Loading...
The Rural Voice, 1986-04, Page 48at a 45% DISCOUNT Tractor not exactly as illustrated "One only" New Allis Chalmers 8050 152 PTO HP • Power Shift Trans. • 20.8 x 38 Radials • Cab Heater Air • 1100 — 16 Front Tires • New Warranty Reg. List Price $86,967.00 Less 45% Discount $39,135.00 Special Sale Price $47,832.00 HYDE BROS. LTD. DEUTZ ALLIS Hensall, Ontario ...�• 519-262-2605 '\f TAG THESE FEATURES • styling • horse power • fuel economy • quiet operation • more leg room • price Nothing Runs Like a Deeree McPHAIL'S OF HARRISTON (Don McPhail Motors Ltd.) Hwy. 9, 4 km. S. of Harriston 519-338-3422 1'C;. 6 SPECIAL EQUIPMENT SPECIAL, APRIL, 1986 14? Spring tillage Options With November 1985 being the wettest on record, many farmers were caught short with fall tillage, and even harvesting, incomplete. As a result, a question most fre- quently asked is, "What are my tillage options now?" Those in the no fall tillage bracket shouldn't be too upset. The majority of the fields were too wet for tillage or any type of work. In a situation where fields are wet, patience is best. Yield decrease due to soil compaction can be far more damaging than delaying your tillage program. Various tillage options are availabe, from the moldboard plow to the cultivator, depending on the crop and soil suitability. As a standard, most implements are compared to the fall moldboard plow. According to T. Vyn, where corn follows corn, spr- ing tillage consistently yielded 2-14 per cent less when compared to the fall moldboard plow. On fields in rotation the reduction in yield would not be as great. The moldboard plow can be a good spring tillage tool on clay loam soils. Tillage depth is an im- portant consideration and you should observe a 4" maximum depth. Deep plowing will not in- crease yields and may in fact decrease them by diluting your productive topsoil. Incorporation of the surface residue is important. The major disadvantage of this system is the possibilities of a droughty or cloddy seedbed. If the soil is too wet when worked, it may smear and clod, making seedbed preparation more dif- ficult. Research has shown that secondary tillage is not necessary if spring plowing is done at the op- timal time. A yield reduction of 4-5 per cent can be expected on clay loams when comparing spring and fall plowing. The offset or tandem disc may also be considered for spring tillage. Its chopping and incor- porating action can provide an ex- cellent option in corn or other heavy residue situations. Disad- vantages of this implement can be summed up in one word — "Com- paction." The disc offers an ex- cellent alternative for fields that are well drained. However, soils which remain wet should be avoid-