Filed under: June 2017 | Tags: horse drawn, John Deere, old equipment, refurbished equipment, safety, Small Farming
June 20, 2017
The photo above is of an old John Deere cultivator that I recently upgraded. This same unit is being made by a new company using the old pattern. They are a bit pricey. I found this old piece shed kept but rusty. I cleaned it up and had it painted. Last week, we added these new style “S” tines. They get the weeds but are a bit more gentle on the crop being weeded.
This unit is made for two horses to cultivate two rows at a time. I get to ride in the back on a seat riding on a dolly wheel. I am excited to try it out. I am even already thinking of adding a homemade fertilizer side dress applicator to this next year. Projects keep my mind and hands busy!
This cultivator replaces an old McCormick Deering one that I recently sold. The old one had served me for over thirty years. It worked great and was in great shape. My only reason for selling it, was due to the way I had to sort of climb down in to it to use it. As I get older, I find that I am not as spry as I once was! If I should get into trouble while using this piece of equipment, I could almost just fall off the back, out of harm’s way. The old one, I would almost be trapped, especially now when my old knees don’t work as well as they once did.
Taking something old and making it new again, pleases me very much. I have a few pieces of reworked equipment, even a few homemade pieces. It is things such as these, that keep our farm profitable. By the way, I have a total of $425.00 invested, counting the initial purchase, painting and now the retro-fit. Those new ones that I talked about cost over $4000.00 I think that I did good!
If you look close you can see my seat and even the old toolbar in the background. This was a great project. Many thanks to my friend Ervin R Miller!
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RicelandMeadows 
I like your reasoning from the safety angle, farm accidents are usually serious and often avoidable if people put some thought into it. We had an annual Arts festival at my old high school which was sponsored by the family of a girl killed on the family farm whilst on holidays, let’s just say the combine harvester fared better than she 😦
Comment by jennyrecorder June 22, 2017 @ 12:41 amKeep safe, I love your new cultivator 🙂
Farming is a very dangerous job, made that way usually by us farmers. We tend to always be in a hurry trying to beat the weather or the clock. We are often alone and take short cuts making excuses as we go. I try to think of those who are counting on me, before I take such stupid risks. Safety is a state of mind, think it, talk about it and by all means… practice it!
Comment by ricelandmeadows June 30, 2017 @ 9:40 pm