Download - Ag Equipment Manufacturers & Pollinators
Ag Equipment Manufacturers and Pollinators
Croplife Conference
April 2015
Overview
• Planter Technology Overview• Bayer Alternative Fluency Agent • ISO Standard to Control for Fugitive Dust Control
Planting TechnologyThere are five types of seed planting equipment in common use in North
America:• Box drills (mechanical meters) – most typically used for small grains• Mechanical meter row crop planters • Air seeders – positive air central metering and pneumatic conveyance
to row – most typically used for small grains • Positive air pressure row crop planters • Vacuum air pressure row crop planters
Box drills and mechanical meter planters have no air system. Air seeders convey any fugitive dust directly to the seed trench. These three systems are not discussed in the following slides.
Positive Air Pressure PlantersPositive air and vacuum seed metering systems both use air pressure to hold seeds on a meter disk. The first uses positive air (pressure greater than atmospheric) while the second uses vacuum (pressure less than atmospheric).
Both central (bulk fill) systems and individual row hopper systems are available for positive air planters.
Low velocity exhaust air is released at each seed meter.
Example metering system
Airflow in a Positive Air Pressure SystemAir is drawn from a central location with exhaust at each row unit.
Vacuum PlantersEach row unit has a vacuum seed meter. The seed is drawn into the meter using vacuum to hold the seed to the disk.
The seed is conveyed from meter to seed trench by either gravity or a mechanical conveyance system.
Both central (bulk fill) systems and individual row hopper systems are available.
There is a central vacuum fan with a central exhaust.
Vacuum System TechnologySeed in the bottom of the meter Vacuum pressure draws seed
onto the disk
Vacuum MeterGravity conveyance to seed
trench shown.
Airflow in a Vacuum SystemAir is drawn from individual row units with exhaust at a central location.(note: some systems have multiple fans = multiple exhausts)
Best control of seed treatment fugitive dust results from a coordinated approach
• Effective seed coatings to bind active agent to seed.• Appropriate seed coating equipment and techniques that fully realize the
binding agent’s potential.• Minimized seed treatment loss (dust generation) during handling, including
during the planting process.• Minimized drift (uncontrolled movement) of fugitive dust.
Planter manufacturers have no direct influence on the first two items
Bayer Alternative Fluency Agent
• A seed lubricating agent is typically needed for optimum seed meter performance – common lubricants are talc, graphite and talc/graphite mixtures.
• Testing by Bayer showed reduced fugitive dust creation for Bayer agent - independent tests have also found reduction.
• Equipment manufacturers began voluntary testing of the new product in 2012, with planter performance measures usually satisfactory.
• Two AEM member planter manufacturing companies are selling the Bayer agent through their distribution channels for the 2015 planting season.
Development of International Standard - ISO 17962
ISO 17962:2015
ISO 17962:2015 Design Method
The design method directly specifies vacuum exhaust performance. Drift potential for fugitive dust is assumed to be closely related to height and velocity of exhaust air. The method name is perhaps misleading since it also requires passing performance testing:
•The exhaust outlet height can not exceed 0.5 meters with the planter in the sowing position. •Air velocity external to a 2 meter radius cylinder centered on the exhaust outlet can not exceed 4 meters per second (laterally) at the soil surface or 2 meters per second anywhere else around (or over) the cylinder.
ISO 17962:2015 Design Method
Provides equipment designers the maximum degree for creative solutions that respect limitations of exhaust fan velocity characteristics that could contribute negatively to drift of fugitive dust.
ISO 17962:2015