Today we’re talking about important tools that you can add to your planter to help manage the residues that every grower faces across every passing that they make in any given field.
The main two options we’re going to be talking about is a fixed row cleaner and the more popular floating row cleaner. We’ll also touch on the different styles of wheels that you can add to it depending on the level of residue that you’re facing.
So the main point of a row cleaner is to remove any residue from the pass. This allows for a more even chance for emergence because you’ve eliminated some of the variability.
What types of wheels should you consider?
So depending on how heavy or how extreme of a residue situation you’re in you can look at aggressive wheels or lighter wheels. The aggressive wheels are known as shark tooth wheels and the lighter approach is a beveled wheel. This is basically a smaller spike that interlocks with each other.
What these wheels do is move the residue away and out of the pass.
The row cleaners' goal is to remove clods, rocks and smooth out the path ahead and the wheels assist with this as well.
What are the limitations of a fixed row cleaner?
A fixed row cleaner has its limitations: it’s mounted onto the faceplate of the rogue unit. and you still have to set the depth with a manual pen.
As you go through the peaks in the valleys of any field, a fixed row cleaner would have the tendency to dig and create a trench or trough. They also might lift up and not move as much residue as you’d like.
This is why the industry has moved more towards floating row cleaners.
Floating row cleaners are still mounted to the faceplate, but they have a free-range of travel. They are able to contour the changes in your field but you still have to set the max depth manually.
What is the CleanSweep?
A row cleaner option that Precision Planting provides is a stand-alone system called CleanSweep.
CleanSweep basically adds an air cylinder and a control mechanism to the cab of your tractor. It can either remove weight from the row cleaner, giving it lift, or it can add additional weight to the row cleaner by using air.
When adding weight we’re not necessarily looking to dig. If you get into a residue situation where the weight of the row cleaner itself isn’t moving 100% of it then you can add weight using the CleanSweep to basically try and plow through it and get bare soil.
Setting a row cleaner correctly is very time-consuming and quite frustrating. CleanSweep lets you make row cleaner adjustments from the comfort of your cab. This means you’ll be able to save a lot of time while planting.
What are the benefits of the CleanSweep?
It gives every seed a chance
Since CleanSweep makes it easy to adjust your row cleaners you’ll be able to prevent:
- Late emergence
- Moisture loss
- Heat loss
- Seedling diseases
It has a simple system
CleanSweep uses air cylinders on each row cleaner that increases the pressure or decreases the pressure. This allows the cleaner to be more aggressive, or lighter, depending on the amount of residue that needs to be cleaned.
The pressure adjustment is easily made by moving a leaver in your cab to apply lift pressure or downward pressure.
This allows you to save time, reduce frustration and ensure that your planter is set correctly.
If you’re considering an option to address your residue management issues, feel free to give us a call and we’ll discuss your options with you.
If you have any questions regarding Precision Planting’s CleanSweep, please contact us today at Precision Agri Services we’d love to talk more about it.
