John Deere Planter Seeding Attachments

Feb 05, 2013

Residue management

Too much residue in the seedbed is never a good thing, which is why residue managers are essential to achieving uniform emergence. Residue managers push aside the residue that could get in the way of your seedlings and prevent them from developing uniformly. Brad Freesmeier, a farmer in southeastern Iowa, currently uses row cleaners from Yetter on the 1,100 acres he farms.[i] According to Freesmeier, row cleaners are key to improving uniformity. Yetter Iowa Territory Manager Andy Thompson says many farmers in Iowa are placing more emphasis on uniform emergence every year.

Depth

Planting depth has a huge impact on root development as well as plant development, so a uniform seed depth is one of the key factors to promoting uniform emergence. Kirk Reese, agronomy research manager for Pioneer Hi-Bred International, says, “In general, recommended corn planting depth ranges between 1.5 to 2 inches below the soil surface. Seed-to-soil contact is maximized when corn seed is planted at the recommended depth.”[ii] Emergence may be delayed with deeper planting, but corn will emerge more uniformly.

Starter fertilizer

The use of starter fertilizer jump starts growth, feeding the plant just what it needs while it is becoming established. Because of this, it is crucial to healthy emergence. There is a wide variety of starter fertilizer options available that can be tailored to your specific needs. Consult your local agronomist for a recommendation.

Soil testing can also play a crucial role in seed emergence. Refer to the November 20, 2012, issue of the Leading Edge for valuable information on soil testing.

Seed-to-soil contact

Says Yetter Territory Manager Jared Head, “Think of soil like a blanket. If your seed is completely wrapped up in the soil, it’ll sprout more consistently. Soil acts as a moisture conductor. The more contact, the more moisture is available to help the seed sprout.” Investing in good closing wheels can help provide good seed-to-soil contact by closing the furrow. Closing wheels will crumble the soil and help firm it down around the seed.

Click here to see more...

Video: Evolution of Beef Cattle Farming

The Clear Conversations podcast took to the road for a special episode recorded in Nashville during CattleCon, bringing listeners straight into the heart of the cattle industry. Host Tracy Sellers welcomed rancher Steve Wooten of Beatty Canyon Ranch in Colorado for a wide-ranging discussion that blended family history and sustainability, particularly as it relates to the future of beef production.

Sustainability emerged as a central theme of the conversation, a word that Wooten acknowledges can mean very different things depending on who you ask. For him, sustainability starts with the soil. Healthy soil produces healthy grass, which supports efficient cattle capable of producing year after year with minimal external inputs. It’s an approach that equally considers vegetation, animal efficiency, and long-term profitability.

That philosophy aligned naturally with Wooten’s involvement in the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, where he served as a representative for the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association. The roundtable brings together the entire beef supply chain—from producers to retailers—along with universities, NGOs, and allied industries. Its goal is not regulation, Wooten emphasized, but collaboration, shared learning, and continuous improvement.