You Can Only Plant It Once (So Check Your Planter)
As planting season approaches, the details behind planter setup can make or break your crop before the first seed even emerges. In this episode of Outstanding in Your Field, hosts Bryan Schrader, Carl Joern, and Crystal Williams bring together planter technology specialists and from Indiana and Illinois to walk through the most critical planter maintenance checks growers should make before heading to the field.
Guests Matt Risley of Petersen Ag Service and brothers Jake and Connor Finley of Finley Farms share real-world insights from the shop and the field—covering the wear parts that most often get overlooked, how to properly calibrate planting depth, and why even the most advanced planter technology still requires boots on the ground to verify performance.
From disc openers and gauge wheels to firmware updates and closing wheel setups, this episode highlights the small adjustments that can lead to more consistent seed placement, better emergence, and stronger yield potential. If you’re pulling the planter out of the shed soon, this conversation will help ensure it’s ready to perform when it matters most.
What to Listen For in This Episode:
The most overlooked planter wear parts: Learn why disc openers, seed tube guards, gauge wheels, and parallel arms should be the first components inspected during planter maintenance.
Why consistent planting depth matters more than perfect spacing: Hear why some agronomists argue that depth uniformity can have a greater yield impact than seed spacing in certain soils.
How to properly calibrate planter depth: Jake and Connor explain a practical method using static seed blocks or simple shop tools to ensure every row unit is truly planting at the intended depth.
Common maintenance issues technicians see in the shop: From bent row-unit shanks to severely worn parallel arms, the guests share real examples of how far planter components can drift out of spec.
Choosing the right closing wheel system: A discussion on popular closing wheel options—including poly spike wheels and two-stage systems—and how soil type, speed, and budget influence the best choice.
Technology checks before planting begins: Why updating monitor firmware, verifying GPS connections, and confirming farm/field data can prevent costly delays once the planter hits the field.
The importance of “ground truthing”: Even with advanced sensors and automation, successful growers still get out of the cab early in the season to dig seeds and verify performance.
Why soybean planters deserve the same attention as corn planters: As soybean seed costs rise and planting becomes more precise, proper planter setup for beans is becoming just as critical as for corn.
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