John Deere : Seeding Group

1790 Setup
Question : I have a new 1790 planter coming from your factory tomorrow. How many hours will it take to setup and be field ready?
Answer : Base machine setup for a 30ft. 1790 is 3 hours without no-till coulters, 4 hours with no-till coulters. Setup time for a 40ft. 1790 is 4.5 hours without no-till coulters and 5.5 hours with no-till coulters. If your 1790 has liquid fertilizer with frame mounted fertilizer openers, add 2-3 hours for mounting Pro-Row units on the wingframe sections. Good luck this spring...Thanks!

DB Planters - 80 foot wide
Question : I like your new DB80 planter. Can I pull this with an 8420T?
Answer : We’re glad you like the new DB80 series planter, as we are excited about what these planters. Yes you can pull the DB80 with an 8420T tractor, but you need to make sure this has the Cat IV drawbar (standard on 8520T) and has the heavy duty support strap that allows the drawbar to have 10,000 lb load capacity. See your local John Deere dealer for this support kit.

Pnuematic down force costs
Question : I really like the looks of the pneumatic down force system on the row units. I haven’t seen this with any competitive companies. How much does this cost per row.
Answer : The pneumatic down force system consists of a single air bag per planter row and one air compressor for the entire system. The cost of a pneumatic down force system depends on the number of planter rows. The compressor price must be spread over the total number of rows in the particular system. For example, a 12 row system has a list price of $2903.00 and a 16 row system is $3662.00 -- this is $108/row more than the Heavy Duty Down Force system.

New Planters for this Spring?
Question : I would like to order a new 1770NT planter for this spring. If I buy one today, can you get it built by April 18, 2003? I like to start planting by April 25th each year.
Answer : YES!! Talk with your John Deere dealer and have the order submitted by April 4, 2003. If you get your order in by the 4th, we can build and deliver your planter in time for an April 25th start date. Please see your John Deere dealer ASAP to get your planter on order. Thanks!

Productivity from Split Row Planters/others?
Question : Split Row Planters have been popular for several years, and I like the looks of your new 1790. The problem that I have though as I farm more acres and the need to plant soybeans at the same time as corn, is this the best machine for a 3000 acre farmer(1500 acres corn and 1500 acres soybeans)?
Answer : Great Question..one that we get often from growers in the 3000 to 4000 acre range. As farmers continue to expand their operation, timely seeding of corn and soybeans is the limiting factor. Midwest university research shows the optimal planting window for corn is from April 20 to May 5. The optimal window for soybeans is April 28 to May 15. This points out the fact that you have an "overlap" in the optimal planting window of both crops. Many large growers have the need to plant both crops at the same time. The 1790 planter has many great features that make it the most productive split row planter on the market. It is an excellent choice for many growers who want to plant corn and soybeans with one machine. We are also seeing many customers choose a 1770NT (16r30") planter for corn and a 30 or 40 ft. 1690CCS to plant soybeans on 15" rows. If you have available labor and tractors to operate two seeding tools at the same time, you can get 120% more productivity out of this combination for approximately 30% more cost than the 1790. Keep in mind the productivity of this combination also gives you excellent seeding capacity to continue the growth of your operation. Both options are great choices...the decision is up to you. Thanks!

Vertical Fold PLanters - insecticide
Question : I have a 12 row John Deere planter. I have trouble when I fold the wings, seed and/or insecticide leak out the boxes, especially insecticide. Does John Deere have a better lid or box to solve my problem? I currently use tarp straps over the lids to help hold them closed.
Answer : We assume that your planter is a Vertical-Fold machine. This type of planter is not to be folded with seed or chemicals in the hoppers because they will leak as you describe. This is the design trade off for narrow transport.
You may find that a Stack-Fold planter design would meet your needs. With this design you can have the narrow transport capability of the Vertical-Fold planter and the ease of fold and go without dumping hoppers.

Fertilizer on Planters
Question : What kind of fertilizer options is there on the new planters?
Answer : Liquid fertilizer is the only fertilizer option available on the 1770NT, 1770NT Central Commodity System and 1790 planters. Dry fertilizer is not avaialble.
The 1770NT 16 row 30 planter can be equipped with a 600 gallon fertilizer tank, piston pump, flow divider delivery system and the following openers: frame mounted single disk with depth gauging, unit mounted double disk or unit mounted double disk with row cleaner. Another option would be a 600 gallon tank, piston pump, high presuure manifold delivery system with unit mounted single disk injection openers.
The 1770NT CCS 16 row 30 planter can be equipped with piston pump, flow divider delivery system and the following openers: frame mounted single disk with depth gauging, unit mounted double disk or unit mounted double disk with row cleaner. Another option would be piston pump, high presuure manifold delivery system with unit mounted single disk injection openers. Variable rate liquid fertilizer is avaialble on the 1770NT CCS planter with the following opener options: frame mounted single disk with depth gauging, unit mounted double disk or unit mounted double disk with row cleaner. The fertilizer tanks must be either tractor or towed behind the planter using a nurse tank.
The 1790 planter can be equipped with with a 420 gallon tank on the 12row/23 row or 12row/24 planter, piston pump, flow divider delivery system and the following openers: frame mounted single disk with depth gauging, unit mounted double disk or unit mounted double disk with row cleaner.
The 1790 16row31, 16row32 or 24row20 planters can be equipped with piston pump, flow divider delivery system and the following openers: frame mounted single with depth gauging, unit mounted double disk or unit mounted double disk with row cleaner. The fertilizer tanks must be either tractor or towed behind the planter using a nurse tank.
Contact your local John Deere dealer for additional details and price.

Pnuematic Down Force
Question : The air bag suspension system that you offer on your row units -- will it let me plant faster?
Answer : Our pneumatic down force option is really intended to allow a consistent row unit down force. By using the pneumatic down force system, this allows more consistent down force through uneven fields, versus what spring down force does. Because of the consistent down force capabilities, there are times this will allow you to plant faster.

1770NT - scales capability
Question : The 1770NT with bulk tanks looks like a good planter. How many bushels do the tanks hold and are they compatible with scales?
Answer : The 1770NT CCS planter is available in 16r30" configurations. It is available with either Max Emerge Plus or Pro-Series row units. The CCS SeedDelivery system has 2 - 50 bu tanks for a total capacity of 100 bushels. Yes, they are compatible with scales. John Deere does not offer scales, but we have designed the CCS SeedDelivery system to be compatible with aftermarket scale providers. For more information on scales, contact Scale-Tec, 16027 Highway 64, Anamosa IA 52205. Phone number 319-462-2344. Thanks!

Fertilizer & CCS Capability - 1770NT
Question : Your new 16 row planter, if I read the literature right, has the capabilities to carry 600 gallons of fertilizer and also tow 2000 gallons? Can I get CCS at the same time?
Answer : No, CCS is not compatible with the 600 gallon fertilizer tank. But there are planter configurations that could meet your needs. The 1770NT 16Row30 planter has the capability to carry the 600 gallon fertilizer tank, tow a nurse tank and utilize 3.0 bushel hoppers. Or the 1770NT CCS machine can use the 100 bushel CCS tanks with Pro-Series row units, fertilizer openers and tow the fertilizer nurse tank.

Seed Placement
Question : How accurate and consistent is the John Deere 1750 planter in its seed placement? Is the right vacuum important to the function of the machine?
Answer : Seed placement accuracy may refer to both depth placement accuracy and seed spacing accuracy. Placement accuracy is highly dependent on planting speed and field conditions. The planter itself is capable of highly accurate placement as long as row unit bounce is kept under control. One of the best ways to control row unit bounce is by using the pneumatic downforce option available on all John Deere planters. Pneumatic downforce will dampen row unit bounce, which results in more accurate placement and can sometimes permit higher ground speeds.
Seed spacing accuracy can be impacted by row unit bounce because of seed contact with a bouncing seed tube. Spacing accuracy can also be impacted by the meter. Vacuum meters tend to give good consistent seed drops over a wide range of meter speeds. Finger pickup meters are more sensitive to meter speed. If finger pickups are operated too slowly, skips will result. If it’s operated too fast, there will tend to be more doubles.
The right vacuum setting is important with a vacuum meter, but the "sweet spot" with a vacuum meter with most seeds tends to be wide. Vacuum meters are generally very easy to set.

Vacuum or Finger Pick up?
Question : What are the accuracy differences between your vacuum units and finger pickup for corn and beans. (Are there any studies which document this) Also, what is the price difference between the two units on the new 1790 planters.
Answer : Meter performance in corn with a vacuum system or a finger pickup meter are very similar. Either meter system can deliver the population control and in row seed spacing that growers require. The big difference between the two meter systems is the ability of a vacuum meter to plant at a faster ground speed, or at higher population rates. As a cost of ownership issue, finger pickup meters usually need a annual checkup and parts replacement. Vacuum meters usually do not require annual checkup or parts replacement. Pricing of the meters is about the same. Vacuum meters are in the base price of the planter as this is the most popular option. For exact pricing differences, please see your John*nbsp;Deere dealer.

Planters - 24 row
Question : Do you plan on introducing the CCS system on a 24r 30" planter. If so how soon?
Answer : We have many new projects under evaluation that have shown great promise. Stay tuned.