In partnership with Harvest International, Precision Planting and Schlipf Precision Ag, Beck’s has made the concept of a multi-row width, multi-hybrid planter a reality. Developed for Beck’s Practical Farm Research (PFR) program, the planter will help the industry better understand optimum row spacing, seeding rate and hybrid combination per acre.
“Over the years, our PFR team has conducted several studies about row spacing and seeding rates, but we have yet to determine the right row spacing, seeding rate and hybrid combination,” says Jason Gahimer, PFR operations manager. “The multi-row width, multi-hybrid concept planter will allow us to plant 10-inch, 20-inch and 30-inch rows, as well as multi-hybrid, variable rate populations, and apply variable rate fertility throughout the field to identify the zones, spacing and seeding rates that will maximize yields.”
The multi-row width, multi-hybrid concept planter features a customer planter bar and row units by Harvest International; Precision Planting vSet Select multi-hybrid meters; vApply HD liquid control system, a FurrowJet in-furrow liquid attachment, CleanSweep for the pneumatic row cleaner control, and DeltaForce hydraulic down force control system, Yetter Manufacturing closing wheels and row cleaners; and a Surefire Ag fertilizer pump system. Schlipf Precision Ag in Milford, Indiana, assembled the Precision Planting components onto the Harvest International planter bar.
“We’re very excited to partner with Beck’s to develop the multi-row width, multi-hybrid concept planter,” says Byron Friesen, president of Harvest International. “The planter bar and row units were manufactured in northwest Iowa and are built out of a high tinsel strength steel. Because we laser cut everything, it ensures a high-level of accuracy, which lends itself to more precise planting.”
In the fall of 2017, Beck’s PFR team will use the planter to conduct a 10-inch row width study in wheat. Then in the spring of 2018, the PFR team will conduct initial corn and soybean field trials with the multi-row width, multi-hybrid planter in central Indiana. Before heading to the fields, the team will work with Beck’s precision farming tool, FARMserver to create management zones in the fields and identify test blocks.
