John Deere Vacuum Meter Settings

Sample testing conducted by Precision Planting using their MeterMax planter calibration system. For more information on how to maximize singulation on your planter. www.precisionplanting.com

As part of the ICARE SERVICE PLAN, we have listed below the suggested John Deere Vacuum Meter Settings for each ICORN hybrid that you purchased. ICORN has contracted with PRECISION PLANTING, a firm that specializes in planting services, to provide this information. These recommendations are for the John Deere cell disk system. Each hybrid and lot number was evaluated with a computerized planter test stand that calculates the % drop skips and doubles. With these results we were able to determine the best vacuum pressure to achieve the lowest % skips and doubles while maintaining an accurate % seed drop.

If you use a flat-disk system such as Precision Planting's eSet disks, the AccuVac System or the Deere Sweetcorn disk, refer to the manufacturer's recommendations. For the eSet system, the company recommends a vac setting of "15" for 80,000 seed units that weigh less than 60# and "18" of vac for units that weigh more than 60#.

Interpretation of Plantability Results

We can achieve 100% seed drop with some hybrids and vacuum settings and still have a high percentage of doubles and skips. Generally you increase the vacuum to reduce skips and lower the vacuum to reduce doubles. Once you find the breaking point, (vacuum level that has resulted in the lowest % skips and doubles) doubles can be reduced at the expense of more skips and skips can be reduced at the expense of more doubles.

Seed Release Index (SRI) is an indicator of how well a seed releases from the disk. A low SRI (<9%) indicates that the seed has a good, consistent release. A higher SRI (>9) indicates that the seed is more likely to hang in the cell longer which can cause a delay in release and less consistency in spacing. Talc or a graphite talc mix can be used to improve the release of these higher SRI seeds. A little graphite (20%) in the talc (80%) improves the seed release on most seeds.

We have listed below the "breaking point" vacuum setting for your ICORN hybrid along with the results from other settings using the standard disc. Use this information as a starting point only. Keep in mind the evaluation on the ICORN hybrids were conducted on a planter test stand with a new brush and rubber seal with no field vibration. Your in-field conditions may vary and you will need to adjust accordingly.

Examples

Hybrid:

106.VT2

Lot:

PT783105

Grade Size:

Seeds per lb.:

2087

Standard Disc

Vac Setting	% Skips	% Doubles	% Plantability	Seed Release Index
9	0.3%	1.9%	97.8%	8.4%
8	0.8%	1.4%	97.8%	7.4%
7 **	1.0%	0.8%	98.2%	6.9%

Hybrid:

110.RWBR5

Lot:

PT781111

Grade Size:

Seeds per lb.:

1622

Standard Disc

Vac Setting	% Skips	% Doubles	% Plantability	Seed Release Index
11	0.0%	0.6%	99.4%	5.7%
10 **	0.1%	0.2%	99.7%	5.8%
8	0.4%	0.1%	99.5%	5.9%

Hybrid:

110.RWBR7

Lot:

PC7BOX3119

Grade Size:

Seeds per lb.:

1756

Standard Disc

Vac Setting	% Skips	% Doubles	% Plantability	Seed Release Index
8 **	0.4%	0.7%	98.9%	8.4%
9	0.5%	0.7%	98.8%	9.7%
10	0.0%	1.1%	98.9%	8.4%

Hybrid:

111.R9

Lot:

PC783100

Grade Size:

Seeds per lb.:

1914

Standard Disc

Vac Setting	% Skips	% Doubles	% Plantability	Seed Release Index
8	0.3%	1.3%	98.4%	10.1%
7	0.2%	1.2%	98.6%	8.2%
6 **	0.6%	0.5%	98.9%	6.4%

**recommended vac setting