Precision Planting Steven Snelson

Precision  Definition of precision-  Webster’s defines precision as “the quality or state of being precise”  They also state that “the degree of refinement with which an operation is performed or a measurement stated “

Planting  Definition of planting-  Webster’s defines planting as “to put or set in the ground for growth”

Precision Planting  Combining the two, I derive this definition of precision planting  The quality or state of precisely placing a seed in a medium such as the soil for growth.

Early On

More Modern

Precision Planting  Row Unit Breakdown  Row Openers  Seed Tubes and keetons  Row Swath Control  Precision Metering

Precision Planting  Row Unit Breakdown  Row Openers  Seed Tubes and keetons  Row Swath Control  Precision Metering

There are many modification that can be made to planters to make them more precise when it comes to seed placement Row openers, press wheels, seed tubes, seed boxes, seed metering wheels, seed plates, keetons, and some type of furrow closing device all make up a single row unit.

Precision Planting  Row Unit Breakdown  Row Openers  Seed Tubes and keetons  Row Swath Control  Precision Metering

Row Openers  Row openers clear trash, cover crops, residue, out of the way of the seed placement device.  They also break up the soil slightly to open a trench for the seed to be placed in.  The device shown below allows for more down pressure to be put on the openers to allow for better opening of a furrow in no-till systems.  This device allows the openers to float along the soil surface

Precision Planting  Row Unit Breakdown  Row Openers  Seed Tubes and keetons  Row Swath Control  Precision Metering

Seed Tubes and keetons Seed Tubeskeetons Seed tubes deliver the seed from the box to the furrow Keetons press the seed against the bottom of the furrow so the seed gets good soil contact. They also can deliver starter fertilizer at low doses.

Precision Planting  Row Unit Breakdown  Row Openers  Seed Tubes and keetons  Row Swath Control  Precision Metering

Row Swath Control   Can be used to stop double planting on end rows   Controls individual row units   16 row planter on 1100 acres->Total Seed Savings: 25 bags at $200/bag $5000->Yield increase for swath control: 7000 bushels or $21000 in $3 corn market->One year payback was $26000 or $23 per acre (Precision Planting).

Row Swatch Control  Can also be used in a variable seeding situation  Were soil types change, different levels of plant populations can be implemented   Variable Seeding Using GIS Variable Seeding Using GIS   This shows variable rates being selected using GIS Soil Data and recommendations being applied.

A Purdue University / Farm Journal study analyzed Variable Rate versus a single population setting. The payback is illustrated as: Total Acres in Study: 1,300 Yield Increase for Variable Rate: 15 bu /acre Total Payback in $3 corn market: $45 / acre or $58,500 on 1,300 acres

Precision Planting  Row Unit Breakdown  Row Openers  Seed Tubes and keetons  Row Swath Control  Precision Metering

  Precision metering of seed is another part of precision planting   If you can’t deliver the seed on a consistent basis everything else doesn’t matter

Questions ?