John Deere revolutionizes seed delivery with new row units for 2015

John Deere is breaking the planting speed and accuracy barriers of traditional row-crop planting with the introduction of a revolutionary new seed delivery system. With the launch of the ExactEmerge row unit for the most accurate planting at speeds up to 10 mph and the new industry-leading MaxEmerge 5 row units for planting at traditional speeds, customers can now plant with greater speed, accuracy and ease than ever before.

The John Deere ExactEmerge row unit incorporates new technology that gives corn and soybean producers the ability to plant at speeds up to 10 mph while maintaining superior seed placement. The exclusive seed delivery system cradles the seed from the meter down to the seed trench maintaining optimal seed spacing in varying field conditions. The new system ensures superior seed placement at faster planting speeds and offers a 10 percent improvement in seed spacing at traditional speeds.

According to Kelby Krueger, product specialist, John Deere Seeding Group, the ExactEmerge row units are a perfect fit for producers who want to plant more acres in less time due to narrow planting windows, or to increase the size of their operations without adding equipment. "We know that accurate, timely planting pays off in improved stands and higher yields at harvest," Krueger says. "Now row-crop producers will have the ability to place seeds at higher operating speeds with even greater accuracy in the field. They will be able to optimize their seed investment, reduce operational costs and generally increase productivity. This exciting new high-performance system is the most productive planting solution we've ever offered."

ExactEmerge features a new, rigid bowl-shaped meter and brush-style doubles eliminator that requires no adjustment. It is designed to provide a smooth, crisp seed handoff to the industry-exclusive brush belt which replaces the seed tube. ExactEmerge units handle all seed shapes and sizes achieving 99 percent singulation with no mechanical adjustments – even over terrain with slopes up to 15 degrees.

"Another important feature is that our new brush belt does not have to be synchronized with finite meter speeds. The systems are completely independent of each other, allowing the meter to turn at the right speed for the desired seed population, while the delivery system exactly matches ground speed," explains Krueger. "This careful controlling of each seed from the meter to the trench and then releasing it at the correct rearward velocity allows the gentle placement of each seed in the trench without the normal bounce and roll that would otherwise happen at the higher speeds. We can do this with both corn and even with high-rate soybeans. And because we never let go of the seed until each one is in the trench we've drastically reduced the ill effects of rougher planting conditions."

This new design also eliminates the long gravity drop and retains the seeds in the brush providing high quality spacing when stopping the planter in the field. The combination of seeds retained in the brush and a new Fast Start feature eliminates skips in the field when growers start planting from a stop. There will no longer be a need to back up to start planting.

Two 56-volt electric motors per row unit rotate the meter and brush belt independently to achieve the desired seed population with speed matching delivery. The new electric motors are brushless, maintenance free and engineered to last the life of the average planter.

"The ExactEmerge technology also delivers the seed with consistent depth accuracy, so the seeds are placed in the bottom of the trench, before closing," says Krueger. "Active pneumatic downforce (PDF) means all row units maintain the required ground contact, even at higher speeds. The operator easily sets the downforce pressure and the brush belt delivery system delivers the seed accurately to the bottom of the trench at the desired depth."

ExactEmerge row units are compatible with 1775NT and 1795 model planters with central commodity systems (CCS) in 15-in., 20-in., and 30-in row spacings for corn and soybeans. All planter control and monitoring is made easy with the enhanced SeedStar™ 3 HP system that provides fingertip control of different planting functions and access to all planting data.

"For traditional planter customers, John Deere is also introducing an entirely new line of MaxEmerge row units – the MaxEmerge 5. These row units combine the best features of the existing MaxEmerge XP and Pro-Series XP units, which they replace," explains Krueger. "The MaxEmerge 5 features one common vacuum meter and provides the utmost in performance, uptime and cost of operation. And it offers the greatest versatility to customers needing a variety of different configurations."

These new row units are available across the whole planter product line which consists of CCS configurations with mini-hoppers or non-CCS configurations with standard seed hoppers (1.6 bu, 3.0 bu, 2.0 bu Twin Row). Both configurations come with new insecticide/herbicide delivery capabilities with Pro-Shaft drive meters or central insecticide system for liquid application.
"The MaxEmerge 5 uses a new common meter design for John Deere planter row units, giving customers 99 percent seed singulation and improved accuracy in seed population and depth control," says Krueger. "These field-proven units have double eliminator adjustments, three times longer-life gauge wheel arms and easy-to-adjust downforce capabilities (spring, heavy duty or pneumatic) for more uniform seed depth control, regardless of field conditions. All adjustments and seed cleanout functions are now much easier to access and faster to accomplish because of the improved design of the row units."

Controls and monitoring of most MaxEmerge 5 row units is available with RowCommand and are fully supported by John Deere FarmSight Services for optimized machine performance, logistics and agronomic decision support.

"The MaxEmerge 5 with the one common vacuum meter, ProMax 40 flat disk design, accurate downforce and row tillage adjustments and other design enhancements, will make it the most versatile, performance driven row unit on the market designed for traditional planting speeds," Krueger explains. "It provides the value, reliability and accuracy customers need in a proven seed tube delivery system."