News

Jul 28, 2023

It's Time Get Your No

A tractor planting in a field. A good winter maintenance program is needed to be

A tractor planting in a field. A good winter maintenance program is needed to be ready to go when the soil conditions are suitable for planting.

Now is the time to complete planter maintenance.

While winter still may have some cold weather left, we all know spring is just around the corner. And with the arrival of spring, planting time will quickly follow.

Now is the time to work on planter maintenance to prevent breakdowns or poor performance at planting time.

Extension soil management specialist Sjoerd Duiker reminds us planter maintenance is essential for optimal no-till results.

While you may be able to get away with a poorly maintained planter in conventionally tilled soil, not so in tough no-till conditions.

A no-till planter must be able to plant through heavy crop residue, penetrate firm soil, open a perfect V slot, place singulated seeds at equal distances and at uniform depth, close the seed slot so seeds have proper seed-to-soil contact, not cause sidewall compaction, and not excessively compact soil on top of the seed.

Even with good winter maintenance, when you get to the field you should regularly check planter performance and change settings as needed.

Dysfunctional metering units result in skips, doubles and triples. To guarantee optimal performance, take metering units apart every winter.

Remove dirt and clean the hood with soapy water. No kerosene, diesel or oil should ever be used in metering units!

Replace cracked plastic covers. Replace broken fingers in a finger pickup meter. Use a feeler gauge to check tension on the fingers, then tighten them correctly.

Check the backplate and seed brushes for wear and replace as needed. The belt (in finger pickup meters) should be flexible, not have cracks in it, and should be clean.

Clean with soapy water and let it dry before putting it back in. When putting the metering unit back together, make sure the rubber belt is placed in the right direction. You can lubricate with graphite (no oil or WD-40).

It is recommended to take your finger pickup metering unit to a dealer to have it calibrated every 100-150 acres or every three to four years. Take a bag of your own seed with you and give the correct speed at which you’ll be driving.

If you have a vacuum or air meter, check that the vacuum or air pressure is correct. Check for leaks and wear on knockoff brushes, and repair or replace as needed.

Accurate depth placement can be compromised if planter units are loose or wobbly. You should not be able to easily lift a planter unit or move it sideways. Look across your planter units from the side. Are they all at the same height? If one unit is either up or down compared to the others, it needs work.

A common problem is that some bolts are loose or additional bushings are needed. You also need to replace cracked or broken seed hoppers.

Seed opener disks need to have a minimum diameter (check operator manual) or they will not place the seed at the appropriate depth. Seed opener disks also need to come together in the front. They should touch for 3 inches for old blades but only 1 to 1.5 inches on newer blades.

Stick two business cards between the openers and move them as close together as possible to check this. If opener disks are worn too much you will get a "W" shaped seed slot instead of the desired "V" slot.

The end of seed tubes may wear to the extent that they curl inward, catching seeds. There is often a hook halfway up that can easily break off. Seed tube guards need to have their minimum width and be fastened correctly or damage to the seed tube is likely. Clean seed sensors if you have them.

Seed firmers help to press the seed down in the furrow, improving the accuracy of depth placement of the seeds. The tension can be adjusted with a bolt.

If the seed firmers are worn too much, they need to be replaced. Depth wheels should run tight against disks. Change washers from inside to outside (or vice versa) of depth wheel if necessary. If this doesn't resolve the problem, the depth wheel arm needs to be replaced.

Check the diameter of the coulters and replace them if needed. You should adjust the depth setting of worn coulters that are still usable. Check the row cleaners for wear. Adjust to compensate for wear, or replace if worn too much.

Closing wheels need to have an intact spring and need to be checked for damage or wear as well. Bearings cannot be wobbly or too tight. The bottoms of rubber or cast-iron closing wheels need to be 1.5 to 2 inches apart. The closing wheel arm cannot have too much play. If so, bushings or the entire arm may need to be replaced.

An important step is checking the alignment of coulters, opener disks and closing wheels. Take a rope and pull it straight from the front coulter to the closing wheels. The firming wheels, seed openers, and coulters should all be in line. Closing wheels should not run on top of the seed furrow.

The insecticide boxes should have no holes or cracks. Tubes should be blown out with air, as should the slot on the bottom of the meter. Fertilizer opener disks should have a minimum diameter (check manual). The bearings should not be wobbly or too tight.

Hang a bucket below the tube of the unit, and do a test run of 175 feet in the field. Weigh the fertilizer in the bucket, multiply by 100, and you have the fertilizer you’ll put on in pounds per acre (at 30-inch row spacing). Adjust as needed.

Check all chains and their sprockets. If they are worn or chain links are stiff, they need to be replaced. Chains need to have the appropriate tension and should be lubricated properly.

A final step in proper planter maintenance is to inflate tires to the correct pressure. With this task completed you are ready to go when planting time arrives.

Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup.

Error! There was an error processing your request.

The most important Farming stories delivered to your inbox each week.

Tips on what to look for and links to videos on no-till planter design features, adjustment and maintenance, courtesy of Extension soil management specialist Sjoerd Duiker.

With the rather mild winter and several periods of abnormally high temperatures, some are wondering if it's time to start spraying weeds.

When it's time to topdress wheat and other small grains, several types of nitrogen fertilizer should be considered.

With high fertilizer prices, corn farmers are considering ways to add less nitrogen to the fields.

These soil management changes have affected how nitrogen behaves in the soil, so the test methodology and calibration need to be updated.

Leon Ressler is a Penn State Extension educator based in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.