A successful planting season hinges on proper equipment maintenance

“Your planter has to be in tip-top shape as it’s where the inception of the crop starts,” says Luther. “You need to ensure the seed is getting into the ground at the right singulation and you have an ideal seed trench to encourage proper emergence.”

Luther and his team began planter maintenance in early January. While each planter is different, it’s important to follow the manufacturer’s settings and instructions closely to ensure the equipment is prepared for the season.

Start inside then move outward

Luther recommends starting with the inside mechanics of the planter before moving outward. His annual planter prep checklist includes:

• Measure the disc blades.
  Disc blades are essential to help set the bottom of the trench. Recommendations are different for each planter brand, but you want to ensure the disc blades have good contact with the soil for planting and do not need to be replaced. Consult with the manufacturing specs for proper measurements.
• Check the condition of the scrapers.
  Disc blade scrapers help clear dirt and other residue for the disk openers to properly operate.
• Maintain the disc blade openers.
  The disc blade openers need to be in proper working order and cleared of debris to dig the soil trench and maintain an ideal seed wall. If your discs are worn, chipped or cracked, it’s important to replace them.
• Review the gauge wheels.
  Gauge wheels have a lip inside of them that runs against the blade. These act as a “squeegee” that runs against the disc blade opener. If they are worn, they will not create a firm sidewall for a proper trench. “You don’t want your sidewall to be too loose,” Luther notes. “Gauge wheels help prevent that from happening.”
• Check the closing wheels for wear and tear.
  Closing wheels are an essential component of the planter. They follow the disc blade openers and close the seed furrow to protect the seed from the outside elements and are designed to create and firm seed bed with good seed-to-soil contact.
• Change the delivery belt and or seed tubes.
  If your planter has a seed cartridge delivery belt, replace the belt when needed. “Because of the number of acres we plant on the farm, we typically replace the belt every year,” notes Luther. “Some planters may not have belts; they may have seed tubes that require inspecting.”
• Retorque the seed plates.
  Check that the torque in your seed bowls/plates spins properly. You don’t want the seed bowls or plates to spin too freely or have a lot of drag. Set them to the manufacturer’s recommendations. The seed plates are critical to delivering the seed from the box/hopper and into the seed tubes.
• Check the components inside the seed meters.
  Look for wear and tear. Inspect the brushes to ensure they are still in good condition so they can separate the seed from the seed chamber and the drop chamber. Inspecting the seed eliminators is very important as well. This allows for better singulation and helps avoid seed doubles. Seed meter lid seals are often overlooked; make sure that they are not worn down. These seals need to contact the seed plate. Lastly, inspect your knock-off wheels to make sure they are operating correctly; it can be common to have springs either worn or missing on the knock-off arm.
• Row cleaners.
  Whether you are a minimum till, no-till or conservation tiller, you likely have row cleaners on your planter. Make sure all row cleaners are functioning well and preset to the manufacturers’ recommendations to help clear rows of any unnecessary residue.
• Check spray systems.
  Some planters are equipped to handle in-furrow treatments. Make sure the spray system works and is calibrated correctly on these types of planters.
• Ensure all other equipment is serviced before planting.
  At Stine, we have each tractor and our planting equipment serviced before the planting season; this includes updating the software. “Manufacturers often update software, so it’s important to have them calibrate your systems with the latest software updates,” notes Luther. “I’ve had a software error knock us out for an entire day in the field, and it’s something that could have been avoided if we had gotten the software update before we started planting.”
• Do a test run on all equipment.
  “We test-run everything on the farm at least once. Whether it’s in the driveway or out in the shop, you can simulate how equipment will run in the field,” says Luther. “Timing is of the essence during the busy planting season. It’s important to try to eliminate what could go wrong before it does.” 

Seed trenches are critical

One important element that is often overlooked is the seed trench (or furrow). Luther notes it’s necessary that the seed trench is firm, and that your closing wheel does its job to ensure the best seed-to-soil contact. This is critical for getting good seedling root growth and for the early stages of the plant, including emergence and standability.

“Don’t just check your seed-to-soil contact in one field; you need to check it every day,” says Luther. “Conditions change daily, and the mechanics can work differently depending on soil moisture, so you need to assess what that looks like each day and adjust your equipment accordingly to achieve the best seed trench.”

Luther adds that it’s important to know the extended weather forecast, including the ground temps and ambient forecast. You need to ensure the soil is warm enough to get the seed germinated. It’s easy to get seed in the ground on a warm spring day, but the weather can turn quickly. Cold, wet soil is a recipe for poor stands and lower yields.

“You want your seed to germinate,” Luther notes. “Planting depth can depend on soil structure and the moisture level. For instance, last year was a dry year, so Stine had to plant corn at 2.5 to 2.75 inches versus the recommended 2-inch range to get that seed to the moisture it needed.”

Luther notes you don’t want to get any deeper than that on corn, but you need to be mindful of how the weather and soil structure can impact planting and the seed trench.

To learn more about planting equipment maintenance or if you need assistance with your planting plan, contact your Stine sales rep or agronomist.