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10/9/2021 0 Comments

How I got started and I got way more than I expected

When I started making my Chisel Ripper, I had mainly one goal in mind,  depth tillage. My efforts produced much more than that. The residue utilization was one, which improved way beyond what I could ever hope. This has done a great job of improved my soil tilth. Another thing is the efficiency of the tool with the lack of power needed. The compaction reduction has amazed me. The first time I pulled it across my fields, I could only go 3 mph in some spots. By the third time, I could kick it up to around 5or 6mph. Anybody who claims they can eliminate compaction is full of it.
  During a discussion with another farmer over tillage practices, he said they no-till beans and wheat and till for corn. His ground is blue clay and very tough. One of his reasons for no-tilling beans into corn was because the corn stalks mother in his beans by protecting them by holding moisture and such. I say the corn stalks can be better used by working them properly and giving them proper conditions to break down [or compost] and improve your soil. This will not only help for the short term also for that year to come. Vertical tillage tries to address these issues  I can see a multitude of problems. One of which is the size and expense of the machinery. The horsepower need contributes to compaction and the inefficiency of it all. Little weed control is another. Plus, my ripper way outperforms them in opening the ground up for better root growth. Although, some of the disc designs can work well in conjunction with my machine.
Total no-till falls way short in weed control [especially if you are organic] and compaction. Cover crops help with both problems, but they add time and expense. A wet spring can give you problems drying your ground out. Even with these problems, I am not against cover crops. We have used them in conjunction with my ripper with successes. The best I thought was when we broadcast them on chisel ripped ground. It made them very easy to deal with in the spring. I also like them for their added green manure. For that, they are a big plus. With no-till, I do not care what you do, sometimes you will have to till. You will be in the fields when it is wet getting your crops out. You will track them up. I am sure it has happened to everyone in the real world.   
  We have experienced yield increases with my ripper. Plus, time reduction with fewer field passes with more consistent field conditions. The smoothness of pull makes it easier on you, the operator. The ripper is very fun to run. Can you tell me the last time you ever enjoyed running your chisel plow? You also feel pride in a job well done. What tool have you run that you could say all that about?​
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     I personally have never let what others say or do influence  what I  know is possible. If someone says I cannot  it becomes a challenge to me.  I never stop trying to improve on whatever I am doing.  No matter what job I have ever done and  no matter what I feel, I look back and learn something from it.

    Jeff Sberna - Farmer and Founder of J&D FarmBuilt LLC

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