Crop Scene Investigation - 34 Solved: What happened to Karl's corn planter?

Sunday, December 4, 2011

Five of the row units on Karl's six-row planter had developed an inch and a half gap between the gauge wheel and the frame. This loose assembly allowed dirt to get into these gaps and caused the gauge wheels to lift on five of the units during planting.

Pioneer Hi-Bred agronomist Scott Fife explains that the lifting motion caused the five affected row units to have a different planting depth than the row unit that worked properly.

The unaffected unit planted seeds at the proper depth, allowing plants to grow more vigorously and to almost double the early-season height of the other five rows.

"On Karl's planter, the bushings inside the gauge wheel assembly were so worn and loose that there was a lot of play between the gauge wheel and the frame. Normally, it would be really tight," explains Fife.

He says it's very important to give planters a thorough inspection before heading to the field in the spring. "If you grab hold of the gauge wheel, you can determine if it's loose and fix the problem before it's too late and the evidence shows up in your field."

Congratulations to Gary Brugmans, Chesterville, for his correct answer. BF