How to Add Weight to a Drag Harrow for Improved Results

Drag harrows are a type of farming equipment that can be used to prepare soil while promoting soil maintenance. Like many types of tillage equipment, harrows can be used on their own or after plowing and offer a variety of benefits for soil health and preparation. When it comes to using a drag harrow, there may be times when farmers wish to achieve a deeper soil penetration than the harrow would generally allow. That’s where the need for adding weight to a harrow can come in. In this post, we outline the basics of drag harrows, including what they are used for and how you can add weight to one to improve your results.

At Avonlea Farm Sales Ltd, we were founded by farmers in 1988 and genuinely understand the needs of farmers. As your source for tillage equipment for sale in Manitoba, you can count on us to provide you with high-quality equipment and support with finding equipment that suits the unique needs of your farm. From tillage equipment to grain bins and tractors, you can count on us to have exactly what you need.

What is a Drag Harrow?

A drag harrow is a type of tillage equipment that facilitates seedbed preparation by breaking up soil, removing weeds, and leveling the surface of a field. Harrows are often used after deeper forms of tilling, such as in instances where a chisel plow is used. However, under the right circumstances, drag harrows may also be used on their own.

As their name would suggest, drag harrows are dragged along the ground so that their flexible metal tines, or teeth, can prepare the soil. Harrows come in a variety of sizes and designs and when looking for the right option for your farm, you’ll want to be certain that you’ve selected an appropriate option.

Why Add Weight to a Drag Harrow?

There are many reasons why weight may need to be added to a drag harrow though the primary reason to do so is to increase the equipment's effectiveness. More weight on a harrow can improve how well the harrow will break up clumps and remove weeds. Weight added to a drag harrow can also help to achieve deeper soil penetration.

How to Add Weight to a Drag Harrow

Though harrows do not necessarily need to have weight added, it is not uncommon for added weight to be used. In fact, some types of harrows will have built-in weight pans to accommodate additional weight. If you are looking to add weight to your drag harrow, knowing if it has dedicated brackets, weight pans, or even fillable weight bags is your first step. Use these built-in features first when adding weight to a harrow.

If your drag harrow does not come with dedicated features to help you add weight, you can consider adding a weight tray to the towing vehicle for your harrow or attaching the weight to the harrow in other ways. Always keep safety in mind when adding weight to drag harrows and use the equipment as intended. For assistance with finding drag harrows that are best suited to the needs of your farm, contact the experts at Avonlea.