Winter wheat is a crucial crop for many farmers, not only for its profitability but also for the role it plays in crop rotation and maintaining soil health. 

But growing a successful winter wheat crop can be challenging, especially in the face of an increasingly unpredictable climate. In order to maximize yields, it’s vital to understand the optimal conditions for growing wheat, but also to have a good grasp of the specific growing conditions on your own farm. 

At Wearparts, we’re committed to supporting farmers with durable, high-quality parts for tillage, planting, and harvesting winter wheat crops. Let’s dive into some essential tips for winter wheat success.

First of all, why grow winter wheat?

Many farmers grow winter wheat as part of a double-cropping initiative which serves two main functions – firstly, to maximize farm outputs by growing crops all year round, and secondly, for soil conservation reasons – the wheat acting as a cover crop that prevents soil loss in the winter, plus valuable organic matter to feed next year’s main crop while simultaneously reducing dependency on herbicides. Cover cropping alone is shown to increase subsequent crop yields by 2-3%, but research shows that including winter wheat in the crop rotation – even as infrequently as once every four years – could increase subsequent soybean yields by 12%.

There are financial incentives too – in 2022, prompted by grain shortages due to the war in Ukraine, the USDA announced it was expanding the availability of crop insurance into new parts of the country, to cover some potential losses. In all, 1,500 counties where corn and sorghum can be grown after winter wheat is harvested are now eligible for insurance, reducing risk for farmers at a time of increased climate uncertainty.

What are the best soil conditions for winter wheat?

Winter wheat grows best in well-drained, loamy soils with moderate levels of organic matter. Soil pH is also critical, with an ideal range between 5.5 and 7.0. 

One of the most common challenges farmers face is managing soil compaction, especially in no-till systems or after heavy machinery use. This is where proper tillage comes in. At Wearparts, we provide durable tillage tools that can help alleviate compaction, improve soil aeration, and enhance water retention, setting the stage for a successful winter wheat crop.

When is the best time to plant winter wheat?

The question of when to plant winter wheat is always a hot topic for farmers, especially in locations with hot, arid summers where spring wheat isn’t a viable option. 

The ‘fly free date’ is a key milestone for farmers, determining when it’s safe to plant wheat and avoid problems associated with hessian flies – this typically occurs in early to mid-September depending on location.

Winter wheat must be planted early enough for the young crop to reach 10-15cm in height, with mature enough roots to survive the dormant winter phase. Plant too early following a dry summer, and you risk low emergence. Plant early when conditions are wet, and there’s a chance your wheat will get too tall, too soon – leaving it vulnerable to lodging (where the stalks get flattened) during winter storms. 

Plant your winter wheat too late, however, and it won’t have a chance to grow on enough to then survive the dormant winter phase – winter wheat needs temperatures to drop to at least near freezing for the plant to enter its reproductive cycle, and won’t yield seed until it endures a prolonged period of cold conditions, below 40°F (4°C). Deep, persistent freezing can, however, kill off the young plants.

Getting it right is all about knowing your own microclimate, monitoring the weather closely and making smart decisions about when and how deep to plant winter wheat. Of course, choosing quality tillage and planting tools to get seed in the ground right first time is vital – and that’s where a manufacturer like Wearparts can make all the difference to your crop yields.

What’s the best seed variety for winter wheat?

Selecting the right variety of winter wheat is one of the most important decisions you’ll make when planning your crop. Different varieties thrive in different regions, so it’s essential to choose a variety that suits your local climate and soil conditions. Cold tolerance, disease resistance, and yield potential are key factors to consider.

For farmers in the northern U.S., cold-hardy varieties with strong winter survival rates are crucial, while those in the southern regions may focus more on disease resistance. Always consult with local agricultural extensions or seed suppliers to find varieties best suited to your region.

What’s the recommended seeding rate for winter wheat?

The best seeding rate for winter wheat depends on a whole range of factors including region, soil conditions, planting date and seed size. These days most farmers calculate seeding rates in seeds per acre, as opposed to lbs of seed per acre – and the rate can vary from 300,000 to 2,000,000, with a typical range of between 1.2 and 1.8 million seeds per acre. 

As a general rule, winter wheat that is planted earlier in the year can cope with a lower seeding density since emergence will be higher, but it’s still important to establish a good crop stand early in order to minimize competition from weeds and reduce the need for herbicides.

When you plant later, you’ll typically plant more to mitigate for failed germination – but the risk here is that warmer conditions and abundant rainfall will result in higher than expected germination rates, which can increase the risk of lodging or disease due to poor airflow.   It’s recommended to run some seed rate strips so you can learn what works best on your farm for specific planting conditions.

Managing weed populations in winter wheat

Weed pressure is a significant challenge during the fall in winter wheat production, when essential warmth and rainfall required to get young crops up out of the ground quickly tends to have the exact same effect on competitors like wild oats, foxtail, and chickweed..

Many farmers use a combination of pre-emergent and post-emergent herbicides to manage weed growth. However, crop rotation and mechanical weed control, such as using robust tillage equipment, can also reduce weed populations. Wearparts offers high-quality tillage tools that help keep fields clear before planting, giving your winter wheat the best chance to thrive.

Want to know more?

Growing winter wheat requires careful attention to soil preparation, seeding rates and weed control. By taking a strategic approach to each stage of the growing process, farmers can maximize their yields and profitability.

At Wearparts, we’re here to support you with high-quality, durable parts to assist with tillage, planting and harvesting wheat. From quality seed openers and air seeder parts to gauge wheels, cultivator sweeps and cutting components, our products deliver proven performance that saves you time and money while maximizing yields. Find your nearest Wearparts dealer here, or get in touch for advice from our customer service team.

For almost 15 years now, the Wearparts name has been synonymous with tillage and planting tools designed to offer farmers more choice, more efficiency and a longer wear life. We’ve scoured the globe for the most durable and innovative components from manufacturers who share our belief that when farmers win, we all win.

Our focus on tillage and planting has meant we’ve always had a gap in our offering when it came to harvest season, and therefore we’re extremely excited to announce that for the first time in Wearparts history, we’re adding harvest parts to our portfolio – and an exciting new partnership with German-based manufacturer, Group Schumacher.

Who are Group Schumacher?

Originally founded in rural Germany in 1827, today Schumacher GmbH is a global group employing more than 600 people in seven offices and factories in Germany, USA, Brazil, Russia and China. Still family owned and operated, the company is a recognised world leader in the development of innovative cutting and drive systems for the perfect harvest.

There are a number of brands under the Schumacher umbrella, including Sch® cutting technology, EWM® drive systems, Rasspe® knotting and binding solutions and Radura® replacement cutting parts.

Why are Group Schumacher a good fit for Wearparts?

One of our biggest passions at Wearparts is empowering our dealers to give farmers more choice when purchasing replacement parts for their tillage, planting and harvesting equipment. In particular, we’re passionate about offering them an alternative to OEM parts which, in our experience, can be hit or miss in terms of their quality and durability even though they tend to be at the higher end of the market on price.

As a result, we’ve invested a lot of time and effort into sourcing premium quality aftermarket parts produced by companies that share our commitment to performance at the top end of the market, as well as producing our own Wearparts branded parts that meet or exceed typical OEM specifications. We’re very proud to bring our customers seed opener technology from Forges de Niaux in France and cutting-edge ag bearings from FKL in Serbia – and now world-leading cutting technology from Group Schumacher.

Schumacher is a perfect fit for Wearparts because they share our vision on innovation and long-lasting quality. Their product design process is meticulous and informed by real feedback from real farmers, incorporating clever engineering that solves operational problems for more efficient farming operations. From our first meeting with Schumacher, we were blown away by their attention to detail and excited about what their products could bring to the Wearparts range both in terms of variety and performance.

Which Group Schumacher products will you be offering?

We’re currently offering a wide range of products from Group Schumacher’s Sch®, and Radura® brands. Here’s a look at some of the products you’ll find in our new harvest catalog:

EasyCut II

EasyCut II is a modular, universal cutter bar system from Group Schumacher that is designed to deliver optimal cutting performance with less vibration, less wear on both components and combine, and greater fuel efficiency with less downtime.

All parts of the system are bolted for easy handling and replacement, and the modular design suits all common cutter bars, offering customized solutions, especially for extra wide headers.

Fully hardened and galvanized sections mounted in a face up/face down arrangement, with optimized teeth to suit all crops and optional top and bottom roller guides, the EasyCut II’s knife has an extremely smooth action for clean, efficient cutting and maximized yields.

Schumacher’s innovative spring steel guards are precision engineered for superior knife control and manufactured using a special tempering process that delivers a hardened surface and flexible core for superior stability and durability. A variety of options are available depending on the crop being harvested.

EasyCut II key benefits:

• Exceptional stability
• Excellent cutting force
• Smooth and quiet operation
• Universal system for all combines and crops
• Maintenance-free
• Great resistance to wear

Radura® Cutting Components

The Radura® brand specializes in replacement parts for cutting, chopping and harvesting grain, grass and soybeans.

Exposed to enormous stress and strain, parts such as knifeheads, knife sections, mower blades, rakes and guards need regular replacement and Radura® offers high-quality, perfect-fit parts every time. We’re offering a wide range of options to fit all common machinery brands, with hardened knife sections, precision engineering and superior wear resistance as standard.

Radura® key benefits:

• Bolted elements for easy replacement
• Easy exchange of sections and knife sections
• Convenient shipping in compact boxes
• Maximum resistance to breakage & wear
• Multiple options for various crops
• Multiple attachment options

What other harvest parts will you be stocking?

In addition to the Group Schumacher range of harvest parts, we’re proud to announce that we will also be supplying a wide range of aftermarket harvest parts under the Wearparts brand.

This includes a huge array of one-piece and sectional sickles, ranging in size up to 40ft, plus sectional knifeheads and a wide range of other premium quality components to fit all common harvesters, including Case, Ford, Hesston, John Deere, MacDon, New Holland and more.

You can now browse our Harvest Catalog online here, or click here to find your nearest Wearparts dealer. Alternatively, contact our sales team for further information about our harvest parts range.

Farmers in the US have been using herbicides to control weeds for generations, with their availability and use becoming widespread in the 1960s.

But what was once hailed as a miracle solution to invasive weeds is now being flagged as a significant threat to food security as new strains of herbicide-resistant weeds spread across the country, squeezing out crops.

But how does herbicide resistance develop? How widespread is the problem – and what can farmers do to overcome it? Let’s explore the situation in more detail.

How does herbicide resistance occur?

Herbicide resistance is the inherited ability of a plant to survive and reproduce following a dose of herbicide that would normally be lethal to that plant. It’s linked to the repetitive use of the same herbicides. In every weed population, there will be a very small number of individual plants that look the same as all their counterparts, but have very slight genetic differences that enable them to survive herbicide application and go on to self-seed. At first, it might just look like a few plants or a small patch got ‘missed’. But over time, when the same herbicide is used every year, the offspring of these plants eventually become the dominant weed species, with the majority of plants now able to withstand the herbicide.

How bad is herbicide resistance in the US?

The top four most popular agricultural herbicides used in the US are glyphosate (Roundup), Atrazine, 2,4-D and Dicamba, with glyphosate being the longest in use and also the most widely used, while current generation Dicamba is the newest, having been approved for use over GMO dicamba-resistant crops in 2016.

Research from the International Survey of Herbicide Resistant Weeds, which collects data from more than 80 countries worldwide, shows that glyphosate is losing effectiveness against 361 weed species, 180 of them prevalent in the US. Some 21 species already show resistance to Dicamba.

It’s estimated that some 60 million acres of US farmland are already infested with herbicide-resistant weed species – nearly half of all farms – and this number is growing every year. “We’re in for big problems over the next 10 years for sure,” Ian Heap, director of the International Survey of Herbicide Resistant Weeds, told news agency Reuters in 2023. “We are in for a real shake-up.”

Which herbicide-resistant weeds present the biggest threat?

Problematic weed species include pigweed and waterhemp species (amaranths) as well as kochia, ragweed, horsetail, foxtail and ryegrass.

Herbicide-resistant pigweed and kochia are arguably some of the most troublesome species, particularly pigweed, which can re-root itself after being pulled up and can grow up to three inches per day. Palmer amaranth is known to be resistant to six different types of herbicide and can suppress soybean yields by nearly 80 percent – corn yields by 90 percent.

Kochia exhibits rapid growth in late summer, reaching up to 6ft tall and producing up to 30,000 seeds per plant. It can reduce crop yields by up to 70% according to Take Action, a farmer resource program of the United Soybean Board.

What can farmers do to tackle herbicide resistance?

Experts in agriculture tell us that herbicide resistance isn’t going away, with some predicting that problematic species could become completely resistant within a decade. Many farmers live in hope that a new ‘miracle’ herbicide will come along in the same way that glyphosate did in the 1960s.

But it’s clear that weeds are evolving faster than man can produce new weedkillers. Roundup’s manufacturer spent 10 years bringing a new generation of genetically modified seeds, bred to resist both glyphosate and dicamba, to the marketplace. It took the weeds just 5 years to catch up – by 2020, scientists had confirmed the existence of dicamba-resistant pigweed.

Advice from the experts is that integrated weed management – a combination of chemical and mechanical methods – is key to slowing the proliferation of herbicide-resistant weeds because even so-called ‘zombie weeds’ can’t survive being mechanically chopped down, which means they can’t pass their herbicide-resistant genes on to future generations.

Six tips for integrated weed management:

1. Rotate herbicides
   Avoid making more than two consecutive applications of the same herbicide (or different brands with the same mode of action) in the same field.
   
2. Use tank mixtures
   Certain herbicides can be mixed together in the same tank and applied simultaneously for greater weed-killing effect. You should aim to use herbicides with differing effective modes of action (for example, some herbicides are root growth inhibitors while others stop the plant from photosynthesizing) and ALWAYS follow the manufacturer’s directions for safe usage.
   
3. Rotate crops
   Diversity is key to the prevention of herbicide resistant weeds – and weeds in general. When you switch up the crop, you switch up the environment – the amount of light and moisture, the types of pests, the soil nutrients – which means the weeds are constantly having to adapt. This prevents one weed species from becoming dominant.
   
4. Scout your fields
   Be vigilant for weed escapes that can mark the start of a resistance problem on your farm. What looks like a ‘missed patch’ is often a canary in the coal mine. Take steps to identify and eliminate any significant weed stands before they become a larger problem – which can happen from one year to the next.
   
5. Reduce residual times
   Use herbicides with short soil residual times—herbicides with long soil residual times generally favor herbicide resistance. This is because long residual times keep susceptible plant species suppressed for longer – so resistant variants have even less competition to keep them in check.
   
6. Practice good biosecurity
   Clean your equipment before moving to a different field to prevent the spread of resistant biotypes and save work in fields with suspected herbicide resistance for last.

Premium weed management tools

At Wearparts, we supply an extensive range of premium tillage tools suitable for effective weed management that leaves young crops undisturbed, including cultivator and Fallowmaster-style sweeps, trash management tools and more – check out this blog on mechanical weed management, or contact us for further information.

One of the most common questions we get asked in relation to tillage sweeps is whether we can provide a quick-change sweep to fit John Deere Perma-Loc.

We’re delighted to say that after a lengthy NPD process, the answer is yes!  Our all-new Wearparts Raptor-Loc sweeps are designed as a direct alternative to John Deere Perma-Loc sweeps, delivering the additional wear life farmers expect from Wearparts PLUS the added speed and convenience of a knock-on sweep, with no adapters required.

What is a quick-change sweep?

A quick-change or knock-on sweep is one that attaches to the shanks of the cultivator or toolbar with clips instead of bolts. The sweeps simply push on (sometimes a gentle knock with a mallet is required) and clip into place.  

In the case of John Deere’s Perma-Loc sweep, the implement is then held in place with a spring latch, with no risk that they can work loose during use. When it’s time to remove them, you can use a specific tool or an ordinary screwdriver to push down the latch and release the sweep (again, sometimes a light tap with a hammer is needed).

Why choose quick-change sweeps?

The most obvious benefit of switching to quick-change sweeps is the significant time saving – farmers report being able to change every sweep on their field cultivator in as little as 20 minutes. There’s also the added convenience, since working with bolt-on sweeps means grappling with nuts, bolts and wrenches to get the sweeps attached and tightened adequately, often resulting in cut fingers. 

About Wearparts Raptor-Loc sweeps

If you’re looking for an alternative to John Deere’s OEM Perma-Loc sweeps, Wearparts Raptor-Loc sweeps are the perfect alternative, providing heavy-duty performance that fits the John Deere spring-latch system with no need for an adapter.

The sweeps themselves are built to give farmers supreme performance, and are based on the design of our best-selling Raptor sweep. Key features include:

A curved wing profile

Offers a longer cutting edge within the same sweep footprint, reducing draft for lowered horsepower requirements and reduced fuel consumption while facilitating a higher working speed (optimal performance at 7-10mph). 

An extended nose

Delivers advanced soil penetration, aggressively breaking up compaction and reducing wear on the blade.

A stay-wide wing

Wing ends are cut straight, parallel to the shank and each other, ensuring the cutting width remains consistent for the life of the sweep.

Lock-on stem

Designed to fit John Deere Perma-Loc with no need for an adapter – simply lock on and remove with a JD tool or the Wearparts one, supplied with every order.

Optional hardfacing

We can hardface these sweeps using the CMT process, which adds on average 30% extra material to the nose and leading edge of the sweep, extending the wearlife even in abrasive soil conditions.

Find a Wearparts dealer

Our new Raptor-Loc sweeps are available to order NOW from all good Wearparts dealers. Get a jump on your 2025 spring tillage and get your sweep game locked in now – or for further information and specific product questions, contact our knowledgeable sales team.

With the global population expected to increase by 2.2 billion by 2050, it’s estimated that farmers worldwide will need to increase food production by 70% to meet additional demand – but without more land mass to accommodate this growth, the industry is looking to precision farming practices for a solution.

Precision agriculture involves the use of modern technology and data gathering to effectively micromanage farming operations, enabling farmers to respond in real-time to variations in terrain, climate, and soil quality as a means of increasing yields.

In this blog, we’ll look at some of the technology around precision agriculture practices, and why it’s vital farmers choose premium quality implements to ensure the best possible return on their tech investment.

What technologies are used for precision agriculture?

Precision agriculture leverages a range of different technologies in order to enhance the efficiency of farming operations, with the ultimate goal of increasing crop yields from the same amount of land. Here’s a look at some of the key components:

1. Geolocation technology

Precision ag relies heavily on Global Positioning System (GPS) technology and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) which allow for precise mapping and analysis of variations in field conditions and soil quality. GPS is used for accurate positioning and navigation of farming equipment so farmers can respond to different conditions in different locations using onboard computers in the tractor cab – for example, they might adjust the amount of fertilizer being dispensed if they know an area of the field is particularly lacking in nutrients.

2. Sensors and Monitors

Sensor technology can be used to monitor a wide range of environmental and soil conditions, including moisture levels, temperature, pH, and nutrient status. These sensors can be stationary in the field, handheld/manual, or mobile, attached to machinery or drones.  They feed information back to a computer on the desktop or even directly to an onboard computer in the tractor cab.

3. Variable Rate Technology (VRT)

VRT enables farmers to vary the rate of application of inputs such as water, fertilizers, and pesticides depending on the specific needs of each area as determined by sensor data. This helps to optimize resource use and minimize waste.

4. Drones

Drones equipped with cameras or sensors can provide detailed aerial assessments that help farmers evaluate crop health and stand uniformity, as well as identifying pest and disease outbreaks.  This ‘birds-eye view’ is vital for spotting potential problems before they take hold, and also for understanding what’s working and what isn’t in your precision ag strategy for future reference and iteration.

5. Analytics Software

Sensors, drones, and other technologies are capable of collecting large amounts of insightful data that can help farmers unlock hidden potential in their farmland and farming practices – but first, they have to be able to analyze that data.  Specific software programs exist that make this process simple and quick for busy farmers – they can predict crop yields, suggest optimal planting times, tell farmers when to fertilize or irrigate, and more.

6. Automated and Robotic Equipment

Farmers are increasingly turning to automated processes to help save them time and labor costs. This includes self-driving tractors, robotic harvesters, and automated irrigation systems. These technologies can leverage the power of data to make farms more productive too.

7. Precision Seeding Technology

Controls downforce, metering, seed depth & placement in order to achieve uniform emergence and maximum crop productivity

Are there drawbacks to precision agriculture?

Precision ag is at its most effective when all of the technologies mentioned above work together in harmony to empower farmers with knowledge, and the ability to act on it in the field.  

However, one of the biggest drawbacks is the cost of investing in and implementing precision ag technology.  For this reason, it is predominantly used by large-scale private and commercial farms with the financial resources to spend, and the most potential to gain.

With that said, smaller-scale farmers with smaller budgets can still benefit from the more affordable aspects of precision agriculture – for instance, many farms now use drone technology to monitor crop health, and the majority already have sensor technology and analytics software fitted as standard in their tractor cabs, to maximize efficiency in tillage and planting operations.

There is also now a rental market for precision ag technology, opening the door for growers to avail of the benefits without a huge capital investment.

Essential tools for precision agriculture

It goes without saying that all the sensors, computers, and automation in the world won’t make your farming practices more precise if you’re running sub-standard tillage and planting implements.  

We can’t stress enough how vital it is, especially during planting time, to select disc openers, gauge wheels, and other components that can offer accurate, consistent performance for an extended period of time – otherwise, all the efficiency you gain from technology will potentially be lost to downtime, uneven seed placement, inconsistent input application and a multitude of other operational factors.

Here’s a look at some of the specific ways Wearparts components can support the objectives of precision agriculture:

Ultra-precise seed openers

Seed openers have one vitally important job when it comes to precision planting – opening a clean, straight, and consistently v-shaped trench for the seed to drop into.  

When the trench is precise, the seed will always fall into the bottom, which ensures optimal planting depth.  If the trench varies in depth, if it wobbles from side to side, or if it’s contaminated with loose soil or residue, there is a real risk the seed will not land at the optimal depth, or that air pockets can form around it when the trench is closed.  This in turn can lead to seeds rotting, slow germination, or failure to emerge at all.

For the seed opener to create a perfect trench it must have a perfectly consistent ‘pinch point’ where the two blades meet.  We test 100% of our seed opener assemblies to ensure they meet our industry-leading standards on wobble and lope.  

As a result, every blade that leaves our factory delivers a consistently accurate pinch point, with minimal need for extra shimming or adjustments.  Not only that, our seed openers undergo a patented heat treatment process to enhance their sharpness and longevity, even in tough soil conditions.

Premium gauge wheels

Gauge wheels are the unsung heroes of planting season and absolutely vital for giving advanced machinery and software the physical tools to optimize performance. As well as ensuring adequate, consistent seed depth, gauge wheels play an important role in trench stability and overall soil structure – read more about how our gauge wheels help farmers to plant more efficiently while preventing soil compaction.

Long-life tillage tools

You might think that precision agriculture doesn’t really apply to tillage operations – but you’d be wrong.  Increasingly, farmers employing precision ag practices are looking to apply the principles of variable rate to their tillage operations as well, using tech to vary the depth, angle and intensity of tillage tools on the go.

It’s not hard to see how the time this saves could be easily eaten up if your disc blades, sweeps or other tillage tools are wearing out quickly and needing to be replaced every few thousand acres.  

That’s why we innovate to ensure Wearparts tillage tools are among the toughest in the business, with a spec equal to or exceeding the leading OEM. We also offer custom hard-facing on selected ground-engaging components to make them last longer, even in compacted, rocky or abrasive soils.

Advanced fertilizer knives

Fertilizer application is a key input for farmers looking to maximize yields and in precision ag systems, the preference is usually to apply liquid or anhydrous fertilizers right at the point of need, i.e. under the soil as opposed to on the surface.  This has a number of benefits in that it prevents runoff and subsequent contamination of waterways while making nutrients directly available to the root systems of newly germinated seedlings.

Wearparts offers fertilizer knives to suit just about every toolbar, terrain and fertilizer type, and our products are specifically engineered to deliver precision application acre after acre, working in tandem with sensor and automation technology to make sure the optimal amount of fertilizer is delivered to the optimal depth, every time.

The future of precision farming

There’s little doubt that precision agriculture technology will continue to evolve, with the potential for more automated and robotic technology in particular offering farmers the opportunity to reduce labor costs, thus making farms more productive AND more profitable.

Whatever the future holds, however, it’s unlikely we’ll see significant changes to the mechanical processes farmers currently use to prepare for, plant, nurture and harvest their crops.  

With global OEMs like John Deere leading the way on the tech side, at Wearparts we’re committed to supporting farmers in a more practical way, through a commitment to quality, reliable components that offer superb compatibility with pioneering OEM technology while enhancing farming outcomes through increased precision and extended wear life.

Get in touch to learn more about our precision-engineered farming implements or find your nearest dealer here.

With economists predicting headwinds for agriculture in 2024 as a result of recent upward inflation and the looming threat of a global recession, it’s more important than ever for farmers to make smart choices that improve efficiency and protect profit margins.

At Wearparts, it’s always been our goal to supply aftermarket tillage and planting with enhanced precision and a longer wear life – and increasingly, farmers are recognising the benefits of investing in quality components capable of working harder for longer (spoiler alert: that doesn’t always mean the OEM).

Here’s a look at 5 ways we make sure our tillage and planting parts deliver precision, efficiency, and longevity for more profitable farming.

1. Patented Heat Treated Blades

To a non-farmer, a broken blade doesn’t sound like such a big deal – you just take the broken one off and replace it, right?  But a broken seed opener or tillage blade can have fairly major implications depending on how soon you notice the breakage, how quickly you can get a replacement to the field – and what the weather is doing in the meantime.

Wearparts seed openers from Forges de Niaux feature a patented heat treatment that gives each blade three different zones of hardness – they’re harder at the edge for increased durability where the blade touches the soil, but softer and more flexible towards the center of the blade so it can still flex if it hits a rock.

As a result, farmers experience a much longer wear life – often double the time of their OEM blades – with no breakages and no unpredictable downtime.

2. Custom Hardfacing

For tillage operations, you need implements with the ability to aggressively cut through compacted earth, breaking up clods, tearing through weeds and incorporating trash depending on what you’re trying to achieve.

As a result, tillage implements typically encounter heavy wear and tear along the leading edge.  Our custom hardfacing service means we can offer farmers enhanced durability on tools that are pulled through the subsoil, such as sweeps and fertilizer knives.

Hardfacing adds up to 30% more material to the leading edge using a cold welding process that prevents distortion, warping, and contamination of the base metal.  The resulting implement is therefore heavier and stronger and capable of completing more acres before needing to be replaced.

3. Extra Life Blades

We can’t hardface our disc blades for obvious reasons, but our Extra Life rollable blades offer similar benefits in terms of wear life.  Typically, rollable blades aren’t made from boron steel because it’s not very malleable – but we’ve landed on a metallurgic composition that means our Extra Life blades have a high boron content for strength and durability, with enough malleability to facilitate the rolling process.   

Rolling simply means that when the blade gets worn, it can be pressed between a set of mechanical rollers that squeeze it out to a thin, sharp edge again – restoring lost blade diameter and compressing the metal so that the cutting edge is even harder and sharper after rolling than it was before.  This extends the life of the blade and gives the farmer additional cutting power. 

4. Self-Sharpening Technology

All blades get dull over time – but with clever engineering, it’s possible to significantly extend the useful life of blades like seed openers while ensuring precision performance for longer.

The way a blade wears depends on how it’s made – specifically its hardness and bevel profile.  Our Forges de Niaux blades are made to a unique Wearparts specification, so not only do they have that harder, heat treated edge, they also have a longer bevel – three-quarters of an inch as opposed to five-eighths.

That longer, shallower bevel means that the abrasive action of the blade turning through the soil sharpens the leading edge and ensures the pinch point remains intact for a clean, v-shaped trench.  Of course, the blades will eventually wear out – but depending on soil conditions, we’ve seen our customers get double the acreage from a set of seed openers that they were previously getting from their OEM blades, and the average based on field tests is 30% longer life than the closest competitor blade.

5. Testing & Continuous Improvement

Testing isn’t something we do to our blades to physically extend their life, but it’s a hugely important part of what makes Wearparts blades stand apart from the competition.  

We conduct extensive, in-house and field testing on our products in order to gather data and insights about how long they last, and how they wear.  This enables us to make adjustments during the manufacturing process that can significantly improve the durability of our tillage and planting tools.

But the benefits of testing don’t stop there.  Take our Guaranteed True™ promise, for example.  It’s based on our commitment to testing 100% of our seed opener assemblies before they leave our warehouse.  And we’re not talking about a quick check – we test to some of the strictest tolerances in the ag industry, specifically .050/1.27mm axial / .060/1.52mm radial for seed openers.  The absence of wobble and lope in our blades means they’re super precise, but also that they wear more evenly, which ultimately extends their life. 

Wearparts is different because we really care about farmers – as a family-run business, we know what it’s like when margins are tight so when you choose us, you’re choosing quality and integrity that’s built to make a tough job easier, and more profitable.  

Find your nearest Wearparts dealer here.

Across the Midwest, Great Plains and Great Lakes regions and into the southern US states, the arrival of March means that planting season is imminent – but an increasingly unpredictable climate means farmers are having to rely more on intuition and less on tradition when it comes to deciding the right time for planting.  

So what are the right conditions for planting America’s commonly grown crops – and how risky is it to start planting earlier than usual?  

In this blog, we’ll look at the ideal conditions for planting major crops like corn, soy, wheat, cotton and peanuts – when to plant depending on your region, the risks of planting crops early, and which soil conditions are needed to get seeds off to a flying start.

Corn

Where does corn grow best?

Corn thrives in warm, temperate climates and grows best in the famous ‘corn belt’ states – roughly covering Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, eastern Nebraska and eastern Kansas – but it’s grown a lot more widely than this, ie. the Delta States.

What soil conditions does corn prefer?

Corn is a hungry crop and prefers a loamy, well-drained soil that is rich in organic matter.  pH between 6.0 and 6.8 is ideal.  If your soil lacks organic matter or is compacted, it’s advisable to deploy tools for residue incorporation and soil aeration to maximize the seed’s chances of germinating successfully.  Consider cover crops in the off season to replenish nitrogen and prevent soil erosion.

Sandier soils can be planted earlier than heavier soils because they dry out quicker and therefore warm up faster in spring; however sandy soils also experience wider temperature fluctuations which can impact growth.

When should corn be planted?

In the Midwest, Great Plains and Lakes regions, corn planting typically begins in late April to early May once soil temperatures reach a minimum of 50°F at 2 inches deep. Further south, corn planting often begins earlier.

If the soil temperature is lower than 50°F, seeds cannot germinate and root development cannot take place.  The longer an ungerminated seed is exposed to cold temperatures, the greater the risk of chilling injury to the seed which can result in deterioration and subsequent weakness in the emerging seedling, making it more vulnerable to pests and disease.

What are the risks of planting corn early?

The biggest risk of planting corn early is that the young plants are very vulnerable to frost, so even during a warmer than usual spring, it’s advisable to wait until the risk of frost has passed before planting.

It’s also advisable to plant on a day with a warming trend in the 3-5 day forecast and no rain for 24 hours after planting – this is because when a dry seed absorbs cold water, it can injure the seed, causing the same sort of problems you’ll typically see if the soil conditions are too cold.

Even when the risk of frost has passed and average soil temperatures are optimal, beware of planting corn when there are wide swings in the soil temperature overall.  Corn seedlings germinate more consistently and grow strongly when the soil temperature remains stable – large fluctuations can cause seed failure and stunted growth leading to uneven crop stands, which is the biggest predicating factor of lower yields at harvest.

Soybeans

Where do soybeans grow best?

Soybeans grow well in the same sort of conditions as corn, and the bulk of the US soybean crop is grown in the same Midwestern states where warm soil temperatures and moderate rainfall promote successful growth of this important legume.

What soil conditions do soybeans prefer?

Soybeans prefer well-drained, fertile loamy soils with an ideal pH of 6.3 to 6.8.  They need slightly warmer soil temperatures than corn and should be planted when the soil reaches a minimum of 55°F, typically a few weeks after corn.

As a legume, soybeans are nitrogen fixing and therefore are often grown in a rotation with corn, which benefits from the soil-enhancing properties of a soybean crop.

Soybean seedlings will struggle to compete with weeds for light, nutrients and water, especially once the young plants being to increase in size.  Research suggests that competition from weeds when plants are small can have a big impact on crop yields later on, because the young plants put resources into growing tall in order to reach the light, rather than forming nodes.  You can explore tools for mechanical weed management here. 

When should soybeans be planted?

In more northerly regions, soybeans are typically planted a few weeks after corn in May or early June, once the soil temperature is consistently holding at 55°F or higher.

However, research shows that treated soybean seed can be sown earlier with less risk of seed injury due to cold – and that earlier sowing can have a positive effect on eventual crop yields.  It’s thought that when soybeans are planted earlier, the period between planting and flowering is significantly extended – and this gives the plant a bigger window for vegetative growth and the development of nodes, which eventually become pods, leading to a greater crop yield even when factors such as emergence rate and stand uniformity stay the same.

What are the risks of planting soybeans early?

Like corn, soybean crops are vulnerable to the effects of cold and particularly frost, which can affect the seeds – which may germinate unevenly or not at all – and also the young plant, which can be stunted or even killed off by spells of cold weather.

Spring Wheat

Where does spring wheat grow best?

Wheat is a cool weather crop that is most often sown in the US during the fall and harvested in the late spring or early summer of the following year.  Spring wheat is sown in the spring and harvested in the fall, and as a result it is typically only grown at higher latitudes where summer temperatures are lower – primarily in North Dakota, Minnesota and Montana.

What soil conditions are needed for spring wheat?

Wheat adapts well to a wide range of soils but thrives best in loamy, fertile soils with good drainage – it doesn’t like wet conditions.  Heavier and compacted soils will benefit from light tillage to promote soil aeration prior to planting.

When should spring wheat be planted?

Spring wheat benefits from sowing as early as possible, once soil temperatures are holding around 35°F and the 30-day forecast shows air temperatures consistently above freezing.  In spring wheat states, this typically occurs in early April.  Planting after mid-May is not advised unless average temperatures are significantly lower than usual.

Can you plant spring wheat too early?

Wheat is known as a tough crop because it keeps its growing point below the soil during early spring, which means it’s generally protected against frost until the plant is well-established.  Therefore, farmers aim to get spring wheat in the ground as early as possible once the soil has become workable.  The risk of an early spring is that the window for the earliest possible planting will be missed, especially if an early spring is followed by a warmer than average summer.

Image: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1vrLekN6Z5Pi2UZ2t4aOTUQOp_2T0po7G/view?usp=drive_link 

Cotton

Where does cotton grow best?

Cotton requires a long, hot growing season and therefore is predominantly grown in the southern US, with Texas being the single largest producer, followed by Georgia, Mississippi and Arkansas.

What soil conditions does cotton require?

Cotton prefers a nutrient-rich soil that is well-aerated and free draining with a pH between 5.8 and 8.4 ideally.  It is drought tolerant, but will benefit from irrigation during very dry spells.  Heavy and waterlogged soils are not ideal for growing cotton.

Young cotton plants lack competitiveness and therefore it’s important to plant into a weed-free environment, and eliminate emerging weeds that might out-compete the crop until the plants are well-established.  Check out tools for weed management here.

When is cotton usually planted?

The timing of cotton planting is important for rapid, uniform emergence of the young plants.  This offers protection against common pests, such as thrips, and ensures the whole crop hits the various stages of cotton growth – squaring, flowering and open boll – at the same time.

Cotton should not be planted before soil temperatures hit a minimum of 60°F.  The subsequent development of the plant is typically measured in heat units called DD60s – the amount of time the crop is exposed to 60-degree heat – instead of days.  Calculating heat units allows for the accurate prediction of how quickly a crop will develop and for this reason, it’s important to monitor overnight low temperatures as well as daytime highs.  As a rule of thumb, it takes around 50-60 heat units for a seed to emerge as a seedling, and ideally that plant would accumulate 6-10 units per day in the first week to get off to a good start.   Learn more here.

What are the risks of planting too early?

Cotton plants are notoriously susceptible to adverse environmental conditions, so encouraging uniform emergence and rapid early season growth is not only critical to establishing a uniform stand, but also builds resilience to other stressors like pests, weeds and drought.

If cotton is planted too early and then exposed to colder soil temperatures (or cold water from rainfall) during the critical germination period, chilling injuries to the seeds can prevent germination altogether, or lead to poor root formation that will likely affect the vigor of that plant throughout its life cycle.  Weak and slow-growing plants are more susceptible to insect damage and other diseases, and will reach maturity later than the healthy plants in the stand, leading to delays and inevitable losses at harvest.

Therefore it’s advisable to delay cotton planting until:

• Soil temperature at 4-inch depth is 65° F or greater at 8am for at least three consecutive days.
• The five-day outlook forecasts dry weather and a minimum of 26 DD60s.
• Low temperatures are forecast to remain above 50°Ffor the following five days

Peanuts

Where are peanuts typically grown in the US?

Like cotton, peanuts need a warm climate to grow well and in the US, the majority of peanuts are grown in six states – Georgia, Florida, Alabama, North Carolina, South Carolina and Texas.

What soil conditions do peanuts need?

Peanuts are a groundnut and therefore they prefer sandy, well-drained soils with a loose structure that allows the pods to develop easily underground.  They are a legume, fixing their own nitrogen and therefore requiring less organic matter in the soil than other crops.  A soil pH of 5.9 to 7 is ideal for peanut growing.

When should peanuts be planted?

Peanuts like a warm climate and planting should be delayed until after the risk of frost has passed, when soil temperatures are holding at a minimum of 65°F.  In southern states, this is usually in later April or early May, but can sometimes be earlier.

Are there risks to planting peanuts too early?

The risk of planting peanuts too early is similar to other crops – germination cannot occur if the soil temperature is lower than 65°F and if seeds are exposed to cold, damp conditions while waiting for the soil to warm up, chilling injuries can occur that affect emergence and growth rates in the young crop.  

It’s important to note that planting too late can also hamper peanut growth due to rising temperatures.  If the soil gets too dry, seedlings won’t emerge – but irrigating the soil with cold water can cause damage to the seeds.  Warmer conditions combined with immature plants also increases the risk of late peanut plantings being affected by fungal diseases like southern blight.  Explore our range of peanut blades here.

Before you plant

Of course, understanding the right conditions and timings for planting a specific crop is just part of the preparation for spring planting.  Many other factors can impact on emerging seedlings including soil compaction and seed placement.  

At Wearparts, we provide a range of tillage and planting implements designed to give farmers maximum control over their planting processes in both no-till and conventional tillage systems, including advanced seed opener and gauge wheel technology for precision planting and reduced downtime. To find out more, get in touch!

Research shows that while skips and doubles tend to cancel each other out across the entire crop, late emerging plants are the thing that causes the most variability in crop yields – and they can almost always be traced back to planter faults, specifically wear and tear to moving parts.

A report published by the University of Idaho in 2019 stated: “Uniform planting remains one of the most critical steps in setting the stage for successful crop management. In corn, for example, a yield advantage of up to 20 bu/ac can be expected due to effective planter calibration. 

“Planter maintenance and calibration is one of the most straightforward and controllable of all crop production practices affecting farm profitability; every grower should fine-tune planting equipment annually to achieve the best plant stand.” 

With this in mind, here are 10 checks you should be performing in preseason to help ensure better stand uniformity – and increased yields – this year:

1. Make sure the planter is level

It is essential to ensure the planter is level both front to back and side to side when in the field – not just a farm lane or yard. The drawbar and tongue should be level or slightly higher at the front than the back. This setup enables proper functioning of the parallel linkage and effective gathering by the closing wheels. Inadequate leveling can lead to poor closing and failed or delayed seed germination. Additionally, during the leveling process, it’s important to check tire pressure for accurate side-to-side leveling.

2. Check the row cleaners 

Well-maintained floating row cleaners should turn freely and move up and down with ease. Stiff or jammed cleaners will fail to effectively remove residue ahead of the disc opener, which can have a detrimental effect on seed-to-soil contact. Check the row cleaners before you check the parallel arm linkages – give them a spin, and make sure bearings and bushings are tight.  Adjust or replace as necessary.

3. Adjust the parallel arms

Parallel arms are crucial for maintaining the row unit’s correct position relative to the soil, so it’s vital to check for movement or wear that could lead to erratic seed placement.  Lift each arm to a horizontal position and try to rock it up and down and side to side.  Significant wear in the pins and bushings will lead to a lot of movement, which in turn will lead to chatter as the row unit moves through the field, causing inconsistent seed spacing.  If in doubt, replace one set and compare with the adjacent arm linkages before deciding whether to replace the rest.

4. Inspect the disc openers

Sharp seed disc openers with minimal wobble and lope are essential for accurate and consistent seed placement.  Discs typically need to be replaced when they lose a half inch of diameter, or when they become dull – whichever comes first.  It’s also important to shim up your blades even if they don’t need to be replaced, ensuring the necessary contact point is being achieved as the blades turn – your planter or blade manufacturer will have information on the required specification.

5. Check seed tubes

Seed tubes are usually fitted with a protector or insert that guards against wear. Check the bottom end of the tube for excessive wear of the sidewall, looking for adequate thickness but also any deformity of the wall that could cause the seed to ricochet, resulting in uneven spacing.  Replace any worn tubes.

6. Inspect bearings and hubs

Check your disc blade bearings to ensure the hubs are firmly attached to the disc with no loose bolts, lateral wear or play in the housing.  Look for grease leaking out of the housing, which can indicate a loose attachment, or for any debris caught in the housing from last year.  Spin the blades and listen for any grinding or squealing noises that might indicate worn-out bearings inside the hub. 

7. Give your gauge wheels a once over

Gauge wheel arms are extremely important for accurate seed placement so check that they are moving freely and not obstructed by debris or rust.  Also ensure that bushings are not worn out, leading to excessive lateral movement in the gauge wheel arm.  Check the wheel itself for wear to the rim or tire, and replace any cracked tires.  Adjust to make sure there’s good contact between the gauge wheel and the disc opener, to make sure dry soil can’t get into the furrow.  If you’ve run out of room to adjust the gauge wheel, it’s time to replace it!

8. Check seed meters for wear

Seed meters should be checked to ensure doubles and skips are kept to an absolute minimum. For finger pickup meters, it’s recommended to have them professionally tested and adjusted using a sample of the actual seed you’ll be planting for accurate calibration.

9. Center closing wheels

Closing wheels can easily go off center after a season of use, so you should inspect the wheel arms to ensure their catered and aligned before use.  Make sure the wheel itself doesn’t have too much lateral wear, as this can affect its ability to gather soil back over the furrow.  Make sure all bearings are in good condition and running smoothly. Consider whether the closing wheel you’re running is appropriate for the soil type.

10. Do a final visual inspection

Conduct a thorough walk-around of the planter to check for hydraulic leaks, cylinder issues, and wear on electrical connections and wiring. Inspect chains, remove any debris or dust to make sure you’re not overlooking any damage or rust, and make sure all moving parts are adequately lubricated.

If your preseason checks are revealing excessive wear on ground-engaging parts like seed openers and gauge wheels, it’s worth considering whether your current or OEM specification is up to the necessary standards for your soil type.  Contact us today and learn how our advanced spec and quality construction can significantly extend the wear life of your components.