|
East Central Ia | Yeah have to agree with the bigger head and have the ability to go slower. You still have the capacity to really cover some ground if the conditions warrant it, but most of the time you can go a little slower and still get stuff done. I would much rather cruise along at 3.5-4mph with a 12 row then try to fly around a 6-7mph with an 8 row. A lot of our stuff is odd shaped with lots of point rows... I have wondered the last couple years how much productivity I could gain going to a 12 row just by making less passes doing short point rows.
But I think its a bit of a catch 22... A 24 row planter has almost been a neccesity around here the last couple years to get things done in a timely manner for the guys that normally do a great job with 16 row equipment. And on the harvest side, in good going an 8 row head is all most of us around here can keep up with. Lots of guys going to 2 carts even with 8 row heads here. You just can't get to the truck, unload, and get back to the combine quick enough. We ran two carts for a while last fall to finish up and it was great, but the cart guys did a lot of sitting. But at least the combine never stopped. As we continue to pull more bu's off per acre I see this harvest problem getting worse... 8 row or 12 row, you just have so much crop to get moved that its only going to get worse.
I bet 24 row planters will continue to be very popular. They are versatile in that you can harvest with a 6, 8, or 12 row head, and have plenty of planter to really push and get acres covered in the spring. | |
|
12 row verse 16 row planter...?
