As corn planters start to roll in the fields, it is important to emphasize the importance of regular in-field checks by digging behind the planter and ensuring that the planter is set up properly for the existing field conditions and providing optimal performance. Even if growers have performed a thorough pre-season inspection on the planter,…Continue Reading Planting Metrics to Check Planter Performance
Category: Machinery Systems
Planting Calculations
Below are some useful formulas to determine seeding rate, seed spacing, number of seeds per foot or assess emerged plant population based on stand counts in certain length of the row. Alternatively, the tables provided below can be used to determine seeding rate based on seed spacing or assess plant population based on number of…Continue Reading Planting Calculations
Variable-Rate Fertilizer Application Considerations
It’s not hard to miss large fertilizer spreaders on the roads or in the fields at this time of the year which means the current crop season is officially here, and that the lime and fertilizer applications will be in full swing from now until planting. These large self-propelled spinner-spreaders have become more common over…Continue Reading Variable-Rate Fertilizer Application Considerations
Estimating Peanut Harvest Losses
Losses during peanut harvest are common and can be caused by improper setup, operation and/or performance of the harvest equipment. Some losses can also be attributed to the field and crop conditions at harvest. Excessive losses can significantly reduce peanut yields and profits if not managed or reduced during harvest. While harvest losses cannot be…Continue Reading Estimating Peanut Harvest Losses
Calibrating Liquid Fertilizer Applicators Using Water
Liquid applicators are commonly used to apply different fertilizer solutions and similar to the sprayers, they need to be calibrated properly to apply the desired application rate in gallons per acre (GPA). While the calibration process for liquid fertilizer applicators is similar to the sprayers, the actual rate for the fertilizer can vary greatly from…Continue Reading Calibrating Liquid Fertilizer Applicators Using Water