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Exapta can improve your seeding in 2023 with your input

by Ethan Begle, Sales & Engineering Representative

As we get started on the 2023 season, it’s time to evaluate what went right and what can be improved from last year. Planting conditions dictated a lot of how much yield was harvested last fall. As mentioned in previous newsletters, it pays to do the best job possible, not only at planting but at harvest, to manage residue. This should help when deciding what to change on the planter or combine for next year. The best time to replace and improve is while it’s fresh on the mind. Making lists while in the seat during crunch times, also makes off season purchasing easier for the forgetful minds. With new equipment sales still being backlogged, it makes sense to look at what parts are needed to make current equipment better than new. With drills and air seeders especially, not much has really changed with the openers over the last 30 years. Aftermarket parts that last longer and perform better than OEM can give used equipment a better ROI. Replacing wear parts and making those row units tight again will help for seasons to come. This off season requires evaluation of what’s new or better and what prices can fit your budget. 

We have some new products and some improved existing products for this year, thanks to feedback from farmers. We introduced the PolyFlex urethane gauge wheel tires, as a complete assembly, last fall. You get 3x the wear life vs rubber tires, but these poly tires have an air cavity to give it some flex, keeping the ride smoother. 
The improved V350 Valion seed tube guards for Kinze 3000 series planters will be trickling out here into March. We trimmed the top down to leave more of an air gap between the guard to prevent transfer of heat to the plastic seed tube. Still the same chrome alloy material and larger width vs factory guard to keep the blades from flexing too close together.

 

A new product we offer now is stainless seed tubes for air seeders. No more rusting tubes which also causes the hose to be impossible to get out easily. This new design has a notch in the tube for a stainless hose clamp against the seed hose but allows for easy removal if you have a plug or for maintenance.
Jonathan Zeller
Christopher Sauerwein

Exapta now has two, full-time engineers on staff to improve current products and create new ones. Chris Sauerwein came to us after 23 years in various roles at AGCO Engineering, from field test validation, to design and prototype manufacturing.

Jonathan Zeller joined Exapta in 2023, excited to return to working with no-till planting equipment. He supported research of no-till planting and other Ag related projects for 7 years with Kansas State University’s Agricultural Engineering Department.

Seeding equipment is still far from perfect and new products are needed to fix problems farmers are seeing in the field. With the help of all of you, our customers, we are positioned to make positive improvements in your planters and drills. We want to hear from you! What do you need to perform better and last longer? We get quite a few of our customers offering input into what worked good and what could be improved on the Exapta products they are running. We appreciate this support and feedback so we can reduce issues you have in the field and at installation. 

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Content of this page is copyright 2005-2024 Exapta Solutions, Inc. (reprint with written permission only).

Thompson wheel covered by U.S. Patent No. 6,907,833. Liquid delivery feature of Valion seed tube guards is U.S. Patent No. 8,978,564. Ninja seed bounce flap U.S. Patent Pending. UniForce U.S. Patent Pending. All rights reserved on other designs. Exapta is a registered trademark of Exapta Solutions, Inc. Keeton is a registered trademark of Precision Planting. Mojo Wire, Thompson wheel, Valion guard, Ninja flap, UniForce, DuraLok, No-till Seeding Explained, and No-till Seeding School are trademarks of Exapta. Disclaimer: Recommendations & page content are current, accurate, and believed to be broadly applicable as of the time of writing (Dec 2005) and last update (2005 – 2014). Because of diversity of soils, climate, crops, planter & drill models/designs marketed worldwide, combinations of attachments, etc., actual results may vary. No warranty is made as to actual results obtained. Should you encounter exceptions or worthwhile annotations to the statements made on this page, please contact us.

Derek Tjaden

Derek is Kansas native who grew up in a 100% no-till farming operation. From an early age the benefits of no-till were made known to Derek by his father and by attending no-till conferences. From there he furthered his passion for soils while at Kansas State University getting his agronomy degree. He has had the experience of working in various roles and sectors of agriculture from sales and consulting, to management, which have all been within production agriculture. Derek has also worked in specialty ag markets such as turf and ornamentals.

Bob Pagel

Sales & Service Representative

Prior to joining Exapta, Bob Pagel was an Agricultural Territory Sales Manager for Ritchie Brothers, serving parts of MN, WI and IA. He continues to support his family farm in SE Minnesota.

Jon Zeller

Current Product Engineer

Jonathan Zeller joined Exapta excited to return to working with no-till planting equipment. He supported research of no-till planting and other ag related projects for 7 years with Kansas State University’s Agricultural Engineering Department after getting his engineering degree. He later worked 3 years for Landoll Company, LLC. where he gained experience in a design engineering role. Jonathan grew up on a small family farm in NE Kansas working with row crops, hay and cattle. Jonathan enjoys solving engineering problems and improving or creating products to be robust and easy to install and service.