Spring is around the winter corner and coming faster than you think. Getting the best results out of that seed takes some careful planning and precise planting. Ground preparations also require studying up on the best way to fertilize, protect and nurture that investment. Take some time to attend the grower meetings and conferences to get the latest scoop on new equipment and better management practices. The staff at Sugar Producer collected information on manufacturers of tillage equipment for your reading pleasure. Check it out.
Orthman Manufacturing, Inc.
www.orthmanag.com
1tRIPr
Fertilizer is important and fertility placement can be just as important, especially in sugarbeets. Fertilizer in close proximity to the plant root provides a direct response in yield, improves the size of the beet root, the ability to fight disease and pests, and the total sugar content, all leading to improved net income.
The Orthman 1tRIPr can be set to 20- and 22-inch row-spacing with the use of the setback clamp on every other row across the machine. Early in the sugarbeet life cycle the plant is determining its number of leaves and root size.
Studies show that placing fertilizer directly below the seed outperforms conventional 2 inches below and 2 inches to the side fertilizer placement. Fertilizer placed to the side obviously promotes lateral growth but placement below the seed in close proximity to the taproot of the sugarbeet definitely enhances beet size and yield.
The Orthman 1tRIPr eliminates compaction while providing the seed-bed preparation and precision fertilizer placement that today's sugarbeet producer demands.
Schlagel Manufacturing
www.schlagel.net
Till-N-Plant "Series 2"
The "series 2" row unit was reworked on some areas of the unit with the best Schlagel has to offer. They are tougher and easily adjustable to get the job done the way growers want. The unit's down-pressure is adjusted by moving one rod. The front flat coulter depth is adjusted with one bolt. The wavy coulters and rear packer are adjusted by moving a pin.
The row unit starts with a flat coulter to cut the trash ahead of the 1-inch thick parabolic automatic-reset trip shank. The unit can be adjusted so the shank tills from 6 to 16 inches deep. When the shank trips, simply raise the machine up and shank will reset itself. The parabolic shank and point are designed to prevent soil from slabbing up in big chunks. Following the shanks, are two wavy coulters to lift and pinch the soil together. This closes the void left by the shank, removing any air pockets in the seed bed. The final key component of the row unit is its dual-wheel packer. This packer acts as a "depth gauge wheel" for the whole-row unit. This firms the soil to lessen moisture evaporation and also breaks up any dirt clods. Dirt clods can impede seed placement and seed-to-soil contact.
Northside Welding, Inc.
www.northsideweldinginc.com/Beet-Equipment.html
Built to withstand the rugged farming conditions of the Northwest, the NSW Roller Harrow is made from 3/8 inch wall tubing with all joints being reinforced. With an optional grain drill hitch that attaches in four places, it can easily handle a 30-foot grain drill. The roller tubes are constructed with 12 _-inch heavy wall tube, ideal for 14 x 20 packer rings. Each tube is carried on 2 3/16-inch shafts, with American made flange bearings. The center front tube is carried on 2 3/16-inch Type E (double taper) bearings. The heavy duty axle uses 9.00 x 16, 10-ply tires (6 tires on a 30-foot, 4 on a 20-foot or 25-feet), with the optional 235 x 75 x 17.5 low profile truck tires. Four rows of S-tine shanks and an optional leveling bar finish out the package. Ordering factory direct allows for any customization desired, including widths.
NSW Water Saver
This is commonly referred to as a dammer-diker, and has proven itself for 20 years. With independent row units, each paddle penetrates to the maximum depth, and automatically adjusts to uneven terrain. For use in sugarbeets, the shanks are offset in two rows to eliminate heaving and breaking of tap roots, and to allow speeds of up to 5 mph while diking.
The heat treated shank is available in a fully hydraulic reset system, or can be used in a shear pin assembly. Paddle angle and pocket size are adjustable to meet needs and conditions. All components (bearings, rams, fittings, etc.) are standard OTC to eliminate excessive down time. Additional options are available for corn, potato, and grain and customizing is no problem.
NSW HF series V-ripper
This is a fully hydraulic reset ripper. Available in 5 through 15 shanks, there is a size for every need. The 5, 7 and 9 shank rippers are designed to be carried on a 3-pt, and tongue pull is available for 9 thru 15 shank models. Shanks are set on 20 inch centers, providing up to 25 feet of coverage on the HR15 model. The "Sunflower" point has a 14 inch angled wing at the base of the shank to eliminate compaction at the lowest point of the shank. Custom packers are available to tow behind, often leaving the field ready for planting.
The hydraulic systems are very user friendly, and require minimal maintenance. All hydraulic components are standard OTC items for minimal down time should repairs be needed. Shanks are cut from T-1 hardened steel, either 1- or 1 ¼ -inch material, and come with either a rounded or V-chrome leading edge. Three styles of shanks are available depending on the application and individual preference.
Bigham Brothers, Inc.
www.bighambrothers.com
Bigham Brothers Inc. manufactures a full range of tillage and cultivation implements, known in the industry for quality and dependability. An integral part of its conservation tillage line of equipment is the Super Duty Strip Till. It tills and clears a narrow seedbed which provides roots and tuber crops such as sugarbeets a beneficial growing environment, with access to subsoil moisture and nutrients. Fertilizer and other chemicals can be applied in the same pass. Strip tilling also reduces soil erosion, increases water filtration and retention, promotes germination because the strips warm faster in the spring, cuts expenses by reducing the number of passes, reduces carbon emissions and retains organic matter, and results in similar or higher yields as compared to conventional tillage. Bigham Brothers' Super Duty Strip Till is available in multiple configurations on a variety of tool bar types. An auto-reset version is available. Row spacing can range from 40 inch rows or more down to as little as 15 inches in a staggered pattern.
Unverferth Mfg. Co., Inc.
www.unverferth.com
Zone-Stripper
The Zone-Stripper advantage is tillage only where it's needed with consistent tillage performance.
First, the lead coulter with six-bolt hub and 20 inch, rippled blade helps cut through the heaviest corn stalk residue for maximum flow. Coulters feature six-bolt hubs and 1,500 lbs. of down-pressure for cutting through the heaviest residue.
Next, the low-disturbance, auto-reset shanks till from eight to 12 inches deep to alleviate compaction and break the soil.
Then the dual, offset notched concave blades and on each side of the shank, help mix and till the soil to create a strip.
The Rolling Harrow attachment, with the choice of straight, or concave mounding blades, helps smooth and level the soil. Options include the combination liquid/dry fertilizer shank attachment for precise placement. The front coulter-mounted dual wheeled row cleaner is also optional for providing additional residue clearing.
The row markers are designed to leave a highly visible line for precise strip placement and the lighting package for enhance transport visibility and safety.
Kuhn Krause, Inc
www.krauseco.com
The Dominator primary tillage system was designed to manage heavy residue and a lot more. With this system the extra time and expense of stalk shredding is eliminated, plus reduced spring seedbed trips for one quick pass.
Hiniker Company
www.hiniker.com/ag_products%20new/index.html
Merissa Geerdes
mgeerdes@limevalley.com
6000 Strip-Till
The practice of strip-tillage continues to gain acceptance with row crop farmers across the country. With the Hiniker strip-till solution you will realize the economic, agronomic and environmental benefits of this tilling method.
Wootan Enterprises
208-599-0081
Justin Wootan