Equipment Needed for Corn Farming: From Planting to Harvest

Corn farming requires a variety of equipment to ensure a successful harvest. For planting, you'll need a planter that can sow seeds at a depth of 1-2 inches and at a spacing of 6-8 inches.

A good planter can make all the difference, especially when dealing with large fields. According to the article, a planter with a row spacing of 30 inches can cover up to 10 acres in a day.

For cultivating the soil, a cultivator or tiller is essential. These machines can till the soil to a depth of 8-10 inches, loosening it for optimal root growth.

To plant corn, you need a planter, which is pulled across the field using a tractor. The planter injects each corn seed into the ground, ensuring each kernel is evenly spaced and at a consistent depth.

A planter has blades that make a small slice into the soil so a seed can be placed into the soil. This is especially important for no-till practices, where the surrounding soil is not disturbed.

You also need a cultivator, which is used to prepare the soil before planting. A plough or subsoiler may be needed if you're changing crops or after every third harvest.

Here's a list of equipment you need for corn farming:

A tractor is the primary vehicle for pulling farm equipment, and it's essential for corn farming. Tractors come in various sizes and types, including compact tractors, wheeled tractors, and track tractors.

Tractors are a crucial piece of equipment for corn farming, and come in various sizes to fit any farming operation.

Farmers rely on tractors to pull farm equipment, and modern tractors can be outfitted with multiple attachments to suit just about any farming need.

There are several types of tractors, including compact tractors, wheeled tractors, track tractors, and specialty crop tractors.

Compact tractors are small, high-powered tractors that can assist with all the basic functions needed on a farm or home.

Wheeled tractors are general-purpose tractors that help you get the most out of your machinery, and can meet various demands and be outfitted for tilling, material handling and equipment pulling.

Track tractors are farming vehicles mounted with tracks instead of tires, allowing them to plow fields with more power while providing a smoother ride for the operator.

Specialty crop tractors are designed, or can be specially adapted, with features to work optimally in orchards and vineyards.

Attachments allow tractors to become universal machines capable of getting anything done.

Here are some types of tractors and their uses:

Using the right equipment for corn farming is crucial for a successful harvest. You need a planter that can place seeds in the ground while being pulled along the field behind a tractor.

A cultivator is necessary to prepare the soil, but you may need a plough or subsoiler for certain tasks. For beginners, artificial fertilizers are the best choice, and you'll need a fertilizer spreader to apply them.

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A weeder is essential to get rid of weeds that will soon pop up, and a harvester with a corn header is necessary to harvest your crops. You'll also need a trailer to transport and sell the corn.

Here are some common tractor attachments used in corn farming:

A plow is an essential first step in preparing the soil, and there are three common types: moldboard plows, disc plows, and chisel plows. Each type is suited to a specific soil type, soil condition, and crop type.

The right planter size is crucial for your operation and landscape, and various attachments like row cleaners and starter fertilizer can be added later. Soil fertility will determine whether or not to apply a starter fertilizer when planting, so it's essential to know your soil test levels.

You need a planter to plant corn seeds, which is pulled across the field using a special tractor. The planter injects each corn seed into the ground, ensuring each kernel is evenly spaced and at a consistent depth.

A planter has blades that make a small slice into the soil so a seed can be placed into the soil. This is especially important for no-till practices, like Krohn's.

To set up your planter, you need to determine your desired seeding rate and seed depth. Licht recommends 2 inches, which is deep enough to get moisture if the soil is dry.

Getting the furrow closed is also crucial, as is avoiding sidewall compaction. Licht recommends getting out of the tractor every four to six hours to evaluate how the planter is performing.

Here's a list of things to check on your planter:

Center-pivot irrigation is an important part of Krohn's operation, delivering precise amounts of water to the crop.

This system consists of a long, elevated pipe with sprinkler heads dangling underneath, mounted on wheels to water different parts of the field by pivoting around a center point.

Nutrients can also be added to the water to feed the crop, making this a highly efficient and effective way to irrigate.

To minimize damage to the field, Krohn drags a pivot track closer behind a tractor to smooth over any ruts left behind by the irrigation system.

Fertilizer Spreaders are a great addition to any farm or property. They come in various forms, including attachments for all-terrain vehicles like ATVs, RTVs, and UTVs.

These smaller vehicles can move across rough terrain more effectively than most road vehicles. They're perfect for navigating large properties.

ATVs, RTVs, and UTVs make it easier to haul equipment or your harvest, depending on the scope of your applications. This includes fertilizer spreaders that can be attached to these vehicles.

Fertilizer spreaders can be used to cover large areas quickly and efficiently. They're a game-changer for farmers and property owners who need to fertilize their land regularly.

Irrigation is a crucial part of any farming operation, and Krohn's use of center-pivot irrigation is a great example of this.

This system consists of a long, elevated pipe with sprinkler heads dangling underneath, which delivers precise amounts of water to the crop.

Krohn's center-pivot irrigation system also allows him to add nutrients to the water to feed the crop.

The pipe is mounted on wheels, making it easy to move around the field and water different parts of it by pivoting around a center point.

Sometimes, the irrigation system can leave deeper tracks in the field surface, but Krohn drags a pivot track behind a tractor to smooth over any ruts left behind.

This ensures that when he harvests the crop, the combine can get through the field easily.

Harvesting corn is a crucial step in the farming process, and it's done using a combine, which cuts and processes the cornstalks, separating the kernels from the rest of the plant material.

The combine retains the kernels, while the chaff is expelled out the back and returned to the field. The harvested kernels are then transferred from the combine into waiting vehicles, such as trucks or wagons, for transportation to local elevators or bins at home.

To store corn, farmers use grain bins, large circular metal structures that are designed to store grain in a dry, secure place. Krohn uses grain bins on his facility to store the grain, and he uses special machinery to hoist the corn kernels high into the air into the bin.

For this, he uses grain augers, which are long metal tubes mounted on wheels, and grain legs, which are permanent metal structures built near the grain bins. These machines help to efficiently load the grain into the bins.

Here's a list of the equipment needed for harvesting and storage:

Combining Corn During Harvest is a crucial step in the process. It involves using a combine to cut and process the cornstalks, separating the valuable kernels from the rest of the plant material, known as chaff.

The combine retains the kernels, while the chaff is expelled out the back and returned to the field. This process is made more efficient with GPS-guided navigation systems, which enable farmers to plant and harvest with extreme accuracy.

Harvesting corn provides a sense of gratification for farmers like Krohn, who can see the fruits of their labor after several months. It's a moment of truth, where they know their hard work has paid off.

The combine transfers the harvested kernels into waiting vehicles, such as trucks or wagons, for transportation to local elevators or bins at home. This is where the real value of the crop becomes apparent, as farmers can see the bushels of corn as literal dollars coming in.

Krohn uses a semitrailer and grain carts to haul his corn from the field to market or storage.

For long-term storage, Krohn relies on grain bins, large circular metal structures that provide a dry and secure place for the grain.

A grain auger is a long metal tube mounted on wheels, used to draw corn kernels through it and into the grain leg.

A grain leg is a permanent metal structure that uses a large belt with cups or buckets to lift grain up to the top of the grain bins.

If the corn kernels contain too much moisture, Krohn dries them with a grain dryer, which uses hot air to dry the kernels to the ideal moisture level of 15%.

The grain leg lifts the corn up in the air about 100 feet, and then uses gravity to either go into the grain dryer or into the bins that are about 60 feet tall.

Here are the types of grain-handling equipment Krohn uses: