A2B-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, February 8, 2003 Penn State Capitol PLANTER TUNE-UP Del Voight, Capitol Region Extension Agronomy Agent, Lebanon There are only about 75 work ing days left before the planter will again enter the field and begin the process of providing forage for farms across the re gion. The planting operation is one of the most critical steps in achieving yield and quality. It also is the biggest reason why the adoption of narrow rows has failed because of improper plant er tune-up. The goal of the planter is to open a furrow, place the seed at the same depth so that each seed will develop, and create a “tab letop look” in the field. This un iform stand and emergence time will allow the plants to compete evenly throughout the season and achieve maximum sunlight inter ception and conversion to eco nomic yield. When plants fail to emerge un iformly, the late-emerging plants will act as a weed and result in a net loss in yield. Skips in the row will result in weed encroachment and the loss of yield from that part of the field. Those late emergers also end in barren or nubbin ears and further reduce quality. Lynn Hoffman, former Penn State Agronomist, related that in some cases missing plants (skips) and late emergence because of seed depth variation may result in a 30 percent reduction in over all yield. Planter maintenance is critical to the success of planting. You only have one chance to set the crop stage for success and it be gins by getting the planter into the shop and tuning it now and not during the key times that the planter should be planting in stead of sitting in the shop. Here are some things to consider. The initial opener (wavy coult er or fluted) serves to cut open the residue to allow the disc opener to work its magic. The front coulter bears the brunt of wear and should be checked and replaced more often. Be sure the coulters do not cut deeper that the disc openers by checking its alignment with the disc opener. Most plant stands that I view that suffered from planter error were victim to the oversight of the disc openers, not to mention that the front coulter is shot. The disc openers can be easily check ed and replaced by the operator. You can be sure I will check them if the stand I view is poor. The disc opener serves to lay a V trench that receives the seed and sets it at the bottom of the V. If tbe_ discs aye worn, the trench *"'V. r V Cooperative Extension Region Dairy Team turns into a W and the seed is placed at varying positions, end ing up with uneven emergence. Simply taking two business cards and positioning them one from between the disc openers on the bottom and one from top should reveal that they stop about 3 inches from each other. At least the card should not be easily slipped between them. I have seen them as wide as a half inch between. In some cases, some shims placed on the shaft will help move the discs together. Replace ment may be necessary. Take the time now to replace them and not when the soil temperature is 50 degrees. The closing wheels can make or break the planting process. On loose ground, closing wheels with too much pressure can kick the seed up in the V slot and ruin the disc opener’s intended purpose. The goal of the closing wheel is to close the V slot and firm soil around the seed. On hard-packed soil, the closing wheels will need more pressure (maybe even cast closing wheels) to ensure seed coverage and firming. I have been in too many fields that the V slot is left almost wide open because of a failure to pro vide enough down pressure to close the furrow. The closing wheels should be in the centerline of the disc openers. To check, simply place a ruler between the discs wedged on the center line and then again between the clos ing wheels. It should be center. Normally I discover that the outer units are bent because of the turning action of the planter when the units might not have been completely out of the soil. Sure, most of you will say, T don’t have that problem,’ but have you checked lately? While you are there, check the gauge wheels that control the planting depth. Gauge wheels should touch the double-disc openers when a load is on the planter unit in the field. If gauge wheels are too far away from the disc blades, soil will get into the seed trench before the seed gets there! Again, shims can be used to take up the space. Most common planters have a seed hopper that holds the seed and the seed drops through a tube to the disc openers. In addi tion, many planters have an eye sensor that sees the seed and transmits a signal to a unit to let the operator know the seed is moving through the tube. The tube and eye should be cleaned. Mice nests that somehow get into the tubes should be removed. Xhe seed metering device should be cleaned as well. Air and vacu um metering: should be FOCUS ON DAIRY, disassembled and cleaned and all air supply tubes and seals check ed for leaks or cracks. On finger pickup units, the brush and back plate should be viewed and worn parts replaced. Many dealer locations offer a service to check the metering de vices for proper function for a modest fee. I highly recommend this service. Now or last fall is a good time to get that accomplish ed. All normal grease and lubri cants should be used on chains and key pivot points. Each plant er unit should be lifted to de termine if the bushings need to be tighten or replaced. If more than an inch of play is noted when the unit is lifted, the bushing should be replaced. While the planter is lifted (be sure stops are in place for safety), check to see if all units are level with each other from side to side. Many planters come with a fer tilizer or insecticide delivery sys tems. These too will need atten tion. In some fields that were injured by fertilizer, the applica tion of the materials was too close to the seed, or in one case three out of six rows had fertilizer ap plied directly on the seed, causing severe stand loss. Check to see that a 2 by 2 placement of the material is achieved by again using a set of straight sticks cen ter on the seed trench and anoth er center on the fertilizer tube. If liquid, be sure the nozzle is di rected to the proper location. Dry insecticide boxes should also be cleaned of mouse nests and the metering device checked for wear. It is critical to be sure that the T-band or in-furrow tube is prop erly placed. In one example, there was a failure to control in sects because of the T-band ap plicator being partially plugged or completely missing. Again, you can be sure that when I visit your farm for a complaint, I will be visiting your planter. One final note is leveling. The bottom of tongue should be lev eled with a bubble level. To ac complish a level planter, the draw bar can be raised or low ered as needed. For more information on planter maintenance, plan to at tend the Regional Dairy and Si lage Producer Family Day Feb. 11 at the Lebanon Exposition Center, which will feature a hands-on session on planter tune up for your benefit. Call (717) 270-4391 for details. Planter tune-up is not rocket science. There are basic low-cost steps that one needs to give prior ity to and recognize the impor tance of maintaining to ensure proper stands. Youth Compete In Simmental Breeding Show MICHELLE KUNJAPPU Lancaster Farming Staff HARRISBURG (Dauphin Co.) In the junior Simmental breeding show, Emily Whitmoyer and Matthew Blauch came out with the top two heifers, accord ing to show judge Gordon. Emily’s heifer, “Sweet Night” caught the judge’s eye, who awarded the heifer with the grand champion nod. Taking home the grand cham pion title, Emily, IS, is the daughter of Les and Mary Whit moyer. Along with and her sister, MaryEUen, Emily showed five Simmental cattle for Mountain View Farm, a 20-acre operation in Fredericksburg, which also has a few Dorset breeding sheep, be sides the Simmental herd. Emily, who began her show ring career at the Farm Show, has been exhibiting at the Farm Show for four years. A sopho more at Northern Lebanon High School, she is in 4-H and FFA. Matthew Blauch’s heifer won reserve champion. Matthew, the son of Doug and Pam Blauch, is from the family’s Cattle Rock Acres. The farm includes 46 acres of pasture for their cow/calf, mostly-Simmental herd. “Tice’s Red Orbit,” which he purchased at Keystone Interna tional Livestock Exposition (KILE) in October, won the title Heifer Calf Tops Angus Female Show At Farm Show HARRISBURG (Dauphin Co.) Quality ran deep in the Angus female show, but Rains Pride Lucy prevailed over all. Dale Rains, Mercer, Mercer County, lead his January 2002 heifer calf, Rains Pride Lucy to champion Angus heifer honors. Rains first topped the heifer calf division before gamering this top award. Not only did Dale Rains lead the champion female in the show, but he also is a co owner and breeder of the reserve champion female as well. Rains Forever Barbie, co owned by Rains Angus, Mercer, Mercer County; Weaver Show Cattle, New Holland, Lancaster County, and Mt. Valley Angus, Susquehanna Extension Helps County Residents Solve Pond Problems MONTROSE (Susquehanna Co.) —Ponds can provide many recreational benefits to home owners, but they have their share of problems, says a water re sources specialist in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences. “Some may develop leaks or fill with sediment,” says Exten sion Associate Bryan Swistock. “The water may be muddy, or choked with weeds and algae. And sometimes, that big fish you hoped would be there for the kids to catch just doesn’t materialize.” To address the basics of pond management, experts from Penn State, the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission and Mansfield University will offer a live satel lite clinic from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Feb. 27. The program will be aired locally at the County Office Building in Montrose through Penn State Cooperative Extension, of Sus quehanna County. The actual program will begin at 7:00 p.m. Swistock recommends that people who own a pond develop a management strategy depend ing on their goals. “How you manage your pond depends on your goals,” he ex plains. “People who want a pond for swimming, for instance. for Matthew at Monday’s compe tition in the Equine Arena. The heifer was stylish and had vol ume and thickness, according to judge David Gordon. Matthew has been exhibiting cattle since he was eight years old and shows both FFA and 4-H projects. The Blauch family brought five head of cattle to the Farm Show four for Matthew and one for his sister Valerie, 13, to exhibit. David Gordon, who has an as sociate degree in agriculture from Butler Community College, Kan sas and was on the college’s live stock judging team, judged the show. Early summer calves: 1. Shelby Rarick. 2. Curtis Bish. Spring calves; 1. Shelby Rarick. 2. Elena Poliskiewicz. Junior calves: 1. Emily Whitmoyer. 2, Jese Poliskiewicz. Champion calf: Emily Whitmoyer. Reserve champion calf; Shelby Ranck. Summer yearling; 1. Curtis Bish. 2. Elena Poliskiewicz. 3. Curtis Bish. Spring yearling: 1. Sarah Messer. 2. Shelby Rarick. 3. Rhonda Hook. Intermediate champion; Sarah Messer. Immediate reserve champion: Shelby Ranck. Junior yearling: 1. Matthew Blauch. 2. Christopher Diamond Sr. 3. Shelby Rarick. Junior champion; Matthew Blauch. Junior reserve champion: Christopher Diamond Sr. GRAND CHAMPION HEIFER Emily Whitmoyer RESERVE GRAND CHAMPION HEIFER Matthew Blauch Lititz, Lancaster County, took the reserve champion female spot. She first topped the Junior Division. Following the Heifer Show, judge John Pyne, Mount Desert, Maine evaluated 27 Angus bulls. After thorough examination, JDH Key Heir was selected as the champion Angus bull. Exhibited by JDH Cattle Com pany, Dover, York County, JDH Key Heir first topped the junior buU division. Easily following the champion, Golden Rule Sauga hatchee 220, was lead to reserve champion bull honors by Carl Detweiler, Roaring Springs, Bed ford County. This bull first top ped the junior bull calf division. usually want a clean, sandy bot tom without many weeds. But if you want a good fishery, you’ll need some plants and struc tures.” During the program, the ex perts will offer tips and advice on common pond problems and proper management. Attendees will be able to ask questions by telephone and fax. “The most frequent questions involve the control of aquatic plants and weeds,” says Swis tock, “so we’ll spend time dis cussing how to identify and con trol nuisance plants and algae. We also get a lot of questions about fisheries, so we’ll discuss the best kinds of fish to stock, the species to avoid and how to har vest to keep the populations bal anced.” Other topics will include get ting permits, general pond main tenance, and testing water quali ty. Professional pesticide applicators can receive re-certifi cation credits for attending the program. The clinic is free, but pre-registration is required. For more information on the satellite program or on pond manage ment, contact the Susquehanna County office of Penn State Co operative Extension at 278-1158.
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