Renovator Helps With Pasture Compaction

Renovator Helps With Pasture Compaction “I noticed compaction was starting in my pastures, often the water was ponding after a large rain, and thin spots were appearing where cattle traveled more frequently,” says Ryan Preul of Truxton, Mo. “I wanted to be proactive and do something about combating the problem.” Preul originally hoped to use an old cultivator frame and toolbar to build his own renovator. He tried to buy only DMI 4200 NH3 applicator openers to attach to his cultivator frame, but he could only find entire pieces of equipment for sale. After agreeing to purchase an older DMI applicator, he was offered a second unit when he arrived to pick up the first. “I’m glad I went this route instead, as the DMI has a lot of weight and that’s what I needed to do a nice job,” he says. “They’re heavy-duty and put together right.” Preul cut the wings off one of the units to use only the center section. He spaced the 17 20 1/2-in. fluted opener blades from the two applicators at 9-in. centers. Each opener has a 45-degree side-to-side radius and a stop to allow for turning corners without lifting out of the ground. Behind the modified applicator, he attached an adjustable Deere 2200 tine harrow. To make the machine even heavier, he added Deere slab weights to the center and rear. In the future, he’d like to add an extra 600 lbs. to the back of the machine. “The harrow was also added for weight and to better see exactly where I’ve been,” Preul adds. “It does a great job pulling dead grass up and breaking up manure piles because I’m easily getting the blades in the ground up to 8 in., leaving very little disturbance to the ground.” The renovator pulls about the same as a 15-ft. no-till drill and can be operated at higher speeds to cover more acres. Preul says it’s great for following the manure spreader, breaking up and smoothing out any clumps. He tested the machine in April and could clearly see where he had gone. He notes that the grass is greener in those locations. He would like to run over some hay ground this fall to evaluate its impact, but because of the dry conditions in his area, he’ll need to wait for rain. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Ryan Preul, P.O. Box 185, Truxton, Mo. 63381 (ph 636-295-0706; ryan@rplandco.com).

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