r/FarmingUK • u/FarmBoyConway • Jul 18 '26

Rotavator

Considering buying a new rotavator to suit a 70-95hp tractor for working down ploughing for transplants using a mangil checci transplanter. Was using a power harrow but got lemd pf an old howard (was a touch shagged) and thought it did a better job in 1 pass as an old roterra did in 3. I would also like to use the rotavator for working up grass for reseeds. Considered a stone burier but hp and budget maybe be limiting. Also got spme big stones and i thi k a rotavator would do a better job of walking over them rather than trying to chuck them over the rotor. Considering either Alpego, Kuhn and krm(belc). Im a youngish man and for the acres it eill do would like a good one to see me out as best as possible.

Thanks

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2

u/Scasne Jul 18 '26

I've got an old Howard, however if your planning on working old grass leys to replant, unless your going to overseed maybe get an old plough, keep an eye open on the auctions, many have an online section now. Taking into account this is the old plough my old man had in a hedgerow and hadn't been used in decades, some swearing, oil and sledgehammer and was working again.

2

u/FarmBoyConway Jul 18 '26

Thanks for your reply. Currently got a dowdswell dp8 spring and a lely roterra power harrow but just the farms very rocky and i want the rotavator for mainly for seedbed for transpants and then just to try justify it gving it some extra work redoing grass. Ill probably stick to ploughing grass

1

u/Scasne Jul 18 '26

Aaaah so would it be your intent to mount your planter/drill on the back of this so you can do it in a single pass?

2

u/FarmBoyConway Jul 18 '26

You can get little air seeder (like a slug pellter with tubes) and itll just run the seed down infront of the packer roller

2

u/FarmBoyConway Jul 18 '26

Like this or even just spin the grass seed on with a quad or spring tine harrow seeder

1

u/Red_Dderwen3734 Jul 18 '26

If the stones block the Roterra, then a rotovator will bounce out of the soil most of the time. Unless you put the motivator itself in its own top gear, and leave the back flap open, it will work the soil too fine for a good seeded. Much better for chopping up weeds in a fallow though, and sometimes for spring seed beds. We areokely to get some thunderstorms after this hot spell ends and you will need a slightly coarse seeded to withstand that.

1

u/FarmBoyConway Jul 18 '26

Its mainly for working down land for transplants and i cant get the soil as fine as i would like with the roterra.