planter/corn head decision

Anonymous-0 · Dec 17, 2013

I want to upgrade planters. Currently I have 30 inch rows and neighbors and farm magazine articles say make the move to 20 inches or less when upgrading. So I went to the Deere dealer today and started the process of pricing planter and corn head. When it was all said and done he adamantly tried to steer me clear of the 20's .He told me everyone his dealer has sold 20's to have come back and wanted 30 in equipment back. The ones who tried claimed no yield response and more disease. Yet I can't get it out of my head the farm pubs and seed companies say 7 to 10bpa bump up on corn and 3 to 5bpa on beans. What say you guys?

tractormiallis · Dec 17, 2013

Everyone but one farmer I know of plants on 30 inch rows. Now, some do plant 15 inch on beans, others 30. 15 inch on corn is too close, all you will be doing is crowding and having smaller ears. I dont see the yield increase, unless you are on really good dirt. But, I could be wrong. I dont think it would be worth the upgrade, IMHO.

steve in wi · Dec 17, 2013

Was talking with our seed guy tonight he explained to us about 20 inch rows. Their is a yield increase when planted at 34000. Going any higher he said it starts to decrease. He works for a coop and had two sets of numbers his and the coops. 34000 was his own magic number with a farm of 800 acres of corn,34500 was the coops magic number. Yes the yields increase but you need to find that number that works for your area.

JD Seller · Dec 17, 2013

boberjagel: It really depends on how far north you are. The shorter the growing season the more the benefits.

Here in North-East Iowa they started switching to the 20 inch rows 10 years ago. I only know of two guys that are still doing it. Most switched back.

None of the ones I know thought that the slight yield increase off set the equipment cost. Also your talking about needing narrow tires for any type of Post emergence work such as spraying. If you have a very big tractor this means narrow spaced duals. That alone is not cheap.

moresmoke · Dec 17, 2013

Here in the Red River valley of ND and MN 30" rows are rare. 22's are most common and some 20's. I think it makes more difference with the short season varieties of corn. A seed rep once told me that soybean spacing is very variety specific. Some work at one width and not the other. One plus of 20's is you can pick across rows fairly well.

Frank 41 · Dec 17, 2013

The guys around here, central IL, that have 20" do it so they will know their fields from others. I had 15" beans for weed control but neighbor plants now with 24 X 30". Dry year beans do better in 15" and wet years 30" does better.

Clodbuster · Dec 17, 2013

I have seen a neighbor trying to pick narrow row corn after it fell down one year. It was like trying to run a fine tooth comb through tangled hair.

I would advise to stay with 30 inch and I'm old enough to remember when that was the new narrow row system too! Any time you deviate from what the normal standard is where you live things get more expensive to buy, trade, borrow, and find parts for. Nothing wrong with 20 or 15 inch rows if you want to deal with the things that come with it.

In my neighborhood you can't trade off 36 inch row equipment without taking a big hit on it.

fixerupper · Dec 17, 2013

(quoted from post at 19:40:21 12/17/13) I want to upgrade planters. Currently I have 30 inch rows and neighbors and farm magazine articles say make the move to 20 inches or less when upgrading. So I went to the Deere dealer today and started the process of pricing planter and corn head. When it was all said and done he adamantly tried to steer me clear of the 20's .He told me everyone his dealer has sold 20's to have come back and wanted 30 in equipment back. The ones who tried claimed no yield response and more disease. Yet I can't get it out of my head the farm pubs and seed companies say 7 to 10bpa bump up on corn and 3 to 5bpa on beans. What say you guys?

eere had a 20" corn head way back in the late 60's so it's not really that new of a concept. Like the others said, I have only one neighbor who plants on 20's. The rest are on 30's. Trade in value for 20" row equipment can't be all that good. Jim

paul · Dec 17, 2013

Lot of magazines are talking of 12 inch spacing in both directions. Equipment isn't quite there for that yet....

Most are 30 inch around here. I just got there this year.

See some 20 inch, see more twin row planting.

The twin row looks interesting, can use 30 inch headers, but it plants rows 7-8 inches apart centered on 30 inches.

Better planting, can use common 30 inch headers, spraying works with normal tires....

Lot to like about those twin rows. Of course, 2x as many planter parts to wear and maintain, so not cheap.

I don't see 20 inch corn growing in popularity, just holding its own.

20 or 22 inch is common in sugar beet areas, which aren't too far from me.

Paul

2 Old 2 care · Dec 18, 2013

I've been reading several reports from farmers in the Carolinas that plant corn in 15" rows and have very good yield results compared to 30" or 20" rows. There's a lot more to it than just narrowing the rows and swapping corn heads though. As with most everything, there's more to it than meets the eye. It takes the right hybrid, the right soil, the right fertility program, the right amount of water, and the right climate conditions. Apparently, wider rows allow a bit more variability and tolerance on those items.

2 Old 2 care · Dec 18, 2013

BTW, we've been @ 30" rows here in central Kentucky since late 60's. Still a few hold outs @ 40", but not very common. And for what it's worth, probably 85% or more is no till here. I don't know (personally) of any 40" row no till corn.

Leroy · Dec 18, 2013

This was years ago before 30" rows became popular. AC came out with the 20" unit and neighbor went from the 40" to the 20". as soon as the 30" became avaible he went to the 30". He was also the first to go no till and now he is back to moldboard plowing, not chisel plowing. And on those 20" rows he used a LP flame thrower instead of a cultivator.Did not have the herbicides then tho.

johnwayne360 · Dec 18, 2013

They yield response in 20 in rows corresponds to a higher population of corn plants. Just be aware thats how you get higher yields. Its not that the plants magically grow bigger ears..Its more that you are able to plant more plants without them getting in the way of each other. So when you make a decision, make sure you have factored in extra seed and fertility costs.

todd hamilton · Dec 18, 2013

When cousin went no-till he had a good 4 row 38 inch John Deere corn planter that he added no-till conversion. We used that planter for years until a neighbor lady hit it one night going 60 mph. The John Deere dealer had just taken a 7000 on trade in even better condition, they put the no till conversion on the replacement planter. A few years later he upgraded to six row on 30 inches mainly because dry box row starter was getting very hard to find. We saw little difference in overall corn yields between the two planters. However, when he replaced the great plains no-till drill with a 15 inch Kinze planter for beans yield went up. It's all about soil, conditions, seed and population when you plant.

OliverGuy · Dec 18, 2013

Seed companies say the yield increase so you'll buy more seed when you up the population in the narrow rows. How about twin rows as a step up and keep the 30" head before going all in?

mudcreek183 · Dec 18, 2013

stay with the 30 boy up the road went with 18 what a tangled mess the corn got down left half of it the field

Bruce from Ontario · Dec 18, 2013

i have grown corn and beans on 22 inch rows for 15 years 500 acre can,t justify two planters for that many acres. planting 33000 corn 165000 beans , yield is the same as 30 inch ,,, spray with 16.9 38 tires .as for down corn the more snouts going threw the crop the better .

T in NE · Dec 18, 2013

Not to mention that test plots get a little more care when the machines are moving through the field- slower planting, harvesting, etc.

planter/corn head decision

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