Planter and Drill Maintenance

By Sjoerd Willem Duiker

The planter is used to plant large-seeded crops like soybeans and corn, and the drill is used to plant small-seeded forages, small grains, and cover crops (although it can also be used to plant a crop like soybeans). The planter is more sophisticated and designed to position seeds at precise depths and with accurate and consistent spacing between the seeds. The drill has less accurate spacing and depth control and has a simpler design with fewer maintenance points than a planter.

Timely planter and drill maintenance is critical so your planting equipment is ready when planting time comes around. Breakdowns can result in delayed planting, and that can result in significant yield penalties. And even if the equipment works, poor stands are the result if a planter or drill is in poor condition. Planter and drill maintenance is especially crucial in no-till. A no-till planter or drill has to be able to plant through heavy crop residue, penetrate firm soil, open a seed slot, place the seeds in it, and close the seed slot so seeds have proper seed-to-soil contact, not cause side-wall compaction, and not excessively compact soil on top of the seed. Suboptimal planter or drill performance results in irregular seed depth, seeds at the soil surface, open seed slots, and compacted soil on top of the seeds. Because seeds are placed deeper with the planter, and seed placement needs to be more accurate than with the drill, poor planter performance can cause sidewall compaction, hairpinning, pushing crop residues into the seed slot, skips, doubles, and triples

To avoid planting problems, first check that your equipment is working properly. Then, regularly check planter performance in the field and adjust settings for soil conditions at planting time. Here follows a checklist for winter planter maintenance:

Planter

• Meters - Dysfunctional metering units result in skips, doubles, and triples. To guarantee optimal performance, take metering units apart every winter. Remove dirt and clean the hood with soapy water (no kerosene, diesel, or oil should ever be used in metering units!). Replace cracked plastic covers. Replace broken fingers in a finger-pickup meter. Use a feeler gauge to check tension on the fingers, then tighten them correctly. Check the back plate and seed brushes for wear, and replace as needed. The belt (in finger pick-up meters) should be flexible, have no cracks, and be clean. Clean with soapy water and let it dry before replacing. When putting the metering unit back together, make sure the rubber belt is placed in the right direction. You can lubricate with graphite (NO OIL or WD-40). It is recommended to take your finger pick-up metering unit to a dealer to have it calibrated every 100-150 acres or at least every 3-4 years. Take a bag of your own seed with you and give the correct speed at which you’ll be driving. If you have a vacuum or air meter, check that the vacuum or air pressure is correct, check for leaks and wear on knock-off brushes, and repair/replace as needed.