Generation III Fertilizer Coulter

Paul Hamann has found that it pays to be creative when planting strip-till corn-on-corn. By constructing his own strip-till bar and fertilizer cart with his son and brother, he estimates he saved several thousand dollars.

By redesigning and shortening a used ridge-till cultivator bar, Paul was able to reduce the tool in weight and length for use on his small farm. He outfitted the bar with Yetter 2984 Maverick™ HR Plus^® units, and then mounted the bar on a caddy he found in Nebraska. To complete the setup, he obtained a 12,000-pound Montag fertilizer cart, built a frame, and attached that to the caddy as well.

"We were worried that we would have to make modifications, but 1,000 acres later, it’s proven it actually works," said Paul.

Like many in southeastern Minnesota, Paul’s cattle graze in his corn stalks in the fall, so he does spring strip-tilling. The Mavericks help him get the job done in time. He also used the tool on soybeans, and even in his neighbors’ alfalfa field, building a berm and putting down fertilizer.  

"It’s a very good tool, and strip-till is a real asset in dry years," said Paul. "Residue and placement of the fertilizer is extremely crucial. We deposit fertilizer in the berm below the root zone, which enhances the roots and provides stimulus for the roots to go down to find the fertilizer and moisture. I’ve been able to see the difference between strip-tilled and non-strip-tilled fields."

After he saw a Yetter Farm Equipment magazine ad, Sixtus Laskowski ordered one Yetter 2968 Row-Unit Mount In-Between Fertilizer Opener for his thousand-acre farm near Stockdale, Texas. He mounted it on his 7300 John Deere planter, tested it, and immediately ordered seven more.

He used the opener for his spring planting of corn, grain sorghum, and cotton. Sixtus says the fertilizer openers work well across his range of soils, from black loam to pure sand. He describes his tillage method as "minimum conventional tillage."

He places the fertilizer two inches below and two inches to the side of his cotton rows. "It’s far enough away so that it doesn’t affect germination, but available when the cotton starts setting roots," he said.

To protect the equipment from corrosion after exposure to fertilizer, he flushes it thoroughly with water and applies a coat of oil.

"We concluded that for our no-till operation, we needed to get fertilizer deeper into the ground. Because the Yetter injection system places the fertilizer in the ground, we don't lose nitrogen through nitrification or because it sits on the top of the residue. They've provided a big cost benefit because they've lowered our nitrogen needs per bushel. Yetter coulters are also are a pretty fuel-efficient option.

"I like Yetter products because they are well-researched and the designs advance with the times. Yetter sales reps are great—always willing to help me execute new ideas."