Before Heading to the Field, Take the Time to Make Sure Your Equipment’s up to the Task at Hand

Mar 12, 2018

By Ryan McGeeney

As winter begins its bumpy transition to spring throughout Arkansas, many producers are readying to prep their fields for planting season.

Before the hour is at hand, however, be sure and take the time to make sure your equipment is up to snuff.

Dirk Philipp, Associate Professor of Animal Science for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, says that among all planting equipment used — especially for grassland and pasture managers — the drill is usually the most important.

“It’s importance really can’t be overstated,” Philipp said. "Planting new forages is a long-term investment that doesn’t come cheap. Correct seeding rates, planting evenly at the right depth, and achieving uniform forage stands are important for long-term forage persistence.”

No-till drills are a common tool in grassland agriculture. While robust, they need to be checked before the season. Philipp recommends following these basic maintenance tips to avoid becoming stranded in the field:

Check the major components of the drill for proper working and cleanliness
Seed boxes need to be clean and empty year-round, otherwise moisture and rust accumulate, and seeds may even sprout in them
Tubes and hoses are the prime location for spider webs. Use a long rod and rag to pull through all the tubes to remove all blockages
Planting wheels may get wobbly over time, so bearings may have to be replaced. The wheels need to be able to spin freely to be effective. Remove the dirt and mud from above the wheels to not impede the seed flowing during planting
When it comes to bearings and other moving parts, remember that there are several points on each drill that can be maintained with grease. Check all of them before the season. Some drills feature hydraulic setups, so check the hoses for leakage
Try the drill out before calibrating and planting with the real seeds. It’s a good idea to put some leftover seed into the boxes and drive for several hundred feet to check on proper and even seed delivery

Source: uaex.edu

Video: From Conventional to Regenerative: Will Groeneveld’s Journey Back to the Land

"You realize you've got a pretty finite number of years to do this. If you ever want to try something new, you better do it."

That mindset helped Will Groeneveld take a bold turn on his Alberta grain farm. A lifelong farmer, Will had never heard of regenerative agriculture until 2018, when he attended a seminar by Kevin Elmy that shifted his worldview. What began as curiosity quickly turned into a deep exploration of how biology—not just chemistry—shapes the health of our soils, crops and ecosystems.

In this video, Will candidly reflects on his family’s farming history, how the operation evolved from a traditional mixed farm to grain-only, and how the desire to improve the land pushed him to invite livestock back into the rotation—without owning a single cow.

Today, through creative partnerships and a commitment to the five principles of regenerative agriculture, Will is reintroducing diversity, building soil health and extending living roots in the ground for as much of the year as possible. Whether it’s through intercropping, zero tillage (which he’s practiced since the 1980s) or managing forage for visiting cattle, Will’s approach is a testament to continuous learning and a willingness to challenge old norms.

Will is a participant in the Regenerative Agriculture Lab (RAL), a social innovation process bringing together producers, researchers, retailers and others to co-create a resilient regenerative agriculture system in Alberta. His story highlights both the potential and humility required to farm with nature, not against it.