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How do you plant corn?
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loriisme



Joined: 16 May 2007
Posts: 2

PostPosted: Wed May 16, 2007 6:25 pm    Post subject: How do you plant corn? Reply with quote

Come on sounds easy right? Wrong I have four acres of land. I disked, I plowed, I fertilized. Then I have this handy dandy two row planter looks so easy. Wrong!!!!!!! I started planting half the corn got planted other hlf got planted by me and the trusty hoe. Alright got it in the ground been there almost 2 weeks, looks good. Then comes the old Black crow. Has pulled up almost an acre. I am new to this and love farming but what can I do about the planter and the crows. Where am I going wrong? I am so discouraged!

HELP ME!!!!!!!!! please Rolling Eyes
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kitchensqueen



Joined: 07 Mar 2007
Posts: 25
Location: Chicago

PostPosted: Wed May 16, 2007 6:34 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hi! Welcome to the forums; always good to see someone new!

A couple of questions to clarify to help you get answers.

-- What type of seeder do you have? Is it a vacuum, cup, or plate seeder or some other type?

-- What problem were you having with the seeder? Was it not dropping seed at all for you?

-- IPM (integrated pest management) can take several approaches, from row covers, transplanting, scarecrows (very old school), or just planting extra to account for loss. Others who are actually currently farming corn can likely provide more detail on this point than me.

Don't be discouraged. The first year or two are your learning years. Think of it as being in school. You will make mistakes and encounter troubles, but you'll also learn how to deal with them and become sucessful. Keep your head up and remember to have fun!
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loriisme



Joined: 16 May 2007
Posts: 2

PostPosted: Wed May 16, 2007 7:06 pm    Post subject: Plate planter Reply with quote

We have a two row massey ferguson and it seems to be dropping the corn just not covering it up. Some of it will be and some of it won't. Someone told me adjust it and try well I have adjusted it to death and can't figure it out.

And the crows and the black birds. That is horrible we have elimanted a few but there seems to still be a MILLION! Someone told me to hang the dead birds around the field and that should work but I can't see how?

Thanks
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Krystle



Joined: 01 Oct 2006
Posts: 124
Location: Mesilla Valley, NM

PostPosted: Wed May 16, 2007 8:41 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Isn't that what scarecrows are for? I'm serious! Read the wikipedia entry on "Bird Scarer" at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bird_scarer

It discusses a whole lot of options for keeping birds away. Good luck!
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AndyF



Joined: 09 Mar 2006
Posts: 128
Location: Phelps, NY

PostPosted: Thu May 17, 2007 8:54 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Lori,

With your seeder, it sounds like you need to set the depth a little deeper to ensure that the corn is set below the surface level and then you need to look at your closers and make sure that they are set to fully close up the furrow in which you are dropping your seed.

As far as the crows go, I don't know what will work. I'd probably put my dog out there and hope that he could chase them around enough to discourage them.
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kitchensqueen



Joined: 07 Mar 2007
Posts: 25
Location: Chicago

PostPosted: Thu May 17, 2007 3:05 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Also with the seeding, is your field pretty smooth and even? I wonder if it's not covering some of the seed because they're in low spots beneath the reach of the seeder?
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CP Knerr



Joined: 10 Mar 2006
Posts: 125
Location: Scottsville, NY

PostPosted: Thu May 17, 2007 4:40 pm    Post subject: top link short enough? Reply with quote

Lori,

I don't have experience personally with a two row corn seeder, but have seen them as a boy a few years ago as my father has a Ford 2 row corn planter.

I assume your seeder mounts to the tractor via 3 point hitch, right? It has some planting shoes/openers, then the seed tube, then something to cover the seed back up and press wheels, which also drive the whole mechanism via chains? if so, is the top link adjusted short enough to get the shoes/openers into the soil? I would think the shorter the top link the deeper you'd put your seed (but again I have no personal experience with that seeder). Maybe it adjust some other way but it seems most 3 point implements use that top link as an adjustment (at least I use it on the plow, disk, tine weeder, etc.) I'd think if you set the seeder down on a concrete pad (or even flat ground) the shoes/openers should hit the pad before the press wheels. I just use an earthway seeder for planting field corn and it works out pretty well.

Also like kitchensqueen said if your field is not even (i.e. planting into a wheel track) it may not put the seed in the ground. I think the two row my dad had, would be on 30" centers and the tractor wheels were set up on 60" centers, so you'd line up the rows by driving down the same wheel tracks you'd left on the last pass.

Maybe if you can describe the adjustments you've made we can be of further help.

If the crows are eating the seed, you could provide them with a big pile of easier to eat seed somewhere else. (like in a trough or something). They seem to like road kill better than corn where I live. Just throwing out options. I believe Andy's dog idea would be less smelly.

Not sure what to do if they're pulling up the plants, although maybe the seed is more appetizing. If there are not alot of crows, you can use them for target practice (depending on what state you're in).

Just some ideas on things I'd try.

CP
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