Bill Hoeg, Case IH Planter Sales and Marketing Manager in North America, is our guest blogger for this two-part series on how to buy a planter. In Part One, Bill discussed agronomic principles to keep in mind. In this post, he covers important considerations related to operation-type, location and farming practices, all in an effort to help you Be Ready to meet the demands of the future.
When buying a planter, the size and type of operation you have are key factors. If you have livestock to care for in addition to cash crops, you may need to size the planter differently because there are fewer hours in the day available for planting. A lot also depends on the type of crop being planted. With some crops, you can’t use a 90-foot planter, like planting on beds with cotton, so you’ll need to cover more acres with a smaller planter. In addition, transport width may be a determining factor for growers who have multiple farms and different locations – or for those who simply have to deal with a narrow bridge nearby.
Other factors related to the best planter options for your specific operation are based on individual farming practices. Consider the following questions:
- What inputs do you want to use?
- How do you want to apply them and in what types of soil?
- How much time do you have to get it all done?
- What system will you use to fill the planter so you can minimize your non-planting time?
- Will multiple operators be running the planter?
If you have big square fields and there aren’t any waterways or other obstructions that cause you to plant in irregular rows, you will want to take advantage of the advance systems the bigger planters have to offer. You’ll also likely want AFS (Case IH Advanced Farming Systems®), row shut-offs, driving guides and mapping capabilities to help you utilize every square inch of ground.
Irregularly shaped fields with waterways and terraces only enhance the need for these advanced systems.
Maximum Field Time, Minimum Maintenance
A planter should be designed to maximize time spent in the field and minimize the number of adjustments needed on a daily basis. The more time you’re forced to spend handling daily maintenance, the less time you have to plant. When buying a planter, ask the dealer if the seed meter and vacuum/air systems are sensitive to humidity changes, adverse ground conditions or different seed sizes. For example, if your planter has four different seed plates you have to change just to handle corn hybrids, it will slow you down.
All kinds of nuances factor into which planter model, and which option, you need. That’s why Case IH offers different models, configurations, options and capabilities, from 15-foot to 90-foot Early Riser™ planters. In fact, this video provides a good overview of the Early Riser planter and options available. For more information about Early Riser planters, including videos and demonstrations on how to create an ideal seed trench, how to achieve early, even emergence, and the benefits of pull- vs. push-gauge wheels, call your local Case IH dealer or visit CaseIH.com.
Are there other factors that you feel should be considered? What has been your experience with the Early Riser planter? We want to hear from you.