Aldeer.com Forums Alabama Deer Talk Aldeer General Forum No till drill question

For those of you that have experience with a drill, do you have any complaints or reservations about using it? Have you ever stopped using it and went another method?

My only reservation to using mine is on small plots and high deer density. If I have a 1 ac or larger plot I feel comfortable planting with it. It definitely takes some getting use to if one is use to seeing matt of green. I like to drill my grains into standing established clover so that is not an issue for me most years.

What is bothering you about using yours?

Not a thing. I bought it to use on a lease I’m in. We used it the last two years but they decided to go back to the traditional route this year. I still have plenty to plant on my personal property so it is being used.

The only reason to go away from a drill is if yours isn’t strong enough to plant through the established vegetation. Assuming yours isn’t hydraulic. Otherwise there’s only pros to no-till and using a drill.

One reason a “club” might not want to use it is b/c it slows down planting “day” since a lot of folks have disc but very few have drills.

The long term goal of using a drill is to improve soil quality. If you alternate between discing and drilling then you aren’t reaping the long term goals of drilling.

It really shines in years like this when you plant and don’t have rainfall for an extended period of time.

Drilling is the way to go if your seed is fairly clean. It’ll make you wonder why you ever did it the old way

I’ve been using one for 3 years and I have zero plans to change. It saves me a bunch of time, I can plant roads and slopes without worrying about erosion, plus all of the soil benefits.

Great Plains 606NT drill is at the top of my Santa list…

Been conventional drilling for years at first the nay sayers hated it but now they have come around. I hope a no till is in my future, no doubt it will be better for soil conservation

I can answer your question since you mentioned using on the club. The members got use to seeing a pretty thick plot of green grass from broadcast planting prior to you using the drill. They might not have the heart to tell you, but it would be my #1 guess. I dealt with the complaining when I used it on my big club in Clarke Cty. Most people do not understand the benefits of using a drill and they don't like the bare dirt between the rows....it's not as pretty.

Another member above hit on another key point. What those guys don't understand is you can out plant them if the plots are mowed and burned down ahead of you.

I have a land pride 606NT and it's a food plot planting machine.

I've had such good luck with throw and mow I haven't considered buying one. I actually spray, mow, then spread. But it's by far the best way to plant without wasting diesel. Side by side experiments have showed no difference in stands at my place. I'm not kidding.

Like squeaky said, the folks that were wanting to go back must not understand the benefits of using a no till drill. I’d politely tell them they’re morons.

I’ve got a 6’ Great Plains minimum till drill and it beats the heck out of the conventional way of planting. Bush hog, spray, and plant (my drill has a fertilizer hopper so it puts out both at the same time). That’s it. No disking, spreading, and if your club is like most, it only takes one tractor to plant. I have found it’s easier just to use it cause it’s incredibly hard to get guys to actually work when you need them. I’ve also found that if the guys want a full field of green, just have one go around behind you with whirly gigger hand spreader and top sow wheat or a bag of mixed seed. Another great thing about a drill now is it uses way less seed so it’s more economical.

I love to disc up dirt. It’s great to see and fun to do. If I had to disc all my plots it wouldn’t get done. There’s not enough hours in the day. Plus I don’t think it helps.

That’s exactly the issue. Fine with me though since I was having to run the drill for every plot.

Yep. Benefits are often overlooked by those not interested in it, long term, especially if it is a lease and not “theirs”.

All you can do is try and explain it to folks.....You cant understand it for them.

It’s all visual. I don’t drill winter plots for the visual reason; plants in 7.5” rows aren’t as pretty as a golf fairway look that comes from random seed location. But ultimately it’s the same number of seeds per pound and pounds per acre, regardless of how the seeds are organized. I just prefer them not in rows and usually have time to spare.

How well do these drills work on hill sides?

They will drill anywhere you want.

My goal is to be chisel plow/no till next year. Chisel plow is your best friend. I got a three tier 12’, tines are 32” apart per bar and it rips every eleven inches. No grass will get built up. One of the cheapest and best implants I have. Going minimum or no till is great, but the hard pan must be broke so moisture is taken in, instead of running off. It then wicks up. I got sold on this concept after reading an article about banking moisture in Texas.