spring farm equipment preparation

In a few short weeks, farmers across the U.S. will begin the spring planting season. Many farmers have kept their equipment in storage over the cold winter months, but now is the time to get the tractor out, wipe off the cobwebs, and prepare for the all-important months ahead! We have compiled a few tips and tricks to help you ensure your equipment is ready for the spring. 


Cleaning

If your equipment was in storage throughout the winter, it most likely collected some dirt and dust. Once you have it back at the farm, be sure to clean it thoroughly with soap and water -- not only to remove dirt and grease, but also to prevent rust. While you’re cleaning, scan the visible parts on your tractor -- if repairs are needed, you’ll be glad that you’re doing this preparation ahead of time! 


Inspecting Functionality

Carefully disassembling and inspecting all material distribution parts (seed delivery mechanisms, herbicide nozzles, insecticide distributors, and fertilizer applicators) is an important step to guarantee precision planting/harvesting. Each of these parts should be handled with care, and should be functioning properly on their own. A single broken part in a distribution system can lead to much larger issues down the road.  


Calibration 

The calibration of distribution parts plays a large role in planting healthy crops - especially in seed delivery mechanisms. Planting is the one chance we have to establish proper depth, spacing, and seed-to-soil contact. Each piece of equipment requires a unique form of calibration, so learning about your specific machine is important -- grain drills, sprayers, and manure spreaders are great examples of the differences. For a more full explanation about equipment calibration, check out this great article from Iowa State!


Testing the Monitoring Systems

Collecting data is an important part of precision agriculture. Before spring planting season, it is crucial to test the accuracy of your data collection. Testing the sensors that monitor the planter will help you understand the reliability of the system -- and therefore help you address any potential issues ahead of time!


We hope that you got something of value from this spring equipment prep blog! What do you do in addition to these steps that we might have missed? Leave a comment below!