prices of seed and fertilizer, going to wait till Fall and plant a cheaper mix. Plus,with gas prices still up, I can't justify running up to the cabin a couple times a week like I need to check.on the crops. Never thought that inflation would be a life style change for me but that's the deal right now. Plus with my son at college, its a tight budget for every thing we do at home right now, but its worth it.

 

[Farm4wildlife]

I use a Truax no-till for everything but beans and corn.

They ain't cheap, don't know where the prices are now but it wasn't uncommon to find a decent deal on a little 6' unit. Last 6' I looked at guy wanted 7k for it. Only had 100ish acres on it. That's been a couple of years tho.

Hard to find old no-till drills that small, but conservation drills were frequently a lot smaller than farm drills.

 

[bullpinnie]

The biggest drawback is related to soil conditions when sowing. My soils are heavy silt loams that are real sticky when they are moist/wet. This limits the timing of plantings to those times when soil conditions are close to ideal, even though I have scrapers on the drive roller and cultipacker.

We rigged up a broadcast spreader to an argo for wet areas. Have also used the 6 X 6 polaris, but the argo is way better. I think the spreader was like $450.