Preparing Your Planter for Spring

Spring is just around the corner so use this downtime to prepare your equipment for the hard work ahead. Investing some time and money in pre-season maintenance will improve your efficiency and profitability in the long-run. Stine is proud to provide its customers with some of the best seed traits on the market but superior genetics are no match for poor seed spacing and incorrect planting depth.

Take the time to perform pre-season planter maintenance to minimize production costs and maximize your profit per acre. The most important thing to remember is planters were developed to plant around 5.0 mph. Faster speeds can increase the number of skips and doubles leading to erratic spacing and uneven emergence. Taking a little extra time today will save you precious time in April.

Here is a top 10 list of items to check to make sure your planter is in top condition when planting season arrives.  

1. Make sure coulters and disc openers are aligned accurately and adjusted or replaced.

2. Make sure planter toolbar is parallel to ground when planter is lowered in the ground. If the planter is not level, it will affect disc opener depth, planting depth and the effectiveness of the press wheels.

3. Check tire pressure. Low pressure will change tire diameter and effect planting rates.

4. Check all chains and make sure there are no kinks or excessive wear.

5. Inspect sprockets and the planter’s transmission for alignment and wear.

6. Inspect bushings and linkages to reduce row bounce and create more uniform placement.

7. Check seed tubes and monitor sensors to ensure accurate monitoring. Replace parts if they are worn at the bottom.

8. Inspect row cleaners and remove residue.

9. If your planter is equipped with finger pickups, check back plates for rust buildup, residues and wear (dimples). Adjust the planter’s tension with a feeler gauge, as recommended by the manufacturer.

10. Calibrate actual seed drop vs. the planter’s transmission settings and monitor readings. If possible, simulate actual field conditions to ensure proper depth (1.5 - 2.0 inches) and spacing.