Verified FBN Member (SD)

(edited)Machinery

tracked tractors and planting

Hello, we have a central fill planter with tracks. We pulled it with a wheeled tractor with duals this past spring. Considering purchasing a tracked tractor to pull the tracked planter. Does anyone know of any yield benefits or is it just increased flotation? Thanks

3

5


Verified FBN Member (IL)

Yield benefits might be less compaction, but you’d have to figure out how much compaction you have in your fields and if it’s actually impacting your yields. Maybe dig out a few plants and look at the root system and see if your roots are growing vertically or horizontally. If you’re roots are growing horizontally you’ve got a lot of compaction

4


Verified FBN Member (NY)

we have seen a setup with a TWO track tractor leave big piles of dirt as the track scuffed turning on the ends of passes !

2

1

Verified FBN Member (SD)

I have heard the too looking at either a Quadtrac or a magnum rowtrac


Verified FBN Member (CO)

What yield benefits would there be to changing from wheels to tracks? Are you thinking one is impacting plant growth near the tractor tracks than the other? Not in your part of the world but we've planted with both wheeled and tracks with planters and airseeders and can't tell a difference on stand.

2

1

Verified FBN Member (SD)

switching from row crop duals to tracks would eliminate 2 pinch rows where the planter plants through a tire track for us, and the tracks would leave 50-70% less compaction per PSI on the rows closest to the tracks I believe. Was trying to put yield numbers on that if there were any to find return.