Six No-Till Farmer representatives from Lessiter Media attended the National Farm Machinery Show in Louisville in mid-February to scout out the latest developments in the North American agriculture machinery market. The 4-day event attracted more than 70,000 people checking out the latest advancements in farm equipment. For more on what editors saw, heard and experienced on the show floor, visit No-Till Farmer’s Facebook and Twitter pages.

Kinze Introduces 05 Series Planter

Kinze Mfg. introduced the new 05 Series planter. The advanced 4905 front-fold planter features True Speed technology, wing flex, a short turning radius and is offered in 12-, 16- and 24-row configurations. The systems, which will be available for the 2021 growing season, will be able to plant accurately and consistently at speeds from 3-12 miles per hour. In addition, the True Speed meter allows growers to switch between corn and soybeans by simply changing the seed disc — there’s no need to change out any brushes or singulators. The 4905 is operated from Kinze’s Blue Vantage display, a 12-inch monitor attached to the steering wheel that can “get farmers from zero-to-go in just three clicks,” allowing farmers to get out into the field quickly during short planting windows.

Large frame planter models 4905 and 4705 feature a variable displacement piston PTO pump, which provides a simpler planter operation and higher efficiency to reduce tractor horsepower demands. Simplified hydraulics on the model improves serviceability and decreases planter lift times. Firestone IVF radial tires provide reduced compaction.

Great Plains Launches BD7600 Series Min-Till Folding Box Drills

Expanding on Roy Applequist’s original first folding drill, Great Plains introduced the BD7600 Series of min-till folding box drills, which are available for the 2020 planting season. The new drills are offered in 2-section and 3-section models in sizes ranging from 26-40 feet.

The BD7600 features a beefed-up tongue design to carry heavier fertilizer loads and a hydraulic jack stand. The all-new feeder cup, which meters by changing the meter wheel rpm, lets farmers meter large seeds, small seeds and fertilizer all through the same assembly. This allows for a split box design which gives the grower the ability to use both a small seed and standard seed both from the same box but apply them individually at different rates.

Staggered wheels and chevron-shaped outlet gates help to deliver seed and fertilizer more consistently. Input gates located above the meter adjust the seed flow to the meter wheels, which allows growers to turn off rows to change row spacing or assist in calibration. The feeder cup has been designed to deliver product with greater accuracy and easier calibration, saving farmers time and money.

The row units have alternating leading edges to improve planting accuracy. Additional features include an optional magnetic camera that can be attached anywhere on the drill and feeds through any ISO monitor; a blockage monitor; a work light in the box itself; and a new hydraulic drive option.

Camso TTS High Speed Tracks

Track manufacturer Camso introduced its new TTS High Speed tracks for planters, which increase field mobility and reduce ground pressure, all while allowing roading speeds of up to 20 miles per hour, ready for the spring 2020 planting season.

According to Camso, the large footprint of the TTS (Trailed Track System) distributes the weight of heavier, high-capacity carts and toolbars, reducing ground pressure 30-80% compared to tires. It also eliminates pinch rows by replacing multi-tire contact points with just two track contact points per pass in the field. The double oscillating bogie suspension maintains maximum ground contact by reducing point loading conditions to the soil structure.

Schaffert Zipper Closing Wheels

The Schaffert Zipper closing wheel is an all cast wheel that provides deeper penetration in heavier soils. Unlike a regular press wheel, Zipper cast wheels will not plug up with mud. Zipper closing wheels are angled so that when they engage the soil at the 5, 6, and 7 o’clock positions, they break down the side wall over the seed. Then, when they exit the soil at the 8 o’clock position, they are angled such that they release the soil, leaving it compacted around the seed. Because of this, farmers will not need to drag a chain behind them. According to Schaffert, Zipper closing wheels will not flip seeds out of the furrow, unlike some closing wheels on the market.

Yetter Cover Crop Devastator

Yetter Mfg. Co. highlighted its new Cover Crop Devastator. It mounts to the front bar of a planter and pushes the cover crop down before the planter row unit.

The Cover Crop Devastator preserves residue cover, reducing soil erosion. It features spring-loaded, adjustable down pressure, which is provided by two ½-inch diameter coil compression springs, for reliable ground following. Each roller section is equipped with two 1¼-inch square-bore, heavy-duty, non-relubricable, triple sealed, single-row ball bearings on each end. Its solid steel construction ensures reliability and durability. The chevron-patterned rollers will clear the way for cash crops and create a weed-suppressing mat in just one pass.

Dawn Equipment InRowl Roller

The Underground Agriculture arm of Dawn Equipment showed the InRowl cover crop roller, which the company says is designed to allow growers to roll down cover crops and suppress weeds or a living, green mulch between rows during the growing season. Ideally suited for growers with a short growing season, the InRowl will allow growers to plant into a short green, living cover crop, let it grow, and then roll it down later in the season.

Similar in construction to the ZRX rollers, the InRowl unit features a chevron-pattern roller and outside deflector guides to help bring the cover crop material in toward the centerline of the unit. It is available in a hydraulic-controlled version or a spring-controlled version