The calendar has turned to April and, if the weather co-operates, corn planting could be only weeks away. Growers have spent the winter months calibrating seed meters, fine-tuning downforce systems, checking blades and gauge wheels, and making sure the closing wheels are ready to tuck seed into the perfect growing environment. Despite all these efforts,… Read More

Growers looking to upgrade their John Deere planters can now get next level seed metering with the ExactEmerge and MaxEmerge 5e row unit kits. In this report from Commodity Classic in Denver, Colorado, Kyle Barry, Deere’s manager of precision upgrades marketing, notes that the kits mean growers no longer have to purchase new row units… Read More

Population, seed singulation, avoiding those skips and doubles, and getting the seed in the ground in the proper planting window are all key to optimizing corn yield; but if the planter is not properly tuned for uniform emergence, corn yield can take a big hit. On this episode of the RealAgriculture Corn School, Huron Tractor… Read More

Tracks certainly don’t eliminate compaction, and they usually cost substantially more than wheels, but research at The Ohio State University shows there are several specific applications where tracks offer a productivity or yield advantage in the old tracks-versus-wheels debate. Scott Shearer of The Ohio State University stopped by to chat following his presentation on compaction… Read More

What’s the best planting depth for corn? There’s lots of research that points to a two-inch depth, but there’s growing evidence that planting corn up to three inches deep is a better choice if the seed can access optimum moisture levels at that depth. On this episode of The Sharp Edge, Maizex Seeds agronomist Henry… Read More

Vaderstad is bringing enhanced precision capabilities to its line of Tempo planters and also adding a new model, which is now for sale in Canada. New to the line is the Tempo K, a 24-row planter with low-compaction tracks and 30-inch row spacing. It features a 150-bushel  central fill system and optional 1,500-gallon liquid carrying… Read More