A24-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, February 24,2001 Spring Planting Review 10 Steps To Better Planter Performance MOLINE, 111. Proper planting equipment mainte nance is critical to ensure performance in the field. Bill Barr, senior sales and service representative for row crop planters, John Deere Seeding Group, urges growers to review their ser vice manuals, consult with their local dealer, and inspect their planter from the ground up working through these 10 simple steps: 1. Opener blades. Look for excessive wear. The openers should form a clear V-shape. Excessive wear will alter the opener spacing and change the shape and depth of the seed furrow. Adjust for wear by adding or removing shims as necessary. 2. Closing sys tems. Make sure the closing wheels are applying correct downforce. Check the wheel bearings for excessive wear and replace if neces - sary. 3. Seed tubes. In spect the seed tube guards and guides, checking for proper alignment and ex cessive wear. Re place worn parts. Make sure the sensor is clear and the sensor wiring is intact. Use the brush provided by the manufacturer to clear seed tubes of debris. 4. Seed meters. Finger pickups in clude several moving parts, such as fingers, springs, backing plates, and brushes. Inspect and replace any worn or damaged parts. Vacuum seed meters generally require less maintenance than finger pickups, but you still need to inspect the seals and seed disk (and in stall the seed disk for your first crop). Check the flipper that engages the drive (on the back side of the meter) and repack with grease if necessary. 5. Planter drive systems. The planter utilizes several drive systems, including (1) the ground drive, (2) the seed meter drive, (3) seed trans mission drive, and (4) chemical and fer tilizer drive. Check all chains for wear and proper lubrication and ten sion chains should be free and loose. Check sprockets and idler assemblies for ex cessive wear and proper alignment. Proper drive func tion is critical to maintaining proper seed spacing and pop ulation. 6. Hydraulics. Check for leaks in the hydraulic system by attaching the planter to your tractor and cycling the various hydraulic compo nents, checking for proper movement and response time. If a leak is suspected, power down the system and release hydraulic pressure. Avoid contact with hoses high-pressure oil injection can cause serious injury. Successful Planting (Continued from Page A 23) Weinheimer said. The staggered rolling bas kets of the 200, combined with proper seed and weight ing of the unit, break surface clods and level the soil pro file. Spiraling rods are spaced to produce a soil texture that reduces crusting while firm ing the soil in the seed zone. “The Seedbed Finisher creates a surface profile resis tant to crusting, but also firms the soil to encourage seed-to-soil contact and pre serve moisture levels in the top three-inches of the pro file,” said Weinheimer. A double-truss tube pro vides added strength to the frame and generates down pressure to improve leveling and to keep baskets rolling at a consistent depth. In the end, improving the soil profile and having your planter properly serviced at a John Deere dealership will ensure successful spring planting and allow you to take the first, critical step toward a bountiful fall har vest. crusting, decreasing wind and water erosion, and pre serving soil moisture. “Research shows that yield increases when we have good soil adherence at the time of germination to help with moisture and nutrient uptake,” said Matt Weinheimer, tillage market ing manager for John Deere. “The 200 Seedbed Finisher creates an optimum situation for increasing yield potential. It’s a heavy-duty piece of equipment that helps growers create excellent growing con ditions.” When used in conjunction with the John Deere 980 Field Cultivator, the 200 Seedbed Finisher creates a seedbed with larger soil parti cles on the surface and finer soil particles in the seed zone. “Larger particles on the surface help disperse and reduce the energy of rain drops, which reduces erosion. And it helps moisture flow past the larger particles on top into the root zone below where plants can utilize it,” The John Deere 200 seedbed finisher creates a surface profile resistant to crusting while firming the soil to encourage seed-to-soil contact. Consult your dealer or ser vice manual. 7. Tires. Proper drive per formance requires a specific tire circumference. Low tire pressure can alter drive speed and seeding rates. Check tire pressure and inflate to the level specified in your service manual. 8. Attachments. Inspect at tachments such as fertilizer and row cleaners for exces sive wear and check for proper lubrication. Consult your service manual for spe cific checkpoints. For exam ple, fertilizer attachments include pumps, nozzles, and strainers that may require service. (Turn to Page A 25) The John Deere 4710 sprayer can be equipped with parallel tracking that uses a visual indicator with audible beeps to guide the operator down a straight path. The John Deere Field Doc™ data collection system, which works in concert with Deere’s Star Fire re ceiver, Green Star™ display, and on-board mobile data processor, allows you to make notes on the go. NO-TILL? 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