|
 Hurray,
we’re finally planting wheat! That’s a grain drill filled with
wheat seed. We are planting only about 30 pounds per acre because
it is a foundation seed production field. Most farmers in this
area will plant about 75 to 90 pounds per acre.
|
|
 Here’s
an action shot of our drill at work. The seed drops down through
the front tubes that come from the seed box. The seed is in the
area of drill where the sign that reads "Solid Stand
15". The box behind the seed carries fertilizer or plant
nutrients, such as nitrogen and phosphorus. Let’s look at the
rear of the drill.
|
 Those
rubber wheels are called "press wheels" and they push
soil over the seed so the seed is well covered and will germinate
(sprout) and grow quickly.
|
 I
found some wheat seed by uncovering the soil. The seed was planted
about an 1 ½ inch deep, which is about right. We don’t want to
plant any deeper because it is so late in the planting season and
if we get cold weather the wheat seedlings will be slow to emerge
and grow. |
