While most producers know seed singulation can impact growth, it is often overlooked during planting season. Unfortunately, this can mean loss of yield and overspending on seed — which no grower wants.
As part of an effort to better inform and innovate precision planting technologies, the Precision Technology Institute (PTI) hosted by Precision Planting® conducted more than 60 unique studies covering a variety of crop types, weather conditions, chemicals/nutrients and, of course, a broad range of precision planting technology.
One study, the vSet® Seed Singulation Study, evaluated the effects of improper seed singulation on corn yield. Below we take a look at those results and how growers can incorporate vSet technology to improve yields.
Evaluating improper seed singulation
To test how improper seed singulation can affect corn yield, Precision Technology Institute (PTI) put vSet control plates up against modified plates with plugged and extra holes to mimic doubles and skips. Based on the results from the PTI study hosted by Precision Planting®, we can see just how destructive an ineffective meter can be for profits and yields.
The tests revealed that the modified plate created an average of 95% singulation accuracy compared to 99.5% with the control plate. While the 4.5% difference may not seem like much, the negative results only get bigger with the more acres you have. At a rate of -2.1 Bu/A for each percentage of singulation lost, that’s a -10.4 Bu/A loss. And based on a corn commodity price of $3.50/Bu, a 1,000-acre operation would see a loss of $36,490 — ouch!
Seeing better results with vSet®
While many meters require certain seed sizes or adjustments, Precision Planting’s vSet meter delivers incredible accuracy without any adjustments. Find and order a vSet meter for your planter, or talk to a Precision Planting Premier Certified Case IH Dealer to learn how vSet can ensure accurate population for corn, soybeans, cotton, peanuts and more.
"I wanted a way, with my smaller planter and my older tractor, to get into doing variable rate populations...the vDrive and vSet were an easy way to bring that into my operation." – Scott Schwanke, Elgin, MN
Find more ways to maximize yield
The experts at the Precision Technology Institute, a 200-acre outdoor farm laboratory, conducted over 60 unique studies covering a variety of crop types, weather conditions, chemicals/nutrients and precision planting technology. To see how results consistently show higher yields with the help of Precision Planting technology, download the full report.
To learn more about how precision planting can help improve yields for your operation, contact a Precision Planting Premier Certified Case IH Dealer.