No-till corn yield secrets:Great genetics, soil and fertility are important, but a fine-tuned planter is a must for record yields

摘要

Every winter, as he finalizes seed, fertility and pest management programs for the following spring, David Wolfskill takes to his shop to perform a task that's equally critical for top corn yields. He strips his planter down to the frame and rebuildsit."Having your planter set up 110% is what is required for top yields," says Wolfskill, who harvested 220 bushels of corn per acre across his farm near Wernersville, in south-central Pennsylvania, in 2013. "Every corn planter and brand is different, but they all have the ability to perform at that level."As he dismantles his 16-row White air planter, Wolfskill examines planter units piece by piece to make sure everything is straight. Worn-out bushings on linkages get special attention. "If something is bent or a bushing is worn, the planter unit won't pull straight," he says.