Senwes Scenario October/November | Page 9

AGRICULTURAL | LANDBOUKUNDIG AGRICULTURAL TIPS Potential problem/loss Cause Simultaneous germination Residues in planting furrow, seed coulters not working optimally, poor seed-to-soil contact, varying depth and placement of seed, poor closing of planting furrow, incor- rect downforce, excessive compaction next to planting furrow, soil moisture and heat transfer from soil to seed. Skips & doubles Topography, speed, measuring mechanism, seed size and form. Lack of maintenance on planter, vacuum not optimal for seed concerned, correct plate, chains must be replaced regularly. Spacing Plant speed, type of delivery mechanism, bumpy planter unit, worn bushes, faulty bearings, chains which are hard and old. Correct plant population Soil potential, incorrect gear selection, incorrect tyre pressure, old chains which are stretched out could fall off. Correct placement of fertiliser. Besides causes already mentioned - correct calibration. and the financial impact thereof can be determined. It also gives an indication of where the weak link is. The latter should be addressed in order to increase profitability. It is no longer necessary to grope about in the dark or to run huge risks with very expensive inputs. Know what your planter does per row - clean planting furrow, correct pressure on the soil, sufficient moisture in the planting furrow, soil temperature, population, singu- lation, spacing, vacuum reading, correct fertiliser placement per row and per zone per product, correct application of insec- ticide per row and per zone. Why be 80% effective if you can be 99% effective? It has the potential to make the difference between 6 tons and 8 tons. Cerealis (office) +2718 632 0362 Cerealis: Lourens Janse van Rensburg (Area Manager; Free State , KwaZulu-Natal & Eastern Cape) +2782 859 5982 Senwes: Precision Farming: Petrus van Staden (Precision Farming Specialist) +2776 219 3778 Senwes Precision Farming:: Etienne Nel (Manager: Precision Farming) +2783 298 1553 Senwes Equipment: Basie Jordaan (Sales Manager: John Deere) +2783 447 3379 Points to check in respect of the vacuum seed measurement mechanism. http://senwes.co/SE1810 SENWES SCENARIO | SUMMER 2018 07