Get Prepped for Planting
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Proper planter prep is essential for growers wanting to achieve the best yields possible. A well-maintained and prepared planter ensures precise seed placement, consistent depth and uniform emergence, all of which contribute to a successful growing season. Setting crops up for success from planting is critical for achieving desired yields come harvest.
Keeping fields healthy is a year-round process that begins as soon as crops are harvested — think no-till practices, fall anhydrous nitrogen applications or cover crops — but this time of year is crucial for getting fields ready for spring planting.
How are my fields?
Healthy crops need healthy soil, so start the planting season off right. Consider the following:
TEST THE SOIL
Even if you already sampled the soil in the fall, spring is also a great time to take soil samples. Checking the pH and nutrient levels can help you make informed fertilizer and crop protection decisions.
NITROGEN LEVELS
Was there a fall nitrogen application, was a stabilizer used or do fields need a spring application? Wet spring soil creates a risk of denitrification. Nitrogen stabilizers like N-Serve® nitrogen stabilizer or Instinct NXTGEN® nitrogen stabilizer can help farmers make the most of their nitrogen inputs, which are often the highest input cost for a corn crop.
SCOUT
Before spring planting, walk each field in a zig-zag pattern looking for any weeds. Then walk the perimeter to see if any weeds are encroaching from the fence rows. Scouting ahead of planting allows for flexibility when choosing a preplanting herbicide.
Don’t forget about...
Before starting any maintenance tasks, it’s important to understand the critical components of a planter and their roles:
- Planter leveling: Ensuring the planter is level is vital for proper disc cutting action, accurate seed delivery and effective press wheel function. An unlevel planter can lead to uneven seed placement and depth.
- Parallel linkages: These linkages maintain the row units in the correct position relative to the ground. Worn or loose linkages can cause inconsistent seed depth and spacing.
- Seed meters: Responsible for controlling the rate and spacing of seed delivery, seed meters must be clean and functioning correctly to prevent skips or doubles.
- Disc openers and depth gauge wheels: Disc openers create the seed furrow, while depth gauge wheels regulate planting depth. Worn discs or improperly adjusted gauge wheels can lead to improper seed placement.
Actions you can take
To prepare your planter for the upcoming season, consider the following steps:
ADJUST DEPTH GAUGE WHEELS
Ensure gauge wheels are in close contact with the disc openers without excessive free play. Adjust or replace components to maintain the correct planting depth.
INSPECT CLOSING WHEELS
Check that closing wheels are aligned and applying appropriate pressure to close the seed trench effectively, promoting good seed-to-soil contact.
SCOUT
Test all electronic components, including monitors, sensors and wiring. Ensure software is updated, and data management systems are ready for the season.
Thorough field planning and planter preparation are critical steps in setting the stage for a successful planting season. By systematically inspecting and maintaining each field and each planter component, growers can enhance planting accuracy and promote uniform crop emergence. Investing time in these preparations helps protect input investments and maximizes yield potential.
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