Corn School: Setting the planter for even emergence

Kearney Planters operations manager Cullen Tinline

Planting corn at a uniform depth across the field is a key driver of even emergence and optimum yield.

To ensure seed is planted at the desired depth, Kearney Planters operations manager Cullen Tinline says it’s critical for growers to ensure they ‘zero’ the row units before they roll into fields this spring.

On most planters, the T handle typically sets the gauge wheel ride height and controls the planting depth on the row unit. When all units are positioned at the same setting position, they should plant at an even depth across the planter. But that’s not always the case.

On this episode of RealAgriculture’s Corn School, Tinline takes growers through the steps in the zeroing process. “Essentially what we’re trying to do is establish that every row unit is at the same depth at the same setting,” he says. “A lot of times what we find is outside row units tend to plant a little bit deeper or shallower.”

In the video, Tinline shows how growers can mitigate these uneven depths by using a jack, a levelling tool and two-inch blocks to zero the planter.

Click here for more Corn School videos.

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