Closing wheels are probably one of the most important inventions in the agricultural industry. Fixed on a planter, they serve two important purposes- closing the furrow (aka the seed-vee) and firming the soil around the seed.
In a mechanical sense, closing wheels are the last part of the planter that closes the furrow and helps you cover the seed to have the appropriate soil contact required to grow properly.
If you search the market for these farm products, you will find various options built from multiple materials, including cast iron and rubber. Rubber is probably the most commonly used material for manufacturing parts. Most farmers using traditional closing wheels own rubber wheels that carry spikes with two angled.
However, these can be highly problematic and negatively impact the produce. Rubber wheels are easy to damage, and they can easily collect mud if they get chipped/ holes in them or the chunks go missing. Another issue is the wearing off of the rubber and getting smaller in size. The spikes can wear down with use and become smaller in diameter.
The wearing off of spikes further lowers the tail assembly down, thus, pushing the wheels closer to the ground while being backward and slant. This further impacts the effective closing of the seed-vee.
Cast iron wheels pose problems too. The dust and fertilizer sprayed over them can cause a corrosive effect on the bearings of the wheels. This causes the bearings to grind and not run freely. Once the grinding begins, the wheel drags, which further slides the soil, thus, potentially sliding the seed in the seed-vee and mess the spacing.
There was even a study conducted over traditional rubber closing wheels and their effect on the emergence and yield of plants. The study involved different types of closing wheels for comparison and found that every closing wheel outperformed the rubber one even when the conditions were ideal or optimal.
Other problems include the gap between the spikes that could probably fit a rock between them. Alternative materials like poly wear out swiftly.
The Solution
Considering the vital role a closing wheel plays in the germination and growth of a plant, Farm Shop experts engineered the modern germinator closing wheel in Iowa to replace the traditional and outdated rubber wheels. Made out of premium-grade steel, it supports healthy germination and emergence of the seed in every kind of soil and tillage conditions, unlike rubber wheels. Suitable for planting soy, corn, sugar beets, sunflowers, dry beans, and other “row” crops, its innovative and unique design prevents air pockets while correctly covering the seed “V.” This offers better seed-to-soil contact with impeccable compatibility.
The differentiator from other existing methods in the market is the wide curvature between the teeth/ spikes, which proves beneficial for shedding any wet soil or rock.
Additionally, the inner wheel welded into the spiked wheel acts as a depth gauge that firms the soil around the seed.
This creative innovation has helped farmers across the country while minimizing associated costs, time and efforts. If you would like to learn more about the product, browse our website or contact us for any queries.
