C22—Lancaster Farming, Saturday, April 5,1980
Check planter units now,
save yourself trouble later
LANCASTER - Just
because your planter worked
well a year ago, you’ve 110
assurance that it’ll go to bat
for you again this year -
unless you’ve given it a
thorough check-up this past
winter or early this spring.
Wear and tear may have
taken its toll. Tun Human
warns Human, agronomist
for Pfizer Genetics Inc. for
the Atlantic states, reports
that countless farmers
jeopardize their crop stands
each spring simply because
they don’t take the time to
give their planters a good
once-over
Worn parts, easily
replaceable, or mechanisms
that need a simple shot of
grease, are the common but
inexcusable reasons for
reductions in yields, he says
"With all types of planters,
there are some common
elements that should be
routinely checked, once
before the planting crunch
begins and periodically dur
ing planting,” advises
Human These checkpoints
include
Are all drive chains tight’
Are all chains in good condi
tion’ Should they be tighten
ed or replaced’ Are chain
sprockets showing signs of
wear’
Are all bearings in good
condition’ Do they need
grease’ Replacement’
Are all hydraulic systems
functioning properly’
Are the seed delivery lines
or tubes clear of dirt’ Do the
seed drop monitors function
correctly’
Are tires inflated proper
ly 9 Improper inflation may
cause slippage, distorting
the planter’s reading of
distance traveled That in
turn can alter planting rate
and the evenness of planting
depth
Are the markers func
tioning properly 9
Human continues, ‘ 95 per
cent of all planters fit into
one of three categories of
design Plate planters,
finger mechanism plateless
planters, and plateless air
planters Each design has its
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WAYNE’S
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own set of unique
mechanisms that require
maintenance and periodic
repair.”
The agronomist lists the
following recommendations
for each.
Plate planters
The best habit to get into is
to routinely replace all
planter plates before each
planting season Wear may
occur that impedes the effi
cient operation of the plate
but which may not show up
on the plate’s wear gauge.
Investing each year in a
new set of $2 plates is an in
expensive way to avoid
jeopardizing stands with
worn plates
Check the knockout pall -
the spring lever-roller that
knocks each seed out of each
plate - for rust, wear,
breakage or dirt When *
doesn’t do its job, you’ll hf a
skips ih the row
Give all parts a good
cleaning This is especially
crucial if the planter has
been left outdoors over the
summer, fall and winter
Pay special attention to seed
delivery tubes and seed drop
sensors.
If the planter is of the type
that has only one seed hop
per, it’s imperative that the
seed monitoring system
work exactly, since it’s the
only check against a single
row operating incorrectly.
Human summarizes,
“Anything that shows signs
of wear should be replaced
Period The expense' for
replacing a questionable
part now is minimal to the
cost of down nme during
plantmg
“Most of this is very basic.
But it’s surprising how many
farmers have trouble with
their planters each spring.
Giving the planter a good
once-over ahead of tpne will
help eliminate that pro
blem ”
Lincoln 4-H Club meets
Finger plateless planters
The finger mechanisms are
susceptible to wear and
somewhat susceptible to
breakage Check these once
a year
The nylon paddle belt that
delivers the seed from the
finger mechanism to the
seed drop should be checked
for wear, breakage and pro
per f unctionmg
Manufacturers suggest
LINCOLN - The Lincoln
Community 4-H Club held its
first meeting of the year at
the home of leader Elmer
Bovd, on March 24 at 7 30
p m
Projects were discussed
and officers elected Officers
elected are Mike Pfautz,
president, Dwight Gray bill,
vice-president, Andy
Getunan, secretary, Kelly
Ackley, treasurer, Ed
Redca> news reporter,
Equal Comfort
RED WING TRAIL BOOTS
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that these planters be clean
ed inside and out after every
50 hours of use.
It’s also good to sprinkle a
little powder graphite into
the seed box during plantmg.
The dry lubricant reduces
wear of the finger
mechanisms, while having
no adverse effect on the
crop.
Check that the seed boxes
and drive mechanisms are
properly aligned.
Plateless air planters
Check all air lines for
leakage and blockage. Also
test the air pump for steady
airflow. Check all seals to in
sure against leakage
Inspect seed-carrying
holes in the drum, looking
for holes that may have
become enlarged. Also
check the brushes and roller
wheels in the drum for wear.
Andy GraybiU and Marcyj
Gehman, game leaders \
Nancy L Meyers, 4-H
Agent, handed out project
books and discussed future 4-
H activities
Other leaders of the 4-H
club are Kerry Boyd and
Roland Gehman.
Refreshments were served
by Mrs Elmer Boyd
The next meeting will be
held on April 28, 1980 at 7 30
p m , at the home of Kelly
Eckert
T v
W sis
/ ■*
Style 825
Mens Sizes
B 9 - 14, D 6% - 14
EES- 12
Style 826
Ladies Sizes
A - 10, C - 10
Alternative energy fair
ELVEKSON - An
alternative energy fair has
been scheduled for April 17,
18, and 19 by the Twin Valley
School District
The fair will be open to
residents in the surrounding
areas as well as students
from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.,
Friday and Saturday.
According to Ray Weaver,
displays on windmills, solar
panels, wood burning and
stills will be set-up in the
gym. Weaver noted that at
least twenty spaces are
already committed and
about that many more could
be filled
Dennis Baylor, assistant
engineer at Energy
Development Corporation
will lead off the public ad
dresses at 10 a.m Friday
His topic will be Wind
Power.
At 1 p.m , Richard James,
director at Schuylkill Valley
Nature Center will speak on
Economic-Environmental
Balance in the auditorium
Newton Bair, Lebanon
County agent, will speak on
Methane Production at 3:30
pm in the lecture hall.
And at 6 p.m., Morton Fry
will talk on Hybrid Poplars
as a Source of Alcohol Fuels.
A woodburning safety
lecture will be given at 8
p.m by Jim Lowry,
Coventry Stove Sales.
slated at Twin Valley
Heading Saturday’s
agenda will be Bill Gross
from Met Ed speaking on
nuclear energy at 10 a.m in
the auditorium.
Newton Bair will address
the group again at 1 p m. on
“Methane Production” in
the lecture hall.
Also at 1 p m., insulation
will tie discussed by John
Garner in the auditorium.
Floyd Horst will speak at 2
p.m. on Alcohol Production
in the auditorium
At 4 p.m., John Kephart,
an engineer at Du Pont
Corporation will lecture on
Industrial Energy Con
servation.
Bob Patterson, from Gulf
Oil will talk at 6-p.m. in the
auditorium on Petroleum
Refining and Consumer
Interests.
Admission charges will be
$1 for adults, $2 for families,
and senior citizens will be
admitted free
For more information
contact the school at 215/28&-
5911