By: Stara
The solutions chosen to enhance planting on your farm directly impact the productivity and profitability of your property. An efficient planter ensures the distribution of seeds and fertilizers, optimizing germination and plant development.
Therefore, to obtain maximum performance from agricultural machinery, it is necessary to consider several factors: from choosing the best model, with the ideal number of rows for the crop capacity, to machine maintenance.
In this article, we will explore strategies to maximize the performance of your planter and provide tips to avoid wasting inputs and seeds. We will also present Stara’s planting solutions, focusing on the Estrela and Eva planters.
Planning
Plan the planting season by defining efficient routes, avoiding idle times and optimizing supply. Consider factors such as soil conservation and temperature, water availability and weed control.
Technology
Use Precision Agriculture technologies, such as Row-by-Row Shutdown and Stara Machine Monitoring, for greater efficiency. One of the distinguishing features of Stara planters is the onboard technology. The Topper 5500 agricultural controller offers several solutions for planting, such as Telemetry, Conecta and Zero Crushing.
Careful Operation
Operate the planter with care, avoiding shocks, overloads and respecting the machine's operational limits.
Proper cleaning and storage
Remove seed, fertilizer and soil residues after planting to prevent corrosion of components.
Maintenance
Prevention reduces the risk of unexpected stops during planting, keeping agricultural machinery always available for work.
In this sense, we recommend checking pneumatic components, such as hoses and valves, to ensure there are no leaks or obstructions. In addition, check that the tires are correctly inflated and that the moving parts are lubricated for efficient operation.
To do this, always follow the recommendations regarding preventive maintenance and lubrication intervals, preferably using original spare parts. This reduces the costs of corrective repairs, extending the useful life of the planter.
Given so many technological advances, it is necessary to keep up to date with periodic equipment inspections. Thomas Liska, an agricultural engineer at Stara, highlights the importance of maintenance in the pre-operation period, before planting:
“With each passing year, our planting window is getting shorter and shorter. In the past, we had two months to plant, and it was no problem. Today, these windows are much shorter. So, I have to plant faster and the machine can’t stop. We need to have the machine up to date for when we really need it. And we need to invest in machines with better technology that don’t require maintenance during planting.”
The Stara Estrela planter is an example of this type of machine. It was developed taking the short window into consideration. “The machine does not require lubrication during planting, so there is no need to stop work to lubricate. It is a high-performance machine with high availability,” says Liska.
Knowing the technical specifications of embedded technologies is essential to achieving maximum performance from agricultural technologies. This also helps in choosing equipment with the ideal capacity for the crop. To calculate how many hectares the planter can plant per day, it is inaccurate to consider that the working capacity of the agricultural machine is influenced by several factors, such as:
Terrain conditions
Flat land with good soil preparation before planting allows for faster work, while sloping or rocky land can reduce speed.
Type of culture
Different crops require different row spacing and planting depths, which affects working speed.
Climate conditions
Rain, wind and high humidity can interrupt work or reduce planting speed.
Number of lines
The more lines, the larger the area that can be covered in a single pass. However, this does not necessarily mean that productivity will be higher, as other factors such as speed and efficiency also influence this.
How to choose the number of rows for a planter?
Choosing the number of rows for your planter has a direct impact on planting capacity and operational efficiency. To make the right decision, consider:
Property Size
Larger properties benefit from planters with more rows, optimizing planting time.
Line spacing
The spacing between rows varies according to the crop, influencing the choice of planter.
Tractor Traction Capacity
Make sure your tractor has sufficient traction capacity for the planter you choose.
Ability to perform maneuvers
In areas with irregularities or smaller areas, the length of the planter is a crucial factor. To do this, consider how many meters the planter has before purchasing. The length of a planter varies depending on the model and the number of rows. The important thing is to consider the working width, which corresponds to the width of the area planted in each pass.
The Stara Estrela and Eva planters, for example, have different line configurations and technologies that adapt to the needs of different property sizes.
It is necessary to know how to adjust the planter correctly, ensuring uniform distribution of seeds, optimizing germination and plant development. Adjustment also prevents loss of inputs, which is reflected in production costs. This saving should be considered when calculating profitability and return on investment.
Check out some tips on how to adjust the planter and how Stara Eva and Estrela planting solutions can be useful:
1. Calibration of agricultural machinery
Before starting work in the field, calibrate the agricultural machine following the technical guidelines. When choosing the planter for your crop, consider the technologies that help reduce the time spent preparing for work. Calibration of the Stara Eva Stara planter, for example, can be done using a smartphone or Topper 5500.
Planter calibration via smartphone is one of Stara’s major differentiators. “Some machines take 30 or 40 minutes to calibrate. The Eva is ready in five minutes,” says agricultural engineer Thomas Liska, Stara’s Product Marketing Coordinator.
2. Seed distribution
Check the seed deposition, ensuring the correct spacing between plants and the appropriate quantity per linear meter, according to the crop. This care ensures uniform germination.
3. Cutting system
Adjust the cutting system to ensure adequate furrow opening and good seed-to-soil contact. Cutting discs and rings should be selected according to the soil and seed type. The changing of rotating discs should also be observed.
4. Reservoir Level
Keeping the seed reservoir at an adequate level prevents planting failures and unnecessary interruptions.
5.Dispensers
Calibrate seed and fertilizer dispensers to ensure the correct amount of inputs per hectare. Estrela and Eva planters are equipped with the DPS-E electric dispenser, which ensures precise distribution of seeds and fertilizers.
Stara offers innovative planting solutions that ensure high performance, technology and efficiency in farming. Check out the highlights:
1.Star Planter
Precision planting, innovative technology, robustness and easy maintenance. Its highlights are the integrated copying, chassis articulation by pneumatic springs, hydraulic pressure control in the seed lines, DPS-E electric metering, line-by-line shutdown system and Topper 5500.
2. Eva Planter
Agility, quality in planting, on-board technology and versatility for different crops. It has a Stara electric meter (DPS-E), control via smartphone or Topper 5500 VT with Telemetry, Syncro, Line by Line Shutdown.
3.Topper 5500
Controller that allows complete monitoring and management of planting, with functions such as Line by Line Shutdown, Telemetry, Connect and Zero Crushing;
4.Stara Telemetry
Real-time monitoring of planting operations, providing data on the area worked, seed consumption, machine speed and other relevant information.
5. In-person and remote technical assistance
Count on the Stara team to answer questions, solve problems and receive specialized technical support, both in person and remotely, ensuring maximum performance from your machines through Conecta remote support.
In addition to technologies and technical support, Stara also offers facilities for financing agricultural machinery, with personalized financial solutions for the acquisition of equipment, with special rates and conditions that adapt to your needs.
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