[Alan Timms]

Dear All

I am opening up areas of my paddock for pigs which arrive in the new year. I am very much aware that the land will resemble the Somme within a short period. My query is related to restoring the land when they are moved off. I have a compact tractor but am unsure which type of implement would be best to use in recreating a paddock. I don't want to go to the expense of several implements just wondered if anyone had thoughts. A plough would clearly be good but of course it won't leave it level so would appreciate your thoughts please.

Thank you in anticipation.

Alan

[Fleecewife]

What we found after pigs is that , because their feet all sink in the same amount, there is a hard pan a bit below the surface.  Ideally this needs to be ploughed (a single furrow plough isn't expensive). After we let it stand for a while to weather, we would then go over it with a tractor driven rotavator (our little tractor is a Siromer).  The rotavator is useful for all sorts of things, but doesn't work the soil deeply enough to break up the hard pan.  It leaves it ready for planting straight afterwards.

[Carse Goodlifers]

A small grubber would do to.
You may need to go over the area a couple of times and in perhaps different directions but providing that the ground is not too wet ( ) it should get rid of any compaction below and leave a good enough tilth to allow you then to go over the area and seed it and then roll it straight after.

[Alan Timms]

Many thanks both. What a very good community this is!

[Possum]

Do you need a tractor for a grubber or can you hitch it to a 4x4?

[Carse Goodlifers]

You would need a tractor in order to pull a grubber.

[Possum]

Oh dear. I thought you might say that.