Preseason Planter Prep

Showing your planter a little love in the offseason can make a big difference at harvest.

- By Karen Jones

A careful preseason planter inspection is time well spent.

"I always tell operators to start at the hitch pin and work backwards," said Brad Nienstedt, senior lead product specialist at Kinze.

Follow this checklist to get your planter ready now.

Meter Maintenance

Completely disassemble meter, regardless of type. After cleaning, examine all the working parts for wear and tear, using the owner's manuals as a guide.

When it comes to finger pickup-style meters, Kevin Kimberley, Successful Farming's planter doctor, replaces certain parts, such as brushes, belts, and their idlers, yearly. With pneumatic meters, the most challenging issue is removing seed treatment from plastic parts.

Disk Openers and Depth Gauge Wheels