Missy Bauer, Farm Journal field agronomist, says some common planting mistakes can be fixed before the planter hits the field. She walks through key checkpoints as part of a 10-point planter inspection.
Certain planter parts wear and need annual inspection, adjustment or replacement. Most folks know to check disk openers, gauge wheels and other soil-contacting components. Here are some less obvious problems.
What do you fix when you have poor singulation, too many doubles and triples, uneven seed spacing or variations in seed depth? Mechanic Dan Anderson details how to find less-common culprits.
Modern planters with high-speed seed meters, hydraulic downforce systems and other high-tech options sometimes require a little TLC to get them ready for the field. Dan Anderson shares a list to jump-start the process.
