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Preparing for Planting

Achieving the perfect plant stand is hard (to say the least) and to make it even harder, seed type is continuing to shift from found type to long type confections. To reflect the different seed size and density, planter settings need to be modified. Here are some steps to help im-prove consistency of seed placement, uniformity of plant development, and yields. Clean and adjust your planter. Sunflower seeds have more variation that most other seed types. Use the recommended plates, fingers and air pressures to help avoid skips and doubles. See pages 3-5 for plates and planter settings. The planter will need to be recalibrated every time you switch to planting a different variety. Soil temperature. Planting sunflower seed into cold soils may cause seed to go into dormancy causing delayed germination. Soil temperature needs to be at 50oF or more at your chosen planting depth (1.5 to 2.5 inches). If planting in the deeper end of this range, consider increas-ing planting population. Percent emergence will decrease as planting depth is increased, espe-cially for smaller seeds. Sunflowers need to have excellent seed to soil contact. This is important in all crops, but par-ticularly for sunflower. Moisture first needs to get through woody hull and then to the seed. Poor seed to soil contact will result in uneven emergence. Make sure the soil slice is pressed firmly against the seed at planting and the furrow is closed following seed placement. If planting into a no-till field, stop and check incrementally that the planter is knifing into the soil. Planting into a field with wet residue can cause ‘hair-pinning’ - pushing straw into the seed slot instead of slicing through it. It is usually more of a problem with air drills. Solution—may have to wait until residue dries until slicing become easier , sharpen drill discs/blades or adjust down pressure. Plant about 10% above the desired final plant population. Desired plant populations: Oilseeds—20,000-22,000 plants/ac Confection in-shell—17,000-19,000 plants/ac Dehull—18,000—20,000 plants/ac Birdfood—21,000-23,000 plants/ac

NATIONAL SUNFLOWER ASSOCATION OF CANADA

SPECIAL BULLETIN

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Calibrate and pay attention to speed. Calibration is crucial to achieving an even plant stand, not only when changing from one variety to another, but also between different seed lots of the same seed size designation due to differences in seed size, shape and weight. Speed is often more of an issue with plate and finger-type planters. Going too fast results in inconsistent seed placement and uneven emergence. As speed increases, vibration increases. Proper air/vacuum pressure and properly calibrated seed meters lessen the impact of increased speeds. Many new style planters have a minimum speed requirement to keep the seed disk at the opti-mal rpm to ensure proper seed singulation. Match up planter plates with specific hybrids and seed size. Commercial seed companies have plate recommendations for all seed sizes. Pages 3-5 have information on planter plates and settings. Graphite or Talc? Most operator manuals recommend that a lubricant is used. Seed treatments may cause deterioration in seed singling, spacing accuracy, and seed flow into the vacuum seed meter. The options are graphite or talc; they are not interchangeable. Generally talc is used in vacuum and air planters, and graphite in finger pick-up planters. If the manual calls for a seed lubricant, be sure to use it and at the specified rate. Modifications—Precision Planting provides attachments and control systems to modify planters to increase planting accuracy. See website for more information (www.precisionplanting.com) . For further information planting sunflower and troubleshooting problems: Contact your local planter dealership Contact your seed dealer—many seed dealers have seed meter set-up recommendations

in place Consult the Confection Planting Guide & Troubleshooting Tips, Jan. 2008 on the National

Sunflower Association of U.S.A. John Smith, agricultural engineer at University of Nebraka -Scottsbluff offers solutions for common planting issues. http:/www.sunflowernsa.com/ magazine/details.asp?ID=510&Cat=6

There are many other articles on the National Sunflower Association U.S. website ad dressing planting issues and how to achieve optimal plant spacing.

NATIONAL SUNFLOWER ASSOCATION OF CANADA

SPECIAL BULLETIN

3

Planter

Model

Component or

Adjustment

Oil Seed Size Confection Seed

(long, narrow, XL) (~3000 seeds/lb)

Size #4 (~7500 seeds/lb)

Size #3 (~6500 seeds/lb)

Size #2 (~5500 seeds/lb)

John Deere

MaxEmerge Vacuum Seed

Meter

Seed plate: H136478 A52390 A52390 A52391

Meter brush: Long Long Long Long

Vacuum (in. H2O): 3 6 5 12

Baffle position: Down Up Up Up

Knockout wheel or

wiper: Wiper

Knockout AA37348

Knockout

AA37348

Knockout

AA37348

Double eliminator (AA61046):

None, or moved up

Block half of hole Block half of hole Block half of hole

Seedtube: Standard Standard Standard A56786 (wide)

Precision Planting eSet in

John Deere MaxEmerge

Vacuum Seed Meter

Seed plate: 7200031 7200031 7200032 720003

Vacuum (in. H2O): 7 - 8 7 - 12 12 - 13 12

Singulator part no.: 720230 720230 720230 720273

Extractor: 720117 720117 720117 720117

Deflector position (“paperclip”):

Up (with hose)

Up (with hose)

Up Up

Seedtube: Standard Standard Standard A56786 (wide)

Kinze EdgeVac Vacuum

Seed Meter

Seed disc: GD18098 GD18098 GD18098 GD18098

Vacuum (in. H2O): 20 20 20 20

Singulator setting: 5 5 5 5

Cleanout brush with ball ejector:

GA12154 GA12154 GA12154 GA12154

Seedtube: EdgeVac EdgeVac EdgeVac EdgeVac

Initial Planter Seed Meter Set-Up Recommendations For Sunflower Seed

Notes: 1. Always consult your planter operator manual and your local planter dealer for best settings. The

following recommendations are starting points only. Each particular seed lot, planter condition, and field

speed may require different adjustments. Differences of shape, size and weight of seed between seed lots

of the same seed size designation may require different seed plates or planter adjustments. Test your

planter meter and your seed on a good planter test stand before planting to determine best settings at

your field speed.

2. Most planer operator manuals recommend either graphite or talc be mixed with the seed to provide

improved seed flow and/or lubrication to the planter meter components. This is especially important for

planting sunflower. See your operator manual or planter dealer for the recommended material and rate.

Note: The Kinze ASD bulk seed system works well with #2,3 & 4 oil seeds but at present is not recommended for confection seed. Recommended 8-15 inches H2O ASD pressure.

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Planter

Model

Component or

Adjustment

Oil Seed Size Confection Seed (long, narrow, XL) (~3000 seeds/lb)

#4 (~7500 seeds/lb)

#3 (~6500 seeds/lb)

#2 (~5500 seeds/lb)

John Deere Pro-Series

Vacuum Seed Meter

Seed plate: A52390 A52390 A52390 A52391

Singulator setting: 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5

Vacuum (in. H2O): 5 8 12 12

Knockout wheel: AA37348 AA37348 AA37348 AA37348

Seedtube: Standard Standard Standard A56786 (wide)

CaseIH ASM

1200 Series Vacuum

Seed Meter

Seed plate: 2423 2423 (or 2440) 2440 2440 (or 2455)

Singulator setting: 3 3 (2) 2 2

Vacuum (in. H2O): 25 25 (18) 20 25 (18)

Baffle position: 2 2 2 2

White 5000, 6000, &

8000 Series Positive Air Seed Meter

Seed plate: 852437, or 700730352

852437, or 700730352

852435 852435, 852434, or

852436

Air pressure (in. H2O): 1 - 1 ¼ 1 - 1 ¼ 1 - 1½ 1 - 2

Seed gate position: ⅓ ⅓ ⅓ Remove gate

Tickler brush: 700730684 700730684 Standard or 700730684

Standard or 700730684

Note: For the long, narrow confection only 1.) If bridging occurs just above the CCS tank manifold, try adjusting the CCS tank pressure from 10 inches of water to as low as 6 inches of water. 2.) If plugging occurs in the mini-hopper elbow, try reducing the CCS tank pressure. If that does not help, see your local Deere dealer for information non how to modify the mini-hopper elbow. 3.) Low seed populations or low field speeds may cause the hydraulic drive to operate at rotation speeds to low to maintain accurate seed spacing. See your local Deere dealer for information on how to correctly convert your 40 cell seed plate to 20 cells. 4.) If seed bridging occurs within the seed meter, try the 50 hole edible bean plate A52904 which will have more agitation but you will need to change transmission settings, double eliminator (AA69016), and knockout wheel (AA3844).

Note: Seed plate selection, tickler brush, and air pressure are very sensitive to sunflower seed shape. Test your meter and your seed on a planter test stand before planting.

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Planter

Model Component or

Adjustment

Oil Seed Size Confection Seed (long, narrow, XL) (~3000 seeds/lb)

#4 (~7500 seeds/lb)

#3 (~6500 seeds/lb)

#2 (~5500 seeds/lb)

John Deere Corn Finger Pickup Seed

Meter

Small or large finger: Small Small (or large) Large Large

Backing plate: Standard Standard Standard Large hole

Seedtube: Standard Standard Standard A26184 (wide)

Precision Planting ‘PrecisionMeter’ Options in John Deere or Kinze

Finger Pickup Seed Meters

Precision Finger Set: Sunflower finger set

343067 Sunflower finger

set 343067 Standard finger

set 343029 Not recommended for XL confection

seed

PopMax Backing Plate:

Sunflower 342111 with insert “C”

Sunflower 342111 with insert “C”

Standard 342103 with insert “A”

Brush: Brushless block blank 343091

Brushless block blank 343091

Adjustable brush (Included in 343103)

Adjust as needed

Kinze Finger Pickup Seed

Meter

Small or large finger: Small

(GR1897) Small

(GR1897) Small

(GR1897)

Not recommended for confection seed

Backing plate: Large hole (GR0664)

Large hole (GR0664)

Large hole (GR0664)

Lift CAM: GB0111 or GB0410 GB0111 or GB0410 GB0111 or GB0410

Seedtube: Standard Standard Standard

The source for these recommendations for initial setup for seed meters for planting sunflowers is a combi-

nation of planter operator manuals, sunflower industry recommendations, direct contact with the planter

manufactures, and planter testing at the University of Nebraska

Recommendations compiled by: John A. Smith

University of Nebraska June 9, 2011

Note: This finger pickup mechanism may not provide good sunflower seed singulation or accurate seed spacing, especially with confection seed. Performance is very dependent on field speed and individual seed size and shape.

Note: This finger pickup is not a recommended way to plant sunflower seeds and will often not provide good sunflower seed singulation or accurate seed spacing.

Note: The Kinze ASD bulk seed system works well with #2,3 & 4 oil seeds byt at present is not recommended for confection seed. Recommend 8-15 inches H2O ASD pressure.