Crop Scene Investigation - 13 Solved: What set back two rows in William's corn? Monday, December 1, 2008 by DAVID TOWNSENDThe two rows in Williams corn were set back because they didn't receive the appropriate fertilizer due to a mud ball plugging an opener.Knowing the planter got stuck in a wet hole helped to pinpoint the equipment as the problem. Results of the plant tissue test showed that the two rows were low on nitrogen and phosphorus compared to the other rows. Instead of going into the soil to help the plant, the fertilizer landed on top of the soil.The fact that the second field didn't have any set backs further proved that mud in the opener was the issue. The opener got unplugged during the 10-mile trip on the gravel road, which bounced the mud ball free. The planter operator couldn't see the outside hopper during planting because a portion of the tractor blocked his view. He could see fertilizer coming out of the other ones, but it was the out-of-sight hopper that was plugged.The lesson here is that you should check your planter every two to three hours. I recommend setting a timer at two-hour intervals during planting.Once the timer goes off, it doesn't matter where you are. Go out and check everything over, starting with planting depth. Another good habit when filling the planter up with seed and fertilizer is to make sure you lift it out of the ground and check all of the openers. Making sure everything is working throughout the field at regular intervals will help ensure you don't find any surprises during scouting. Congratulations to Brenda Konency, Wallaceburg, for her correct answer. BF David Townsend, CCA, is Crop Manager for NK Brand, Syngenta Seeds. He is based near Clinton, Ontario. Crops: The Lynch File: Rising seed costs and better seeding equipment put more emphasis on seed drop Crops: Crop Scene Investigation - 14: Why is corn breaking down in Chuck's 'best dirt?'
Free Tools to Power Up Your Farm’s Digital Life in Canada Wednesday, October 22, 2025 For many Canadian farm families, the internet has become as vital as a tractor or combine. It is how producers manage precision planting, monitor commodity prices, check weather forecasts, pay bills and stay connected with suppliers and customers. However, fast and reliable broadband remains out... Read this article online
Precision Harvesting with HeadSight and TrueSight Tuesday, October 21, 2025 Modern harvesting relies heavily on precision and smart technology, and new systems for head height control and steering are making sure you are not leaving bushels in the field. These innovations ensure efficient crop collection, protect equipment, and reduce operator fatigue during... Read this article online
Remembering Ralph Winfield: Beloved Better Farming Columnist Tuesday, October 21, 2025 Ontario's farming community is mourning the loss of longtime agricultural writerRalph Gordon Winfieldof Glanworth, who passed away peacefully at St. Thomas-Elgin General Hospital on Oct. 17, 2025, at the age of 85. Ralph’s name has been closely tied to Better Farming since 1999. His... Read this article online
Case IH FieldOps Brings Smart Connectivity to Modern Farming Friday, October 17, 2025 Lance Meyer, region precision manager at Case IH, told Farms.com that FieldOps operates on desktops through a web interface and on mobile devices through an app compatible with iPhone, Android, or iPad. This flexibility allows farmers to access critical machine and field information anytime,... Read this article online
New Holland Marks 50 Years of Twin Rotor Innovation Friday, October 17, 2025 New Holland is celebrating 50 years of leadership in twin rotor harvesting technology, a milestone that began with the introduction of the TR70 combine in 1975. This machine transformed agriculture by bringing the world the concept of twin rotor threshing and... Read this article online