When it comes to planting, there are a lot of factors at play. But at the row unit level, the process really comes down to three simple words: clean, create and close.
Cleaning the Row
You know the value of row cleaners when corn stalks and residue start to impact creation of the furrow and seed placement.
Products like Reveal help move residue out of the way while allowing you to independently adjust depth and pressure through airbag and depth handle adjustments. Clean the row effectively and leave a suitable environment for furrow creation.
Creating the Furrow
Several aspects go into creating a proper furrow. Whether you're running a traditional True-V opener system or a different setup, the objective is the same: create a trench that's the right depth, has access to the moisture line and holds its sidewalls to ensure the seed hits the bottom every time.
Gauge wheels play a big role here. Proper adjustment helps maintain consistent planting depth across rows. DuraWear gauge wheel arms make shimming simple, with a pivot bushing instead of a bearing, and a wear clip that protects the mustache from wear and tear. Replacing the clip instead of the whole arm saves on cost and row unit maintenance.
T-handle adjustments also influence depth, especially when the same notch setting across rows can vary as much as 5/8 of an inch. The DuraWear Depth Handle helps overcome this through microadjustments that calibrate out variability, giving you confidence that your depth is consistent across the planter.
Though depth is critical, it is not the only factor influencing the furrow. Even if a good furrow structure is created, its doesn’t guarantee that the seed makes it to the bottom. The Keeton Seed Firmer presses the seed to the bottom of the furrow, ensuring good seed-to-soil contact.
New seed delivery systems like ArrowTube are also improving placement accuracy by controlling seed orientation, maintaining the position of the seed after release into the seed tube. With ArrowTube, the furrow is created with a knife that slices underneath the opener discs, creating a “subfurrow” so the seed can stick the landing tip down.
No matter what equipment you're running, the goal is consistent placement from one seed to the next. Depending on how the furrow is created, though, the measures needed to close it could look very different.
Closing the Furrow
The furrow needs to be properly closed in order for the right conditions to be met for on-time emergence.
Your closing system’s main job is to remove air pockets while maintaining the right balance of soil and moisture around the seed. Too much loose soil can dry out moisture. Too much compaction can create its own set of problems. The way your planter creates the furrow can also create different challenges on how to effectively close.
FurrowForce uses a two-stage approach, with first-stage notched wheels that pinch and fracture the sidewall, and two-stage stitch wheels that set the soil and reset the soil density. Automated FurrowForce can even adjust pressure on the go based on targets set through the 20|20 to maintain consistent closing performance as field conditions change.
For conditions that aren’t as hard to close or for farmers looking to upgrade to airbag control without investing in the full FurrowForce system, DuraClose is another option that provides airbag adjustments with the closing wheels of your choice. The system is easily upgraded to FurrowForce if you choose to upgrade down the road.
The way you create the furrow ultimately impacts how you close it.
Let the Field Tell You What It Needs
Planter settings shouldn't be the same from field to field.
Soil conditions have a huge impact on furrow quality. Dry conditions can leave loose soil and shallow hard pans. Wet conditions can increase the risk of sidewall smearing. Is my downforce pressure helping or hurting? That's why it's critical to stop and dig.
Check the furrow. Is it wide enough? Are the opener discs doing their job? Can the closing system move soil back into the trench? These simple checks can reveal problems long before they're visible from the cab.
At the end of the day, seed is one of the most expensive inputs on the farm. Spending time behind the planter making sure you're cleaning, creating and closing the furrow correctly is one of the best investments you can make. It all starts there, giving every seed the best chance.
