These are notorious for dust getting inside, not taking grease, and then seizing up entirely. While the update that Deere did with making a flat… Read More »Depth-adjustment Shaft Seizing on JD 60/90 Drills?
Farmers always have drought worries close to top of mind. No-till with abundant mulch certainly blunts the effect of a drought. However, the extra moisture
These carts generate lots of unnecessary heat from the fan circuit because the JD setup is silly. Our recent newsletter on our Smallaire Heat Exchangers for JD… Read More »Re-route Fan Return on JD 1910 Carts
Quite a few people have trouble with oil overheating on their air drills (and even if it’s not overheating to the extent of shutting down… Read More »Oil Overheating on Air Drill?
When used in benign conditions, our Mojo Wires have a long-life expectancy. However, when flexed to the max, they may start to take on this greater… Read More »Check Your Mojos
You’ve probably often heard of the importance of uniform timing of emergence, which has been well-proven to be much more important to yield than uniform… Read More »Uniform Early Growth
Many of you know that I view these drills as being superior to many others on the market because of: 1) depth gauging alongside the… Read More »The Problem with JD 50/60/90 Series Drills
I’ve spent much of my adult life researching ways to make planters and drills function better in no-till, and it never ceases to amaze me… Read More »Planter ‘Firming Points’ vs Seed-Tube Guards
A plastic protrusion off the back of the seed boot–what could be more trivial? Except, they’re not so trivial. These reduce seed bounce, which is… Read More »Seed Bounce Flaps – JD 50 & 90 Series Drill Boots
Exapta has always focused on the soil-engaging components of planter & grain drill openers in no-till seedbeds. That has been the weakest link.
Content of this page is copyright 2005-2025 Exapta Solutions, Inc. (reprint with written permission only).
Thompson wheel covered by U.S. Patent No. 6,907,833. Liquid delivery feature of Valion seed tube guards is U.S. Patent No. 8,978,564. Ninja seed bounce flap U.S. Patent Pending. UniForce U.S. Patent Pending. All rights reserved on other designs. Exapta is a registered trademark of Exapta Solutions, Inc. Keeton is a registered trademark of Precision Planting. Mojo Wire, Thompson wheel, Valion guard, Ninja flap, UniForce, DuraLok, No-till Seeding Explained, and No-till Seeding School are trademarks of Exapta. Disclaimer: Recommendations & page content are current, accurate, and believed to be broadly applicable as of the time of writing (Dec 2005) and last update (2005 – 2014). Because of diversity of soils, climate, crops, planter & drill models/designs marketed worldwide, combinations of attachments, etc., actual results may vary. No warranty is made as to actual results obtained. Should you encounter exceptions or worthwhile annotations to the statements made on this page, please contact us.
Derek is Kansas native who grew up in a 100% no-till farming operation. From an early age the benefits of no-till were made known to Derek by his father and by attending no-till conferences. From there he furthered his passion for soils while at Kansas State University getting his agronomy degree. He has had the experience of working in various roles and sectors of agriculture from sales and consulting to management, which have all been within production agriculture. Derek has also worked in specialty ag markets such as turf and ornamentals.
Sales & Service Representative
Prior to joining Exapta, Bob Pagel was an Agricultural Territory Sales Manager for Ritchie Brothers, serving parts of MN, WI and IA. He continues to support his family farm in SE Minnesota.
Current Product Engineer
He brings hands-on experience in no-till planting equipment, agricultural research, and design engineering. With a background in farming in NE Kansas and an engineering degree, he spent seven years at Kansas State University and three at Landoll Company. He’s passionate about solving engineering challenges and developing durable, user-friendly products.
