Gage County
1115 West Scott St.,
Beatrice NE 68310
Phone: (402) 223-1384
FAX: (402) 223-1370

News Column

Paul C Hay, Extension Educator

Let's Talk About Planters

Let's Talk About Planters

Here are some ideas about planter care and adjustments, which can make your 2002 planting season go well.

• Level planter
• Maintain proper tire pressure and tire size
• Bleed air from hydraulic cylinder (wing units are more of a problem)
• Check alignment of row units
• Check bushing and parallel links
• Check seed meter drive chains, bearings and wear of chain idlers
• Check drive chains, sprockets and bearings on seed transmission and drive shaft
• Check seed tube (cracked or worn from not being aligned correctly)
• Clean tube and sensors (check alignment of sensor in tube)
• Check alignment and wear of seed meter drive latch
• Is seed disk contact set correctly - not more than 2 inches
• Wear of seed opener disk - diameter should not be less than 14 ½ inches
• If using blade scraper - adjust properly - 1/3 off of blade and not too tight
• Check depth wheels for wear and alignment (new: 4 ½ inches, worn out: 4 1/4 inches wide)
• Check for worn pivot pin and pivot arm (if worn - install eccentric bushing)
• For no-till or rough planting - think about using DEPTH-A-MATIC
• Check closing wheels for alignment and tension
• All seed meters should be check annually with Computrol test stand
• Check vacuum and air gauges with system running for vacuum and air leaks
• Check vacuum pressure as oil warms up
• Vacuum check pressure for seed size and weight
• Use talc with vacuum and air units
• Proper storage of vacuum and air plates (according to planter manual)
• Clean plates with warm soapy water/dry for storage
• Use graphite (for proper lubrication of finger pick-up)
• Hydraulic drive system - helps seed units run smoother and gives you variable rate options
• Use Computrol planter seed placement Monitor and Controller
• Storage of planter units (off of planter and in dry area)
• Plant 1 ½ to 2-inch deep (seed to soil contact)
• Slow down - so the seed meter can perform correctly (4-5 MPH - RPM 48 to 65)
• Care should be taken in attaching any attachments to the seed tube
• Look at using Accu-Planter seed tubes (helps eliminate seed bounce as it exits the seed tube)

View other Gage County News Columns & News Letters: http://gage.unl.edu/news/news.htm

to Contact our Staff

Extension is a Division of the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln cooperating with the Counties and the United States Department of Agriculture.
UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA-LINCOLN EXTENSION educational programs abide with the nondiscrimination policies of the University of Nebraska and United States Department of Agriculture. We assure reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act.