Phase 1 of this project was Obstruction Removal which I described in the last post.

You’ve probably heard about “Call before you dig” There is a number to call to make sure that there is nothing underground to worry about–gas, power, phone, water lines. You are supposed to allow a couple of days for the various companies or utilities to give you the all clear. Brett took care of this and marked the corer of the property as directed.

He felt comfortable going ahead with the concrete removal before this approval because that concrete had been there for so long. Brett started to disc with the stubble disc (large blades farther apart), but found that the dallisgrass made it a challenge. He came back with a skid steer tractor with a mower. Dan had been mowing but Brett’s mower set up went a lot faster than what we have. Then he was ready to continue discing after a bit more prep.

Brett used the excavator to drop the culvert from the south end of the barn over the fence and away from the field where he would be working.

Dan and Brett used their respective tractors to work on the ditch at the north end of the property.

Dan pulled out the structures he had made to block and direct water while Brett broke down the berm and filled in the ditch.

Then Brett continued discing with the stubble disc.

After that he ripped going in a north-south direction.

The ripper has three stout teeth that are buried in the earth when they are lowered.

This is how the field looked after discing and ripping.

Dan had more tree work to do so that Brett could get his equipment close enough to the fenceline.

After ripping Brett brought the smaller disc with ring rollers.

It makes the field a lot smoother.

The sheep have been locked out of the pasture, They were happy to get a continued supply of green leaves as long as Dan was still trimming trees.