Liberate the Roots!
Many of you are fighting to get your corn crop planted in the mud across the central & eastern corn-growing areas of the US/Canada.
Matt Hagny
May 15, 2013
Exapta Solutions Newsletters
First Things First! —Planter Function
I know a number of you think you’ve got this nailed, but the fact is that I see 90% of the planters out there still running nose-down. Part of the problem is that the tongue angle is a big distraction (and the parallel links).
Matt Hagny
April 23, 2013
Biology of Soil Compaction
We highly recommend this article, The Biology of Soil Compaction (pdf), revised and updated from an Ohio State* publication, and consider it to be absolutely essential to understanding a no-till system. Indeed, it should be ‘required reading’ for anyone involved in farming. Or even gardening! *The second author is Juca Sá, the famed
exapta
March 12, 2013
Seeding in Hard, Dry, or Dusty Conditions
Planting conditions have become very dry across much of the USA & Canada, hence a few tips: On planters and drills of all makes & models, we cannot emphasize enough the importance of having enough frame weight.
Matt Hagny
May 31, 2012
Doing Good by Doing Well
Howard G. Buffett’s high-caliber accomplishments are stand-out, even though his father is far more recognized
Matt Hagny
December 2, 2011
(Seeding) Mistakes Were Made
In general, none of us (as adults) particularly enjoy discovering that we’ve made a mistake.1 But sometimes we’re quite grateful after the initial ‘Oh, duh’ moment has passed.
Matt Hagny
December 2, 2011
Water Infiltration: Do Your Landlords Understand?
Dear Exapta customers & contacts, Whether you’ve seen this article previously or not, it is worth reviewing— whether you farm in wet conditions or dry. It explains the single most important factor in getting water (rainfall or irrigation or snow melt) to move into the soil: Understanding the Process of Water Infiltration* by
exapta
October 9, 2011
Seed Vigor: Reap the Rewards
In tandem with the mechanical aspects of attaining consistently good stand establishment, the oft-overlooked biological aspect of seed vigor plays a crucial role. Great differences in health exist amongst seeds, and particularly amongst different seed lots. These differences…Read More
exapta
August 7, 2010
Maximize No-till Drill Performance
A few tips from the folks at Exapta: 1) For firm seedbeds, make sure the down-pressure is sufficient to keep the opener at the proper depth (this is especially important for crops such as winter wheat). For JD 50/60/90-series drills, this usually requires that the rockshaft be sloped downward in
exapta
September 23, 2009
No-till Planter Preparation
Corn planting season is fast approaching for much of North America’s Corn Belt, and many planters are now in the shop for overhauls, so a quick review of some essentials seems appropriate: 1) Check opener blades. Once they’ve lost 3/8-inch off their diameter, they’ve lost their bevel and no longer
Matt Hagny
March 7, 2009
How Much Accuracy of Seed Placement Do You Need?
i.e., how much precision is economically advantageous? As an agronomist and the founder of a company that strives to improve seeding hardware and methods, I have long held the view that we need greater precision of seed placement. By ‘precision of seed placement,’ I am referring to accuracy and consistency
Matt Hagny
January 9, 2009
Row Spacing Review
Narrow rows versus wider? Twin rows? Skip-row? Lock up half the drill openers? With some of you contemplating purchases or trades of planters or drills, perhaps it’s a good time to revisit the topic of row spacing. Even if you’re committed to running your existing drill for several more years,
Matt Hagny
November 15, 2008