Stripper Header - Drill Demonstration

     Considering there were three other ag tour/events contending for peoples attention, we had over 100 people in attendance.  No media this year, --probably do to other better known events.  Interest in dealing with a stripper header is still there.  There were eight units that participated, --AgPro with Bourgault points, CrossSlot, Case 400 with Kile openers and 2280 cart, JD 1890 single disc opener that was set up as a two pass system, and the Horsch with Anderson opener.  Also three low disturbance fertilizer applicators were demonstrated.  The JD 1890 with Exactrix system where the seed boot was replaced with a fertilizer boot to deep band liquid NH3.  The Great Plains NP40 Nutri-Pro uses a coulter to cut a slot and stream liquid solution into that slot from above ground level. The Fast 8200 unit is  similar.  The drills seeded barley.  There was no solution provided for the fertilizer machines.  The area had a lot of residue.  The machinery park had the residue swathed and baled for building protection last summer.  The demonstration site had a mowed area on each end with standing (≈30") stubble in the middle.  Between harvest, spray applications, and mowing, there was a lot of wheel tracks with long stubble laid down.  Along with the fact that no leveling/smoothing operation has touched this site for over 20 years, this is a challenge for any drill to get a decent looking stand emerged.  Even though we hadn't received any appreciable moisture for 30 days, the site had good moisture levels, even in the scalped areas where the equipment is parked.  The following day, the site received 0.45" of rain.  That will eliminate any drying out the drills may have promoted.
       Where we strive for maximum moisture retention through low disturbance and residue, my bias of course, favors the CrossSlot, so, expectedly, it did the best, --at holding depth, consistent seeding without plugs or drags, and features a one pass system to maintain the ULD status that we strive for in our operation.
       The JD didn't hold depth in the mowed area which was the hardest for both it and the CS.  Too much variation in seeding conditions for spring loaded down pressure systems.  Also, the JD moves more dirt than the CS, and being set up as a two pass system, there is additional soil disturbance.
       All of the hoe type drill entries, were able to make it through the course, with more or less plugging and dragging.  Neither mowed nor standing stubble, with all the wheel tracks, was ideal for a hoe drill.  Even 30" stubble, when laid crossways to the line of travel spans across multiple opener widths.  Much of the time, coulters will cut through the mat in front of the hoe --but not all the time.  When a hoe passes among standing stalks, they tip and can become an obstacle to the next line of openers.
       Although I didn't watch any of the fertilizer applicators navigate the course, I could see from all the straw hanging, that the Great Plains NP40 struggled.  I didn't notice how the Fast 8200 faired, but my guess is that it was much the same.  With this type of application, where solution is directed towards a slot through a surface air gap, I have to wonder how much loss of N takes place. The JD 1890 fertilizer unit, like the drill version, probably suffered from depth control.
     Sorry to say, I was distracted,  and completely neglected to make a presentation about the stripper header and it's value to our operation, and the moisture it helps save.  I'll write two more posts that relate to: -- 1) the long and short of the stripper header, and 2) moisture saved with the stripper header in the near future.  I have yet to analysis the HOBO data gathered since September on soil temperatures under different residue scenarios .

All done, and equipment gone.  The site was completely used, but didn't need to go into the mustard.  We'll follow the site for awhile, then destroy it before weeds become a problem.