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As ethanol and biodiesel plants spring up on the landscape across the state and country, it's more evident now than ever that planting is all about preparing to capture solar energy. It's a long tradition that during the spring of the year we prepare to install living solar collectors, but now an increasing amount of that energy stored in our crops is converted to serve our energy needs.

Improvements in agricultural technology continue to increase efficiency that can often be measured from one year to the next. Ultimately, however, it is good management of the technology and thorough maintenance procedures that determine performance and net value of a crop for a given farm.

The primary goal of good planting performance is to achieve a uniform and evenly-emerged stand so all plants have an equal chance to capture and store energy. Just like the cells of a solar collector, the plant canopy should be designed so there is a plant for every space and a space for every plant. Skips and doubles decrease plant performance.

Maintenance of seed metering components and a cautious attitude toward ground speed can improve in-row spacing. If the planter seems to be able to place seed at the correct depth at relatively high speed, then we've only accounted for half of the needed precision. Any variation in the time it takes the seed to make its way to the soil is amplified at higher ground speeds. The result is two seeds arriving closely together and a hole in the canopy where that late seed should have landed. For that small section of row with substandard seed placement, grain and energy production might be as little as 50 percent of target.

The best method for covering a lot of acres in the day is to keep the planter rolling. That means having the proper amount of help or the right kind of equipment to tend the planter, a fresh operator if needed, someone to monitor planter performance for the operator and preseason maintenance that detects and prevents potential breakdowns before they occur. Timeliness is way more important than the cost of a few partially worn parts that might still have some life left in them. Replace those parts before they break.

Poor control of planting depth also results in erratic seedling emergence. The later emerging or less vigorous seedlings due to poor emergence are shaded. These plants use valuable resources but may fail to perform well enough to produce seed. Use row cleaners when necessary to create more uniform conditions for seed placement.

Row units continuously encounter subtle changes in the soil due to differences in residue and changing soil structure from harder soil aggregates to loose soil. Row cleaners can't compensate for every condition. Again, cautious ground speed is the key that allows the dynamic components of the planter mechanisms to react to changing conditions and properly place the seed. The faster we travel, the more dynamic the situation becomes and the less likely the row unit can respond quickly enough to compensate.

Most planters are capable of uniform depth and placement. The keys to efficient planting to install a uniform living solar collector are preseason planter maintenance, cautious speed and good support to keep the planter rolling. The result is better net energy . . . and better net return on your investment.

Bill Casady
573 882-4370