With corn planting season right around the corner, here are some tips to prepare your planter for the new season.

By placing a level on the toolbar, you can easily check to see if it is horizontally aligned. If you notice that the unit is either hanging backward or forward, you need to lift or lower the hookup to the tractor. This is essential to get accurate seed depth placement.

Next, align the planter units by looking across the planter units from the side.

Are they all at the same height?

If one unit is either up or down compared to the others, it needs some work. A common problem is that some bolts are loose. You should not be able to easily lift up your unit. The bolts that control the up-and down movement and sideways movement should be very tight. Washers may need to be switched from inside to outside or vice-versa.

Third, check the diameter of seed opener disks. If they have worn too much they need replacement.

On a John Deere 7000 for example, disks should at least have a diameter of 13.5 inches (new disks have a 15-inch diameter).

Stick two business cards between the openers and move them as close together as possible. The space between them should be 3 inches or more, depending on your planter type. If the opener disks are worn too much, soil will fall in the opened slot and you will get a “W” shaped seed slot instead of the desired “V” slot.

Check the diameter of the colters and replace them if needed. You should adjust the depth of worn colters that are still usable (there are some bolts that allow you to do this). Also check the pressure on the firming wheels. The downward pressure should be adequate, but not too high (check the operator’s manual).

Depth wheels should run tight. Change washers from inside to outside (or vice versa) of depth wheel if necessary.

Next, check the depth of seed placement. Place the planter on a concrete floor to measure the difference between the bottom of the depth wheels and slot opener, and adjust to the desired depth. The front colter should be set at the appropriate depth (never deeper than the seed slot openers). If the front colter is set deeper than the seed openers, the seed may be placed too deep and at irregular depths.

Enrollment Reminder

Producers are reminded again that DCP enrollment ends June 1. To date, the three-county area is only around 55 percent enrolled. Reminder postcards will not be sent out this year due to budget constraints. In fact, the Farm Service Agency has discontinued mailing newsletters for the same reason. Newsletters are now sent via e-mail. Producers will want to ensure their e-mail address is provided to the FSA office. FSA realizes this is not an ideal method, but currently it is a cost effective way to distribute updates.

Luke Fritz is executive director of the Butler County Farm Service Agency.