When Inches Count, Meters Matter

Dec 08, 2020

When it comes to planting, every inch counts. You have one chance to plant your seed at the correct depth and spacing, with good seed-to-soil contact. Without proper meter calibration, your planter accuracy can suffer.

There’s no better scene than a crop with row after row of consistently spaced plants, all growing at the exact same height and stage — a key indicator of a successful yield. That outcome starts when the seeds go into the ground, and something as simple as calibrating your meters this winter can boost your bottom line next year.

The only way to ensure you’re planting at your target rate is to calibrate your meters. If a planter is not properly calibrated, conditions such as high planting speeds or a rough seedbed can magnify stand variability problems. While seed meters should run at 98% or better, many only deliver 92% to 97% accuracy. That’s why meters should be calibrated every year.

While 98%+ accuracy might seem like a small difference over typical meters, this can have a big impact on yield and help you maximize your seed investment. Case IH Premier Certified Dealers offer a variety of testing applications, including:

Population
Test run log
Vacuum
Singulation
Seed information
Seed release index
Loss per acre

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Video: Winter Canola Trial in Mississippi | Can It Work for Double Cropping? | Pioneer Agronomy

Can winter canola open new opportunities for growers in the Mid-South? In this agronomy update from Noxubee County, Mississippi, Pioneer agronomist Gus Eifling shares an early look at a first-year winter canola trial and what farmers are learning from the field.

Planted in late October on 30-inch rows, the crop is now entering the bloom stage and progressing quickly. In this video, we walk through current field conditions, fertility management, and how timing could make this crop a valuable option for double-cropping soybeans or cotton.

If harvest timing lines up with early May, growers may be able to transition directly into another crop during ideal planting windows. Ongoing field trials will help determine whether canola could become a viable rotational option for the region.

Watch for:

How winter canola is performing in its first season in this Mississippi field

Why growers chose 30-inch rows for this trial

What the crop looks like as it moves from bolting into bloom

Fertility strategy, including nitrogen and sulfur applications

How canola harvest timing could enable double-cropping with soybeans or cotton

Upcoming trials comparing soybeans after canola vs. traditional planting

As more growers look for ways to maximize acres and diversify rotations, experiments like this help determine what new crops might fit into existing systems.