New Planter System Being Tested For Combines

New Planter System Being Tested For Combines PLANTERS Planters 21-5-30 Ohio farmer Mike Kaufman recently de-signed a new system for attaching a row crop planter to the front of a combine. He plans to field-test a 12-row unit next spring. Kaufman, who grows corn and soy-beans on 200 acres that he farms with his brother, looked into the idea while working on his MBA thesis at the University of Findlay in Findlay, Ohio. He consulted with several machinery companies and dealers and also got helpful ideas from farmers across Ohio. After receiving a patent on the concept he took his ideas to a senior design engineering class at Ohio State University. "My design takes advantage of the size of today's new combines, which have more horsepower, greater capacity, more durable drive trains, and much improved visibility and comfort as compared to older ma-chines," says Kaufman. "My goal is to come up with a simple system that uses stock parts and requires no modification of the combine so it can be quickly converted back to conventional use. The toolbar, with row units attached, will be secured to the combine in place of the head. Seed for the row units will be stored in the grain tank and delivered to the individual planter seed units by an air conveying system." Kaufman's next goal is to secure an agreement with a manufacturer for prototype development. Once a working prototype is assembled, he will take it to farm shows, fairs and field days and try to get farmers interested in it. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Mike Kaufman, 13853 Rd. J., Ottawa, Ohio 45875 (ph 513 732-2181).

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