Planter University a brand-neutral learning opportunity to help you continue to better understand and optimize your planting setup, no matter what color you run. The focus won't be on telling you what settings you should be running, but rather the theory behind planting equipment and new planting technology allowing you to evaluate and identify the right setting for you, your seed, your field, and your equipment setup. Registration is limited to allow for hands on demonstrations with both high speed and traditional row unit demo stands.


Objectives

  • Gain a better understanding of how planter downforce systems function. Understand their theory of operation, limitations, and considerations for making adjustments in the field.
  • Understand differences in how high speed planters should be set compared to conventional planters to obtain maximum performance at high speeds.
  • Gain confidence in evaluating wear components on your planter and when to replace them. Understand how to check, adjust and/or calibrate your row units for proper seeding depth.
  • Gain insights into how your seedbed conditions and preparation impacts planter row unit performance.
  • Better understand what data planters today can generate and how to better utilize it on your farming operation.

Who should attend?

  • Farmers interested in continuing to learn about and optimize their current planter or farmers who are considering upgrading planters in the future.
  • Farmers with high speed planters interested in continuing to refine how the set their planter to optimize performance.
  • Crop input dealers or other service providers that depend on proper seed planting to ensure performance of their products.
  • Equipment or precision ag dealers and technicians interested in continuing to broaden their knowledge and understanding of how planters function and the agronomic implications associated with planting.

Program

Time Presentation
8:30 am Registration check-in opens, morning refreshments
9:00 Welcome and introductions
9:10 Review of 2023 conditions and improving for 2024
9:30 Basics of planter downforce
10:30

Rotation 1 - divide into 2 groups

  • Topic A - Full Seed Ahead: Optimizing your planter with todays technology solutions, including simple upgrades all the way to highs peed planting.
  • Topic B - Back to the Basics: The importance of Maintenance, calibration and seedbed prep.
11:45 Lunch (provided)
12:15 pm Rotation 2 - groups switch to 2nd topic from 10:30 session.
1:30 Furrow fundamentals - Tips and tricks to evaluate the furrow and make planter adjustments
2:30 Program adjourns

Instructors

Ben Covington

Benjamin Covington
Technical project specialist
ISU Digital Ag

Levi Powell

Levi Powell
Technical project specialist
ISU Digital Ag

Registration

Planter University registration is $85 and includes lunch, breaks, reference materials, seed depth tool and closing wheel hold up bracket.

Class size is limited and registration will close when a location reaches capacity. Early registration is encouraged.

Registration and payment is online. No phone registrations will be accepted.


closing wheel hold up bracket
seed depth tool

Locations

February 5, 2024 | Sutherland, Iowa

Northwest Research and Demonstration Farm
6320 500th St, Sutherland, IA 51058 Map

Registration has closed for this location.

Registration: $85
Registration deadline: Jan 29, 2024

Contact

Gentry Sorenson

Gentry Sorenson
Extension field agronomist
(641) 430-6715
gentrys@iastate.edu
@GentrySorenson

February 6, 2024 | Independence, Iowa

Heartland Acres Agribition Center
2600 Swan Lake Blvd, Independence, Iowa 50644 Map

Registration has closed for this location.

Registration: $85
Registration deadline: Jan 30, 2024

Contact

Josh Michel

Josh Michel
Extension field agronomist
(563) 581-7828
jjmichel@iastate.edu
@jjmichel_crops

February 7, 2024 | Crawfordsville, Iowa

Southeast Research and Demonstration Farm
3115 Louisa-Washington Rd, Crawfordsville, IA 52621 Map

Registration has closed for this location.

Registration: $85
Registration deadline: Jan 31, 2024

Contact

Virgil Schmitt

Virgil Schmitt
Extension field agronomist
(563) 263-5701
vschmitt@iastate.edu
@virgilschmitt

February 8, 2024 | Prole, Iowa (west of Indianola)

Bruere Farms
11230 50th Ave., Prole, IA 50229 Map

Registration has closed for this location.

Registration: $85
Registration deadline: Feb 1, 2024

Contact

Clarabell Probasco

Clarabell Probasco
Extension field agronomist
(641) 664-2730
caknapp@iastate.edu

February 9, 2024 | Nevada, Iowa

CNH Industrial Ag Information Center
23942 590th Ave, Nevada, IA 50201 Map

Registration has closed for this location.

Registration: $85
Registration deadline: Feb 2, 2024

Contact

Meaghan Anderson

Meaghan Anderson
Extension field agronomist
(319) 331-0058
mjanders@iastate.edu
@mjanders1