Our Farm Progress Show 2021 coverage continues with AGCO’s Momentum Planter, which has a season of planting under its belt already.
AGCO says that the design and versatility of the planter establishes a new standard for seed placement accuracy, and provides technologies to overcome adverse planting conditions for emergence.
“A couple key features, like the game-changing features for Momentum, is the in-line tandems,” says Arthur Santos, seeding and tillage marketing manager for AGCO. Wide in-line tandem wheels travel in front of the row units, eliminating pinch rows, unlike the usual side-by-side duals for centre transport.
The Fendt Momentum can be equipped with a central tire inflation system, which adjusts tire inflation for the road or the field, and helps in reducing compaction.
“When we deflate the tires, we’re stretching that footprint, and it elongates, and that’s turning this planter into almost a track planter, because it increases the traction,” says Santos. Automatic weight transfer and a vertical contouring toolbar, which can flex up to 65.9 inches, help to manage the overall weight of the planter.
Check out the full conversation below, story continues after player:
Santos says that currently the Momentum “hits the spot” in the U.S.’ corn belt due to its large capacity, allowing fewer re-fill stops. Twin seed tanks hold 65 bushels each, while the fertilizer tank holds 1,000 gallons of liquid, for more acres planted between fills.
“We’re also getting our hands on the canola market,” says Santos, adding that the Momentum has potential in Western Canada. After partnering with a dealer in Manitoba, the canola trials show promise due to the planter’s 99 per cent singulation and seed-placing accuracy, and even crop emergence as a result.
“Canola seed isn’t getting any cheaper, so the idea here is that we hit the agronomic solution, but at the same time, there’s a big economic impact there,” says Santos.
The most important thing for a canola planting season was the customer experience, says Santos. Having a successful planting season start-up, and having the dealer close to the planting operator, were some key lessons learned from the first year of Momentum in the field.
The eight models for 2021 include 16-, 24-, 32-, 36- and 48-row configurations, with row spacings of 15, 20, 22 and 30 inches, all available with liquid fertilizer. The narrow-transport planters fold to a compact 12 by 12-foot package, for navigating narrow roads or field entrances.
Dealerships have pre-ordered the Momentum planter from AGCO and model year 2022 can be ordered now.
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