Tillage Innovation Profiles

 

Harvey Friedrich, , Elgin
Soil Type: Sandy loam | Farm Operation: Cash Crop
Years in Operation of No-till: 8

Tillage/Cropping System

System: No-till
Fall Tillage: none
Spring Tillage: none

Planter Make, Model and Description
  • Single disk opener, stainless steel fertilizer tube has leading wear bar, double hub with two bearings (uses two stock hubs, one being machined)
  • 3 tillage coulters per row with depth controlled separately from planter unit.
  • One drive wheel to drive liquid pump, second drives dry fertilizer and third and fourth drive seed at 2 rates; normal and 20% reduction on light sand.
  • Planter and frame built from scratch, requires 8 wheels to carry.
  • Very front tank on tongue holds latex paint to mark rows
Tillage/Coulter Dimensions:
  • Lead coulter in row.
  • 2nd coulter loosens soil for single disk fertilizer opener 2 inches off row.
  • 3rd coulter applies 28% N 5 inches off row.

Fertilizer System:
Liquid In furrow:
Broadcast:
Dry Banded: 340 lbs/ac 5-13-22
Additional Nitrogen on Planter:
Sidedress N:

Producer's Comments

Pros

Cons
  • Fuel Savings- Single pass planting
  • All N applied at planting.
  • Use the same planter for soybeans, planted between previous years corn rows
  • Lodged corn possibly easier to pick up due to narrow rows
  • Good crop residue cover on sandy soils
  • Latex paint is used to mark swaths. Eliminates row counting when applying sprays. Normally swaths would be difficult to see because of previous crop residues.
  • All wheels require scrapers under some conditions
  • Requires corn head (21.5”) availability
  • Row units a little tight for servicing if someone is somewhat large or stout