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Mel in SW Iowa
01-04-2006 06:42:23
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Re: Ez flow spreader for brome seeding? in reply to K-stater, 01-03-2006 11:58:00
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Stand your EZ Flow tongue up and check left and right flow control gates to make sure they are clean, move easily, and are adjusted the same. Often, they are dirty, rusted, and one or both are stuck. Use the shank of a drill bit held squarely (?) in a metering hole to gauge the opening. Always gauge both left and right using the same holes. (In use one slide or the other will often stick. Not all of the holes will gauge the same, but if you always gauge on the same holes, you can increase or decrease the gate opening to make the change you need to.)
Lube the metering gate slides with dri slide, but once you get it set to the delivery rate you want, don"t use the hand lever to shut off flow or you will probably have to regauge it again.
I planted 61 acres of CRP(CP1 mix) with my dad"s old EZ Flow in 2000. 11 acres into double disced and harrowed, 21 acres into single disced and harrowed, and 29 acres no tilled but harrowed after planting. All 61 acres rolled with a cultipacker as the last operation.
Excellent stands all around, but the small seeds soon settle into the bottom of the hoppers and will get planted first. I was obviously blessed with adequate moisture, temperature, and soil conditions, but the results were slightly better than 5 more acres that I hired planted with a brand new grassland drill which was used 3 days later. I used a CP 1 mix with some oats added. CP 1 consisted mainly of brome and smaller seeds.
I believe I used a drill bit in the .200 - .250 inch range.
The EZ Flow is a crude metering device that, with patience, in my experience can give results equal to anything available.
Good Luck,
Mel
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