Planter challenges in heavy clay soil?

Jimmytheaxe · 01-13-2012, 11:16 AM

Our farm is located in the Red River valley in Southern Manitoba. Our soil is heavy clay. We are considering purchasing a planter for soybeans. There are a couple of Monosems that we have looked at and are interested in the potential of seed singulation and placement. There aren't many planters in our area. This may be that traditionally we have not grown row crops? Can a planter work as well in clay as it does in sandier soils? What challenges do you guys see us needing to address to make it work? Thanks, Jim

wetfarmer · 01-13-2012, 11:25 AM

planters work ok in red river gumbo. All you need is a layer of dry soil over the top for a smooth operation. Watch out which planter in terms of wheel placement. I have a 24r20 and some neighbors had 30/15 splits and my planter was much better in wet heavy clay because my wheels are set into the gang and leave enough room on either side of it so as not to push a wet ridge into the path of the opener . Basically undisturbed ground in front of your opener from tractor wheels or planter wheels or parts is your friend. i start planting about the same time I start seeding with a conventional air seeder in terms of moisture in the field. scrapers and discs need to be in good shape.

mbfarmer · 01-13-2012, 07:02 PM

Make sure you get one with pnuematic down pressure so you can adjust the downforce. Taking pressure off really helps in wet conditions.

**Don Boles** · 01-13-2012, 08:20 PM

mb are you in those soil conditions that roll up when damp?
You know, where you walk into a field with size 10 rubber boots and walk out with size 30's.

mb580r · 01-13-2012, 09:09 PM

I ran a db 66 for the first time in 2011 and i was pretty impressed with how it worked in this years terrible conditions. As long as you have a crust there don't seem to be many plugging issues. I would consider a central commodity planter if it's in the budget. They can track up the headlands kinda bad but they make seeding soybeans so simple. How are you planning to put your innoculant on? I wouldn't get too hung up on the downforce system as long as the downforce can be adjusted. I have adjustable springs on my planter and it works very well. Don, im in those conditions you refer too. I have lost a few rubber boots in this stickey gooey muck.

D&M Farms · 01-13-2012, 09:13 PM

I plant alot of soybeans in gumbo with a 7300 jd on 30 in rows. I have a no-till drill but when the clay and gumbo get dry we do alot of no-til to conserve moisture and my planter does better because I can produce more down pressure. I like the planter more than the drill also because I get better seed to soil contact in the gumbo and clay. Here in SE Missouri and NE Arkansas the monosem twin row planter is really popular.

Jimmytheaxe · 01-13-2012, 09:33 PM

Thanks for all the replies. Ya Don sounds like you've walked in my fields before! 580 - i'm planning on going with 2x liquid, not sure about the granular. Are there planters that come with dry fert options that could also meter out gran? Can you dribble band liquid innoculant? My knowledge of planters is pretty limited, but trying to do some homework now.... How are you guys innoculating? Is skipping gran all together a no-no?

proudfarmer · 01-13-2012, 11:27 PM

i just bought a 1240 case planter and i'm currently mounting a valmar on it to put granular innoculant down in the furrow. It has a small insecticide boot on it where i'm hoping to put the stuff through. I just hope it works.

wetfarmer · 01-13-2012, 11:55 PM

I did liquid through my keaton seed firmers last year and it worked flawlessly even on virgin soy ground. 6 bags on 60 acres in 150 gallons of river water and 150 gallons liquid phosphate. In the same field as my air seeder with granular the nodules appeared sooner with this recipe than the granular and yielded better by 6 bushels. Not guaranteeing it will work for everyone but it did for me. ran out on the last field of 1700 acres with 3 acres to go and it was like a wall of change where I ran out. lime green compared to forest green.

mauryj · 01-14-2012, 01:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Don Boles

mb are you in those soil conditions that roll up when damp?
You know, where you walk into a field with size 10 rubber boots and walk out with size 30's.

I think you are well aware of this type of soil

not sure where your farm is but if it close to 3 hills you know

01-13-2012, 11:16 AM	#1 (permalink)
Jimmytheaxe Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Lowe Farm Manitoba Posts: 7	Planter challenges in heavy clay soil? Our farm is located in the Red River valley in Southern Manitoba. Our soil is heavy clay. We are considering purchasing a planter for soybeans. There are a couple of Monosems that we have looked at and are interested in the potential of seed singulation and placement. There aren't many planters in our area. This may be that traditionally we have not grown row crops? Can a planter work as well in clay as it does in sandier soils? What challenges do you guys see us needing to address to make it work? Thanks, Jim

01-13-2012, 08:20 PM	#4 (permalink)
Don Boles Super Moderator Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Three Hills/Trochu, Alberta, Canada Posts: 3,754	mb are you in those soil conditions that roll up when damp? You know, where you walk into a field with size 10 rubber boots and walk out with size 30's. __________________ Don

01-13-2012, 11:25 AM	#2 (permalink)
wetfarmer Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 237	planters work ok in red river gumbo. All you need is a layer of dry soil over the top for a smooth operation. Watch out which planter in terms of wheel placement. I have a 24r20 and some neighbors had 30/15 splits and my planter was much better in wet heavy clay because my wheels are set into the gang and leave enough room on either side of it so as not to push a wet ridge into the path of the opener . Basically undisturbed ground in front of your opener from tractor wheels or planter wheels or parts is your friend. i start planting about the same time I start seeding with a conventional air seeder in terms of moisture in the field. scrapers and discs need to be in good shape.

01-13-2012, 07:02 PM	#3 (permalink)
mbfarmer Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 2,278	Make sure you get one with pnuematic down pressure so you can adjust the downforce. Taking pressure off really helps in wet conditions.

01-13-2012, 09:09 PM	#5 (permalink)
mb580r Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: red river valley, manitoba Posts: 97	I ran a db 66 for the first time in 2011 and i was pretty impressed with how it worked in this years terrible conditions. As long as you have a crust there don't seem to be many plugging issues. I would consider a central commodity planter if it's in the budget. They can track up the headlands kinda bad but they make seeding soybeans so simple. How are you planning to put your innoculant on? I wouldn't get too hung up on the downforce system as long as the downforce can be adjusted. I have adjustable springs on my planter and it works very well. Don, im in those conditions you refer too. I have lost a few rubber boots in this stickey gooey muck.

01-13-2012, 09:13 PM	#6 (permalink)
D&M Farms Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 46	I plant alot of soybeans in gumbo with a 7300 jd on 30 in rows. I have a no-till drill but when the clay and gumbo get dry we do alot of no-til to conserve moisture and my planter does better because I can produce more down pressure. I like the planter more than the drill also because I get better seed to soil contact in the gumbo and clay. Here in SE Missouri and NE Arkansas the monosem twin row planter is really popular.

01-13-2012, 09:33 PM	#7 (permalink)
Jimmytheaxe Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Lowe Farm Manitoba Posts: 7	Thanks for all the replies. Ya Don sounds like you've walked in my fields before! 580 - i'm planning on going with 2x liquid, not sure about the granular. Are there planters that come with dry fert options that could also meter out gran? Can you dribble band liquid innoculant? My knowledge of planters is pretty limited, but trying to do some homework now.... How are you guys innoculating? Is skipping gran all together a no-no?

01-13-2012, 11:27 PM	#8 (permalink)
proudfarmer Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: red river valley, manitoba Posts: 26	i just bought a 1240 case planter and i'm currently mounting a valmar on it to put granular innoculant down in the furrow. It has a small insecticide boot on it where i'm hoping to put the stuff through. I just hope it works.

01-13-2012, 11:55 PM	#9 (permalink)
wetfarmer Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 237	I did liquid through my keaton seed firmers last year and it worked flawlessly even on virgin soy ground. 6 bags on 60 acres in 150 gallons of river water and 150 gallons liquid phosphate. In the same field as my air seeder with granular the nodules appeared sooner with this recipe than the granular and yielded better by 6 bushels. Not guaranteeing it will work for everyone but it did for me. ran out on the last field of 1700 acres with 3 acres to go and it was like a wall of change where I ran out. lime green compared to forest green.

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