The study was conducted in 2020 on 4* different fields throughout the Midwest. The planter at each location was a Fendt Momentum equipped with Load Logic weight management system**. Treatments at each location consisted of three different Load Logic operating modes.

1. 1. Load balance: hydraulically transferred weight equally to all wheels, while also automatically adjusting tire pressure to the lowest manufacturer-recommended PSI for the weight.
   2. Controlled traffic: intentionally transferred weight from the wings and concentrated it on the in-line tandem transport wheels, also with auto-adjusted low tire pressure.
   3. Disabled: system was disabled so that the planter operated much like other central-fill planters, with the weight concentrated in the middle of the planter and tire inflation pressures at a static 55 PSI.

In each treatment, the center segment (e.g. middle 8 of 24-row planter) was harvested separately from the two wing segments (e.g. outside 8 of 24-row planter) in order to compare the yield difference from compaction.

*Stewartville, MN; Baltic, SD; Pontiac, IL; Chillicothe, OH **Compaction mitigation feature that includes both an automated weight transfer and tire inflation system

The primary focus of this study was to quantify the yield impact of poor seed singulation (% of skips and doubles) at planting.

The study was conducted from 2016 to 2020 on 22* different fields throughout the Midwest. Modified seed plates, or “goof” plates, were installed on specific row-units of each planter to intentionally create skips and doubles. Standard seed singulation plots contained a low occurrence of skips and doubles, whereas poor seed singulation plots contained a higher occurrence due to the modified seed plates.

*22 sites: 2016 – Galva, IL; Edgewood, IA; Amboy, IN; New Ulm, MN; Jackson, MN; Estelline, SD; 2017 – Ionia, IA; Morning Sun, IA; Judson, MN; Winthrop, MN; New Ulm, MN; Galva, IL; 2018 – Bement, IL; Gladbrook, IA; Union City, OH; Irwin, IA; Mosinee, WI; 2019 – Mt Hope, KS; Wausau, WI; 2020 – Baltic, SD; Chillicothe, OH; Stewartville, MN;

Study Contact: Jason Lee, AGCO Agronomist, North America

The objective of this study was to measure the yield loss from pinch row compaction at planting.

A field study was conducted in 2020 near Chillicothe, OH on a silt loam soil. The equipment used was a Fendt Momentum 32-15 planter (30” rows for corn) paired with a Fendt 942 tractor with front and rear duals. Yield data from each individual row of the 16-row planter was collected and categorized as either an affected (tire tracks on one side), non-affected (no tire tracks on either side) or tractor pinch row (tire tracks on both sides).

The goal of this study was to determine if the weight transfer system on a Fendt Momentum planter could prevent yield loss due to compaction from a high capacity central fill planter.

A field study was conducted in 2020 near Casselton, ND on a poorly drained, silty clay soil. The planter was a Fendt Momentum 24-22 equipped with Load Logic and the tractor was a Fendt 939 with standard rear and front dual tires. Two corn plots were established, the first was planted with the weight transfer system set to load balanced on (hydraulically transferred weight equally to all wheels), and the second was set to load balanced off. Planter tire pressure in both treatments were at a static 55 PSI. In each treatment, the center segment (middle 8 of 24-row planter) was harvested separately from the two wing segments (outside 8 of 24-row planter).

The primary objective of this study was to determine the optimum planting depth for corn across multiple locations and growing environments.

The study was conducted from 2016 to 2020 on 22* different fields mostly throughout the Midwest. Six planting depth plots were established at each location, beginning at 1” and increasing to 3.5” in half-inch increments.

*22 sites: 2016 – Galva, IL; Edgewood, IA; Amboy, IN; New Ulm, MN; Jackson, MN; 2017 – Ionia, IA; Morning Sun, IA; Judson, MN; Winthrop, MN; 2018 – Bement, IL; Union City, OH; Falls City, NE; Irwin, IA; Fremont, NE; Madison, WI; Mosinee, WI; 2019 – Mt Hope, KS; Emmetsburg, IA; Owensboro, KY; 2020 – Baltic, SD; Chillicothe, OH; Stewartville, MN;