Using the right seeding equipment is essential for productivity

This article is advertiser content for John Deere.

Farming is a salt of the earth profession. And, while there may be no substitute for hard work, technology is making life on the land easier and increasing the profitability of both small and large scale operations alike.  

Everybody knows when it comes to seeding seasonal crops, you only have a narrow window. Even the smallest mistake will cost you valuable time. And, when harvest comes around, you can bet anything it’s going to cost you money too.

Necessity is the father of invention. That’s why market leaders have invested heavily to develop both cutting edge machinery and apps, which help producers get more mileage out of not only their equipment but also the sun.   

One of the most impressive innovations is John Deere’s new 60ft 1895 Single Fertilizer Placement Air Drill, which delivers 40 per cent greater coverage than previous models. With a frame strong enough to pull an air cart and two anhydrous or trailed tanks, it can seed an additional 100 acres in a ten hour day! The extra acreage is important when you’re battling the elements and the dying light. 

It’s ideal for small grains and is purpose built for accurate seed placement, even in hilly or rugged terrain. The longer mainframe and wing tyres also provide better flotation and less soil compaction, which in turn helps to ensure a more unified seeding depth. 

The brand new Pro-Series Opener is available on a number of John Deere seeders. It  features a serrated closing wheel option for better seed and fertiliser sealing. The narrow, flexible press wheels – along with a narrow seed boot – reduce soil disturbance while ensuring more precise seed placement. The narrow boot also reduces wear-and-tear on the wheel, meaning less expenditure on maintenance.

John Deere has a number of precision ag applications that make day-to-day operations easier too, however when it comes to the seeding process, Section Contol is a good place to start.

Gen 4 Section Control allows you to automatically control up to eight sections, reducing skips and overlaps, while managing operator fatigue. You can see any skips or doubles as they occur, allowing you to rectify the issue there and then. 

The 60ft 1895 Single Fertilizer Placement Air Drill also features the RelativeFlow™ Blockage Monitoring System, which acts as your eyes and ears between the cart and the opener, allowing you to spot any potential blockages so you can deal with them there and then rather than finding out about them when it’s too late. 

When combined, these applications can monitor the seeding process down to the millimeter. So you can take comfort in the fact that on a long 14 or 15 hour day, fatigue and human error won’t cost you in the long run.

Another handy piece of software is John Deere’s AutoTrac™ Implement Guidance, which helps you maximise the use of your inputs by increasing accuracy and repeatability, thanks to a second receiver on the seeder.

The guidance system pairs up with an implement steering mechanism, which allows both the machinery you’re towing and tractor to stay on the same guidance line. 

The 60ft 1895 Single Fertilizer Placement Air Drill is compatible with the new Air Power™ 2 C850 and 1910 commodity carts too, which has a dual fan and twice the delivery capacity of its predecessor, which is perfect if you need high seeding or fertiliser rates.  

John Deere has an extensive lineup of air hoe drills and seeders. The 1830 and 1835 for example both have a working width of 60ft, to deliver extra seeding capacity. The 1870 also comes standard with depth control, connecting hydraulics and blockage warning systems. The 1890 features convenient dual-row spacing hydraulics and an optional air seeder row maker, so you can maximise your seeding capacity and therefore potential yield.  

The real world advantage of technology based farming is simple: it allows you to get the job done properly on the first go. Needless delays and mistakes are costly, especially during seeding. That extra couple of minutes or hours or even days could be the difference between getting the crops planted on time or missing out on thousands of dollars come harvest. 

Remember, precision pays. So, make sure you’re taking advantage of every tool at your disposal.

This article is advertiser content for John Deere.