Seed Box Scales Replace Expensive Monitors

Seed Box Scales Replace Expensive Monitors DRILLS Drills (42C) 29-6-28 A simple load bar weighing system for drill seed boxes can quickly pay for itself, says Brian Taylor, a dealer for NORAC on-board weighing systems. Taylor says it's a low cost alternative to electronic grain drill monitors. "People told me they weren't happy with available monitors which cost quite a bit more than our scales, and are more complicated," says Taylor, who sells a seed box weigh kit for around $2,300. Seeing a new market, Taylor designed an installation kit for Deere, Sunflower and Case-IH no-till seed drills. To install the load bars, the seed box is detached from the frame and lifted out of the way. Brackets for the load bars are then bolted into existing holes on the frame. The seed box is then lowered into place and attached to the load bars. Installation usually takes about two hours. In addition to the kit, tractors should be outfitted with an accurate digital acreage counter. By comparing the rate of decrease in seed weight to acres drilled, operators can verify that their drill setting is accurate. "I had a Sunflower drill owner tell me he saved $1,000 on 200 acres of soybeans by putting the right amount of seed on," says Taylor. Setting up the load sensing system is easy, he says. Once a kit is installed, the operator plants an acre and checks the weight decrease. "If adjustments to the drill are needed, a second comparison is made at 1 1/2 acres," says Taylor. "If the amount used is correct, it's good to go." No further calibration is needed. The system comes with a one-year warranty and is built to remain accurate under the roughest conditions. Taylor says the systems can even withstand hitting a pothole while being towed at 30 miles an hour. Taylor admits that low commodity prices make it difficult for some farmers to justify any investment in equipment. At the same time, he suggests, the time may never be better. "Why waste fuel and expensive seed putting on the wrong amount," he says. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Brian Taylor, Teeterville Garage & Weighing Systems, Box 51, Waterford, Ontario, Canada, N0E 1S0 (ph 519 443-4140; tgandws @yahoo.ca).

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