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Planter preparations for uniform emergence

Farmers preparing for planting season are encouraged to make sure planter depth is set correctly.

Iowa State University Extension digital agriculture specialist Doug Houser says seed discs wear at different rates.

“So just make sure. If you want to put that planter up, put it on some blocks and set that T-handle to inch and-a-half, two inches, whatever you’re going to be planting at. And check each one.”

He tells Brownfield there can be a lot of variables during planting.

“I find (that) over the years, whether it’s behind the tractor wheels or on the outside rows, or maybe that disc has got into a little more grass, those wear at different rates. So just be sure to do a check over that.”

Houser says consistent planting depth leads to uniform crop emergence, which he calls critical to yield potential.