picassomcp
Member
I will be planting some Oats and hay and also some soybeans this next Spring. I am wanting to do all of it with my IH #10 drill that is on 7" spacing. I will plug every other hole for the soybeans. I have no previous experience planting with a drill other than a food plot sized field that I put hay in as an experiment this past summer. My results were ok for the plot, but poor for a field. I was concerned that it would quit planting and I wouldn't know it, so I removed the seed tubes and just let the seed fall from the meters. That seemed to work, but I did have alot of seed in the framework of the planter, especially from the end units. I'm glad I did have the seed tubes off though, as I did have to stop many times to clear out the seed meters, seemed that they plugged quite often. I'm thinking that was from not having the seed meters set right. I planted a mix of grasses, each with a different size seed. the chart on my drill did not have any of these seed types on it, so I just set it at 1/4 open. After many plugs, I moved the seed meters to 1/2 open. That helped, but still some plug ups. I then opened the meters up to 3/4 open. Many less plugs, and then running this machine became fun, but by that time I was about done. I went through about as much seed as I expected too, so I now wish I would of set it at 1/2 open from the start. Anyhow, I now have a fear of the seed meters plugging when I get to planting a field with it. There is no monitor on this older machine, I don't mind removing the seed tubes when planting hay, but would prefer they be on especially when drilling the beans. Hopefully I can get the setting right from the start as soybeans are listed on the chart in the seedbox of the drill. Is there any way to be fairly certain that it is planting? other than waiting for the seedbox to get low, at that point I could see what row is not planting, but by that time who knows how long it has not been planting.
I really like this drill, and I'm sure it can work just fine, but I have a fear of many, long skip rows. I guess I am hoping that someone may have a way of relieving my fear of this.
Thanks for any help you may be able to offer.
I really like this drill, and I'm sure it can work just fine, but I have a fear of many, long skip rows. I guess I am hoping that someone may have a way of relieving my fear of this.
Thanks for any help you may be able to offer.