Answers are from the Indiana certified crop adviser panel: Gene Flaningam, Flaningam Ag Consulting, Vincennes; Carl Joern, Pioneer, Lafayette; Greg Kneubuhler, G&K Concepts, Fort Wayne; and Dan Quinn, Purdue Extension corn specialist.

 

I have my corn seed now. Is it worth taking a sample from each lot and running it through a planter test stand to seeing if they singulate differently?

 

Flaningam: Seed corn singulation is very important to get proper seed spacing and ear development. Most hybrids have variable seed grades available to purchase. Figure out what seed size your planter performs best with in field settings. Take a couple of those hybrids with you to check the singulation on the test stand. On average, you may be able to increase your yields by 5 bushels per acre, and that is equal to $20 per acre at $4 corn.

 

Joern: Ensuring optimal corn planter performance this spring is one of the best investments you can make. Seed shape and size can impact singulation if planter settings are not properly adjusted. Check with your seed supplier to see if they have already conducted planter tests for your seed lot. Many suppliers provide planter setting recommendations by batch, which can save you time and ensure more precise planting.

 

Kneubuhler: If you’re still running original-style vacuum meters or finger-pickup meters, then I’d highly recommend running each unit on a test stand annually. With newer technology today from manufacturers like Precision Planting and John Deere, it’s not necessary to run the latest units on a test stand every year. However, the newer meters do have moving parts that create friction and component wear, which can lead to poor performance over time. It’s not bad maintenance to have them checked occasionally. Also, with monitoring technology today as well, you can see meter performance from the planter seat. That can help tip you off if things are not performing well either.

 

Quinn: This can be helpful to determine how different hybrids, which may vary in seed size and shape, perform in the planter you are using. Seeds that vary in shape and size can vary in singulation percentage if the proper settings are not adjusted, like vacuum pressure and seed disc cell size. If you have the time and can test seed singulation through your planter, this can help you determine that your planter is calibrated correctly. Different settings may need to be tailored to different hybrids.