Will Cannon, Ag Leader Product Specialist for SeedCommand, says, “There are 100 ways to farm and 99 of them work; but it’s adding up all of the little things that you do together that can make a big difference.” Available from Ag Leader for the 2013 spring planting season is the Ag Leader Hydraulic Down Force, or how you maintain optimal down force from your planter so you get the best seed-to-soil contact across your field at planting time.
Farmers all know the soil and terrain across a field can vary significantly. But when it’s time to roll the planter through the field, properly controlling planter down force is critical to your yield and your pocketbook.
“As terrain and soil changes cause the gauge wheels to sense more or less down force, the hydraulics adjust instantly, ensuring that the planter maintains the proper planting down force – without the ramping affect that the air bag systems experience. The result? More consistent seed depth with minimal seed trench compaction across the field,” says Cannon.
[wpaudio url=”http://precision.agwired.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2012/05/WillC1.mp3″ text=”Listen to Cannon explain”]What sets the Ag Leader Hydraulic Down Force apart from its competitors is that it’s hydraulically-powered. That means it senses and responds to soil and terrain changes almost instantly. As soon as the gauge wheels indicate that the planter section needs more or less pressure, the hydraulic actuator responds completely – within one second.
[wpaudio url=”http://precision.agwired.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2012/05/WillC2.mp3″ text=”Listen to Cannon explain”]Some studies show that not planting at the proper depth across the field can equate to 10 to 15 bushels per acre in yield loss. And that doesn’t even account for the cost of the seed or other inputs. Cannon puts this in “real experience” terms.
[wpaudio url=”http://precision.agwired.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2012/05/WillC3.mp3″ text=”Listen to Cannon explain”]And, another benefit to the Ag Leader Hydraulic Down Force is that it has two channels of control on it. Thus, it measures and adjusts down force by planter section, allowing the system to adjust the down force separately across different parts of the planter. That means more consistent planting depth across the entire planter.
[wpaudio url=”http://precision.agwired.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2012/05/WillC4.mp3″ text=”Listen to Cannon explain”]The attachment will go right on the planter and will be available for purchase this fall for John Deere and Kinze planters for use in the spring of 2013.
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