Machines & Maintenance

By Steve Sniff

“ You reap what you sow.” Farmers have relied on the literal truthfulness of this timeless old saw since the original garden. You sow beans, you reap beans. But the symbolic application of this proverb can at times be overlooked, even by the most intrepid of farmers, when time and the complexities of life distract one from some of the important basics.

Efficiency in the planting stage has become one of the most important metrics in farming since the technological advancements of recent decades, coupled with the high and continually rising cost of living.

So, it’ s important to take a step back now and then and look at our business model to ensure we are not missing or unintentionally slacking in any of the efficiency basics. This article will consider five of those basics that rise to the top of the pile and remind us that efficiency in sowing will reap large rewards.

1. Put Mandatory Calibration First

Just as a slow-leaking water faucet, the failure to do a new season calibration can cost a lot of money in the long run. Even a small error multiplied by hundreds or thousands of acres adds up quickly without even realizing it. We say“ new season calibration” because every single season calls for another calibration.

That goes for every system that applies product. That means

that seed population and singulation, fertilizer and chemical rates and GPS accuracy all need to be rechecked. Seed size and fertilizer blends can change year by year. Wear and tear on equipment, as well as system updates, can make slight changes in the way that equipment operates. So never assume that the numbers for last year will work just as well this year, just because you didn’ t intentionally change anything.

Start your calibrations early enough so as to allow a suitable amount of time to accomplish them properly and completely. Don’ t just take the planter for a quick spin or go only with the factory settings. Run the actual product you will be using through the system, verifying row shutoffs and section control to avoid double applications on headlands or point rows. Remember,“ sow” efficiently and thoroughly.

2. Make Replacing Worn Parts a Priority

Mindsets such as“ if it ain’ t broke, don’ t fix it” do not really have any place in the planting business. Not replacing worn parts just because they“ ain’ t broke” yet is gambling that they will continue to work just fine through this season as well.

In addition to their own questionability, worn parts can damage other parts of the system without the operator even being aware. By the time you see uneven emergence, the damage will have already been done. If a component is approaching its wear limit, don’ t wait until it breaks to replace it. Do it now. The cost of lost yield will likely be higher than the cost of replacing the worn part.

Wear to openers, seed discs, brushes, seed tubes, gauge wheels and closing systems happens gradually and not at the same time. Be diligent and thorough in your inspection of

Planting Spring 2026 | www. FarmersHotLine. com | 21