40 The Business of Prairie Agriculture Better Farming | April 2024 getting out to check seeding depth, you will know when it’s time to change out. The trench and/or the shelf the opener cuts for seed won’t be clean if the openers are worn out. If you notice that you have uneven wear or the knives are wearing sooner than they should be, especially if the openers are still fairly new, there may be an installation or mechanical issue to address. Check bolt tightness in your opener linkage, especially the bolts attaching the opener to the shank. Overtightened bolts can create more stress in the opener system than the design can accommodate. Use manufacturer-recommended parts. For example, swapping a similar- sized roll pin for a shear bolt may keep the opener functioning to the end of the row, but each of these pieces of hardware behaves differently and performs a different job in the design of your drill. Use correct hardware at provided torque specifications (if available), and your drill performance will be more predictable. Clean your fan A dirty fan will not move air like a clean fan. At the beginning and throughout the season, check that your fan blades are clear of attached dirt and debris. Typically, if you have issues with your fan, the first thing to check is if it’s clean. The second thing to do is to check electrical connections. It’s possible there’s simply a loose bolt or damaged wires from rodents. Calibration: Do it and do it often Take the time to calibrate between different fertilizer types, seed types, or even seed lots. A best practice would be to calibrate your air cart every time you make a change in seed type, seed variety, or fertilizer blend. Follow the air cart user’s manual to achieve proper calibration. Make sure your auger or metering roller is clean before you calibrate, as this may influence calibration results Ag Insights Canola seedlings planted too deep. Saskatchewan Ministry of Ag photo Any favourite parts of your fave farm magazine? What do you want more of? Less of? Email to let us know. Paul.Nolan@Farms.com WHAT ARE YOU READING?
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