So planting time is coming up soon. This is the first time in many years I will have my own tractor to use to plant. So what are y’all’s routines?
I have done all sorts of things through the years. Quick and easy, took my time and been meticulous, planted early, planted late. I’m just curious to get a consensus on how you do it. The only consistent thing I have always done was tried to get seed down before a good rain. So what is your ideal routine? Start date to finish? Cut your fields, burn, or not at all? Disc them twice? Maybe not at all? Drag the fields, before, after, or both? Cultipack or top sew? Can’t make up my mind on how I want to do it. Always had pretty good results how ever I did it. Maybe I’m missing something or will get a new idea. My lime and soil test are done. So just prep to planting. Thanks

Spray field in august - plow plant in October before rain - but i hav done it a ton of times in years past last weekend in sept - club i was in did
that day

In oct Rent tractor - plow - Spread seed or deer magnet - lightly cover - go back with clover - i will hav 1-2 fields that just clover

Lov planting. Plan to lime a new field tomorrow - lime kicked but in other fields last year

If you want to do it the easy way. Wait until sometime in Oct. before a rain if possible. Dont spray. Spread your seed and fertilizer. Bushhog. Thats it

I have done just this many times, and to be honest, it works about as good as any. The fields don’t look all nice and tidy, but the deer don’t seem to mind.

Agree with the above. I love to turn dirt, but I stopped doing it. It’s a complete waste of time, money, and diesel. I Bushhog then spray, wait two weeks and plant.

We, bushog, spray, throw out fertilizer, till, throw seed, then harrow. This is over a couple weeks. And pray for rain before we throw seeds.

^^
Never had this or the way i do it turn out bad

I may try a couple fields like this and see how it turns out.

It depends on the field (captain obvious) and what is being planted. On average larger seeds will need more prep. But even some smaller seed like alfalfa need a good seedbed.

This year my main mix is winter peas, ladino, and wheat (oats were too high). Fields were disced a week ago and now Im waiting on rain. I'll start spreading seed a couple days before the rain and then run over everything with a harrow. Some years I have to burn down prior, but this year the spots Im planting Im just doing mechanical.

For a few of the fields Im converting to clover I will just directly seed into standing crop and do nothing else until march. Then I'll probably overseed and mow any remaining stalks.

The problem a lot of folks have trying it is that they're throwing seed out onto a soil surface that was just plowed last year and is likely is poor condition.....That's a big difference versus throwing seed out onto a soil surface that looks more like decomposed mulch