Build Your Own Narrow Row Cultivator

Build Your Own Narrow Row Cultivator CULTIVATORS Cultivators (58C) 9-2-8 Illinois farmer Jim Niemann, of Litchfield, developed this nifty 10-row, 18-in. space cultivator for less than one third the cost of a new one by using his own talents and spare time. "Works great," says Jim who has used it the past two seasons on about 700 acres of corn and soybeans. The actual cost, which included buying old cultivators and new Danish tines and parts for the conversion, was $450. "A new cultivator would be at least $1300," Jim points out. He bought two old IHC rear mount cultivators at farm sales: "You can get them for $50 or less by shopping a little and taking your time." Niemann chose International rear mounted cultivators because the steel was square and easier to weld. "The cultivators did have round shanks, I took them off and welded on 2 by 2 square steel to mount on the Danish tines," he points out. Niemann selected 2-inch shovels for the Danish tines:"You can go with wider shovels but they'll pitch more dirt. It is a choice each individual needs to make." Niemann uses 3 shovels between each 18-in. row. He says the same general idea will work if you're on 30-in. corn rows and 15-in. bean rows. For 15-in. wide rows you can use two shovels per row space instead of three. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Jim Niemann, Rt. 3, Box 313, Litchfield, Ill. 62056 (ph. 217 324-5574). (By C. F. Marley)

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