Precision Planting Research Grant Program
Our planting and cropping decision are made by evaluating good data and determining which of the new practices and technologies work for our farms. In an effort to provide more quality information for you to use to make decisions, Precision Planting has developed a grant program where we can fund interesting and innovative research projects.
In 2010, the grant program supplied funds to study the value of accurate seed spacing, the impact of population on yield, potential improvement from micro-irrigating seed at planting time, the impact of excess row unit weight on yield and the impact of spacing on sugar beets.
Participants in last season’s program included farm publications, Precision Planting dealers, ag retailers, and universities.
If you have a research project that you would like for us to consider, please fill out an application outlined in the document below and submit it to us by March 25, 2011.
Research Grant Summary (doc)
Research Grant Application Instructions (doc)
Application Template (doc)
Summary of 2010 Projects
Singulation and Spacing of Various Seed Sizes and Hybrids, And How it Affects Yield
Participants:
Stevens County (MN) Corn Growers Association
Trial Summary:
For years and years this has been a popular topic among farmers across the country. We, members of the Stevens County Corn Growers, believe we are seeing a trend towards farmers feeling the need to take better care of their high dollar seed when it comes planting season. This year we are doing a plot in conjunction with some local seed dealers and would like to be able to add another variant to our testing. We believe that by running eight precision finger meters next to eight kinze finger pickup meters we can collect some hard data on spacing and singulation that can be used by farmers and seed dealers alike. The main goal is to have side by side comparisons over a variation of seed types to show how many dollars can actually be saved by being more accurate when planting.
Results:
Plot Results (xls)
How Planting Depth, Downpressure Force and Planting Speed Impact Corn Stands
Participants:
Indiana Prairie Farmer in cooperation with Purdue University Extension, Tippecanoe County, and supported by Purdue's Throckmorton Research Farm near Romney, IN
Trial Summary:
Emphasis continues to be placed on obtaining consistent stands as a) seed costs increase; b) farmers go to higher planting rates; c) the quest for even higher yields continues and d) more farmers use conservation tillage or no-till farming.
After quality of seed and proper preparation of planter, three variables that impact how successful stands will be include: a) planting depth; b) down force on planter units; and c) speed of planting. These are basic variables, but sometimes they're taken for granted, or not considered as important as they truly are in producing corn.
The variables in this experiment will be: planting depth, down force pressure, and speed of planting. While these variables may be refined further before actual planting, depths would probably include one-inch deep, one and one-half inch deep, two- inches deep and two and one-half inches deep.
Depth of planting becomes even more critical today since temperature of the soil and moisture level can vary significantly by each half-inch in no-till and reduced tillage situations. Soil quickly grows cooler and contains more moisture as you drop seed deeper into the soil. Our hypothesis is that if seeds are not placed at equal depths, they may not emerge uniformly. Plants which don't emerge at the same time sometimes become weeds, not productive corn plants.
Down force pressure is essential to getting the seed placed at the target depth. Our goal would be to use three different settings on the planter we use, probably a light, medium, and heavy force setting. A planter set to plant two inches deep may not plant two inches deep; if down force isn't set properly. Our hypothesis is that in most situations, moderate down force will be most successful
Speed of planting has long been considered a critical factor. Some farmers appear to believe that with newer planting equipment, they can plant faster. Our hypothesis is that the most accurate seeding depth occurs at slower planting rates. These will likely be 5, 6 and 7 miles per hour, but could be modified to fit the planting situation.
The control becomes the standard used on the farm, of two inches deep, moderate downforce and six miles per hour. This will be a small plot study where treatments will be randomized, and the entire study replicated three times.
Results:
Report Summary
The Impact of Planter Performance on Corn Yield and Profitability using Down Force and Variable Rate in Eastern Ontario
Participants:
Greg Millard, Vernon Valley Farms LTD, Paul Sullivan, P.T. Sullivan Agro INC
Trial Summary:
Vernon Valley Farms Ltd and P.T. Sullivan Agro Inc will be partnering on a project to provide innovative planter performance information to corn producers in Eastern Ontario and Western Quebec. Vernon Valley Farms Ltd is a Pioneer Hi-Bred dealer as well as a Precision Planting dealer and grows approximately 250 acres of corn each year. Sullivan Agro is a crop consulting company that provides consulting on approximately 45,000 acres to local farmers in Ottawa-Carleton, an area in Eastern Ontario. Together, we would like to provide innovative planter performance information to our growers to improve overall profitability. The proposed project plans to test down force pressure and its effect on overall yield and profitability. It will also evaluate the 20/20 SeedSense technology and look at the valuable management information captured at planting. This project will provide local performance information and increase awareness of the ability of the 20/20 SeedSense. Managing down pressure as well as variable rate planting are emerging technologies to corn growers in Eastern Ontario and Western Quebec. The information collected in this project will be used to promote the effects of planter performance on overall corn yield and profitability.
Results:
Report Summary (doc)
Appendix A (pdf)
Appendix B (pdf)
Appendix C (pdf)
Appendix D (pdf)
Canadian Multi Crop AirForce Trial
Participants:
Frank Prince – Deloriane, MB
Trial Summary:
Our objective is to measure the yield effect of incorrect down force over a variety of crops (Corn, Sunflowers, Soybeans, and Canola), across a wide variety of soils and growing conditions. The test will utilize the AirForce system to actively manage down force against fixed force settings. This will hopefully establish yield differences and impact between the correct and incorrect down pressure.
Results:
Results Summary
Sunflower Trial Data
The Impact of Corn Seedbed Micro-Irrigation on Plant Emergence and Yield
Participants:
Robert Recker, Cedar Valley Innovations, LLC
Trial Summary:
Over the past several years, I have been investigating the potential for increased corn yield in strip-intercropped fields by pushing the yield of the edge rows well beyond typical monocrop performance. The edge rows have responded well to increased plant density; edge row yields of 350-450 bu/a have been recorded. Plant-by-plant measurements have shown very high yield if plants as close as 3 inches apart can each have a productive ear.
This research explores methods to assure cooperation rather than competition between these closely spaced plants. I believe that nearly simultaneous germination and emergence will be one of the fundamental requirements in order to accomplish this.
The proposed test program will identify the potential for small amounts of water applied directly to the seed and its immediate area at the time of planting to improve plant germination and emergence. The plants under study will be high population density plants (approx 60,000 population in 30" corn rows for a 3.5" plant-to-plant spacing) on the outer edges of a strip intercrop configuration. The field will be planted with production equipment, but select individual plant development will be monitored and recorded from emergence thru harvest, culminating in recording of individual plant yields.
Results:
Results PowerPoint 1 (File Size >8mb)
Results PowerPoint 2 (File Size >35mb)
Resutls PowerPoint 3 (File Size >6mb)