The Leading Edge - Issue 20

Planting Tips to Make your Crops Everything They Can Be

Growers invest substantial amounts of money and countless hours of labor in their production agriculture operations each year. When crops do not reach their maximum potential in terms of yield and uniformity, it affects the growers and their families financially as well as the consumers and the economy as a whole. Why not take every possible step to ensure that your crops are everything they can be?
When it comes to row crop planters a very important step is to ensure that coulter is properly set. Each year, your coulter will have different needs based on its age, the type of growing season field conditions, and a variety of other factors. Failing to make the time commitment to carry out this process can be extremely detrimental to overall yields.	Illustration of vertical coulter adjustment
Allowing unit coulters to operate at the wrong depth level or at a greater depth than disc openers can cause numerous problems and damage to crops. Such problems include uneven seed depth and air pockets, which have a negative effect on germination, seed-to-soil contact, plant growth, and yields. Wet soil is also another hindrance to maximum productivity, which can result in soil build-up on gauge wheels and uneven depths, create furrow, throw clods or chunks of soil, and disrupt effective seed placement. So, make every seed count through proper adjustment, maintenance, and replacement procedures.
The importance of ensuring that the planter is level cannot be stressed enough. It is recommended that growers check daily to see whether their planter has been thrown off level by various factors including basic changes in field conditions or in the planter itself.	Level working space on planter
Units that are not level or properly aligned can limit the effectiveness of your coulter, causing inefficient furrow closing and undesirable seed placement and depth. It is also imperative to ensure that your coulter is operating at the correct level. Coulters that run too deeply into the soil tend to move too much soil and cause uneven distribution, which in turn destroys any hope of uniform emergence.

2960 on Kinze planter	Operate coulters even with or at a slightly higher depth than the double disk opener. Often, when the coulter is operating at a deeper level than recommended, equipment will wear out prematurely. Seed depth should be set in accordance with the type of seed being planted. Also there is no substitute for visual inspection of seed spacing and depth placement.
Checking for worn parts and replacing them when necessary will ultimately save time and enhance performance. Such preventative measures should include adjusting, or replacing worn or misaligned double disk openers; lubricating parts; examining seed tubes to ensure that they are in proper location; and inspecting bushings for wear. For additional information on proper coulter settings please go to: http://www.yetterco.com/help/plantguide.html

Visit www.yetterco.com to review past issues of The Leading Edge and Yetter products that maximize your yield potential.

Notice – The information contained in this guide is offered in good faith by Yetter Mfg. Co to further the understanding of no-till farming. However, the use of the information provided is beyond the control of Yetter Mfg. Co and in no case shall Yetter Mfg Co or any seller of its products be responsible for any damages which may occur from the use of this information. All such risks shall be assumed by the user.