After studying the yield benefits of 20-in. rows, Anthony Stevenson, Ulysses, Kan., decided to convert his existing 8-row, 40-in. Deere 7300 vacuum planter to a 16-row, 20-in. model.
He bought a used 6-row, 36-in. planter as well as two additional row units. He stripped both planters down, removing all the row units and vacuum pumps. He made a new 7 by 7-in. toolbar and bolted all the row units on it. He mounted four used gauge wheels (one pair from each planter) on front of the toolbar and two lift assist wheels (bought used) behind it. He also painted the toolbar Deere green and mounted Deere decals on it.
"It gives me the benefits of 20-in. rows without having to spend the money on a new 20-in. planter," says Stevenson. "The studies I've looked at show corn planted in 20-in. rows yields 12 bu. per acre more than corn planted in 40-in. rows. Also, the canopy closes faster which results in better weed control. I paid little for the 6-row planter. I used the vacuum pumps and transmissions off both planters as well as their four gauge wheels and one set of markers. I bought the two lift assist wheels separately.
"I also put together a 16-row, 20-in. corn header by converting my existing 8-row, 40-in. Deere header. I put GVL poly snouts on all the rows."
Stevenson also built a specially-designed, 30-ft. long "transport bar" that allows him to back the planter endwise through a narrow 14-ft. wide door at one end of his Quonset shed. When he's done planting he removes the planter from the tractor's 3-pt. hitch. Then he pivots the markers open at both ends of the planter toolbar and inserts a steel frame and legs into one end of the bar and a hitch into the other end. Then he hooks the hitch up to the tractor drawbar and backs the planter through the door and into the shed.
"The wheels are from my father-in-law's old Deere planter. I used 4 by 4-in. sq. tubing to build the frame that supports the wheels and used more sq. tubing to make a socket that fits inside the toolbar. I just slide the wheel frame into the planter toolbar and the weight of the toolbar holds it in there. I don't have to use any pins in the toolbar," notes Stevenson.