John Deere 71 debth bands

[sixdogs]

There's lots of different plates for different corn and corn in larger bags is "sized" and the required seed plate number is printed on the side of the bag. If you're just buying corn at the hardware store you're likely getting whatever doesn't uniformly size. You just have to guess what size plate you need for that and bigger is always better. If you aren[t getting good stands of corn with a 71, it almost certainly is operator unfamiliarity with the process and planter operation.

For smaller seeds you need a finely prepped and flattened seedbed and, yes, depth bands would help. But, they are not much use unless the soil is pulverized and flat. You also need a special planter bottom that is set up for smaller seeds. Check in a JD operator and parts manual. 71's do their best with corn and jsoybeans and other seeds are so-so with inconsistent results, at least for me. For that, the smaller JD vegetable planters work great.

The smaller seeds you mention would plant well with a 71 with vegetable bottoms but you have to be set up with the correct parts and they are hard to find. Look in the parts and operator manuals to see how they look and what's needed. If you could find some of the small JD vegetable unit planters, that would be ideal. You could also buy "coated" vegetable seeds that are the size of large BB's. Some of those might plant with a 71 because of their larger size..


Here's a pic of the JD vegetable planter units.

The best setup would be a properly set up 71 for corn and beans and the Jd vegetable planter units for vegetables.

 

[koolken]

There's lots of different plates for different corn and corn in larger bags is "sized" and the required seed plate number is printed on the side of the bag. If you're just buying corn at the hardware store you're likely getting whatever doesn't uniformly size. You just have to guess what size plate you need for that and bigger is always better. If you aren[t getting good stands of corn with a 71, it almost certainly is operator unfamiliarity with the process and planter operation.

For smaller seeds you need a finely prepped and flattened seedbed and, yes, depth bands would help. But, they are not much use unless the soil is pulverized and flat. You also need a special planter bottom that is set up for smaller seeds. Check in a JD operator and parts manual. 71's do their best with corn and jsoybeans and other seeds are so-so with inconsistent results, at least for me. For that, the smaller JD vegetable planters work great.

The smaller seeds you mention would plant well with a 71 with vegetable bottoms but you have to be set up with the correct parts and they are hard to find. Look in the parts and operator manuals to see how they look and what's needed. If you could find some of the small JD vegetable unit planters, that would be ideal. You could also buy "coated" vegetable seeds that are the size of large BB's. Some of those might plant with a 71 because of their larger size..


Here's a pic of the JD vegetable planter units.
View attachment 679078
The best setup would be a properly set up 71 for corn and beans and the Jd vegetable planter units for vegetables.

I buy quite a bit of corn from vendors like stokes and vesseys. My brother in law has a 71 that he uses for planting all kinds of vegetables so I know it works but finding those parts in a challange.

 

[sixdogs]

I buy quite a bit of corn from vendors like stokes and vesseys. My brother in law has a 71 that he uses for planting all kinds of vegetables so I know it works but finding those parts in a challange.

The 71 has the double disc opener setup and it somewhat coarser than a "V" with a press foot opener that smoothes and presses the soil into a better seedbed. Look in the parts book to see what I mean. Small seed setup is hard to find and you might have to buy new if really determined. Often, these parts are just laying in a barn somewhere and could be bought if someone knows you want them. Advertise or watch for farm sales of vegetable places. The stuff goes cheap.
I mentioned the addition of a front "press wheel" for the 71 that would smooth out the seedbed to help with small seeds. An example is shown in the JD parts books and I have made them before. Not very hard and it's just a rolling press wheel bolted to the 71 frame.

You could probably plant some of your small seeds down to maybe beets and maybe others if they were coated to make them bigger. You might need to make your own seed plate from a plastic blank that is commercially sold. A press foot or press wheel would likely be needed, however. A good idea would be to talk with your BIL and see exactly what his setup is. Ask him to keep a lookout for parts you need and maybe push your start date year out so you can get what you need and gain experience with the planter. Maybe help your BIL plant for a all the info and experience you need to know.

I think you are far more likely to find used JD vegetable units for sale than 71 small seed parts. My best thought is to keep the 71 set up for corn and beans and get a small seed vegetable planter for the other seeds. Those units are commonly for sale at farm sales and often can be bought cheap. There might not be many sales where you are but maybe BIL can help or find a friend in Ontario or the Maritimes or even Michigan where more vegetables are grown. Keep an eye out for the small seed vegetable planter since there are or were a lot around and you can buy and have mailed to you. Look on "Tractorhouse.com" and search the net for how to use things and auctions and what other people think and use. Piece of cake once you know the drill.

 

[sixdogs]

On your poor corn stand, you know that most of the problem is the seed plate and probably unsized seed. Also consider planting depth since too deep, especially in a colder climate, will not work well . Also an issue could be cold emergence and seed rot.

When I lived in the north on Quebec border, I planted at 1/2" and that was after the soil had warmed up. That worked fine. In Ohio, I thought at first I could go an inch or so and pick up more moisture in the event of a dry spring. Turns out I was wrong and I'm now planting well under one inch and it works fine. Sweet corn is said to be OK at 1/2" to 1 1/2" but that covers the range of climate and conditions and would likely be too deep for your climate. Also, you need treated seed to protect against early moisture and cold rot. If you're going organic, you will likely have disappointing results in a cold climate.

I'm familiar with Vesey's and Johnny's but now use Harris seeds and buy the 5 lb bag with sized and treated (insect guard) seed. It takes me 3 or 4 years to use a bag so it works out. 5 lb of most modern hybrids will run $90 but that's what it costs. Seed plates vary from bag to bag depending on size.

 

[koolken]

On your poor corn stand, you know that most of the problem is the seed plate and probably unsized seed. Also consider planting depth since too deep, especially in a colder climate, will not work well . Also an issue could be cold emergence and seed rot.

When I lived in the north on Quebec border, I planted at 1/2" and that was after the soil had warmed up. That worked fine. In Ohio, I thought at first I could go an inch or so and pick up more moisture in the event of a dry spring. Turns out I was wrong and I'm now planting well under one inch and it works fine. Sweet corn is said to be OK at 1/2" to 1 1/2" but that covers the range of climate and conditions and would likely be too deep for your climate. Also, you need treated seed to protect against early moisture and cold rot. If you're going organic, you will likely have disappointing results in a cold climate.

I'm familiar with Vesey's and Johnny's but now use Harris seeds and buy the 5 lb bag with sized and treated (insect guard) seed. It takes me 3 or 4 years to use a bag so it works out. 5 lb of most modern hybrids will run $90 but that's what it costs. Seed plates vary from bag to bag depending on size.

I appreciate your help! The corn stand problem isn't the debth I find. When checking seed drops by turning the wheel I get lots of doubles and triples. The new plate should definitely make a difference. You wouldn't have any pictures how you mounted that firming wheel that you made?

 

[sixdogs]

I appreciate your help! The corn stand problem isn't the debth I find. When checking seed drops by turning the wheel I get lots of doubles and triples. The new plate should definitely make a difference. You wouldn't have any pictures how you mounted that firming wheel that you made?

No pics but you can see pictures in the parts manual for the JD 71. You can see some on the Deere parts website. Theirs is pretty fancy. You get an old cultivator gauge wheel that's maybe 6" or 8" diameter and fab two small flat steel brackets to the sides of it.I can take picture of one wheel that I have later today.

You could get fancy and put a spring in it for ground contour but I was working with pretty flat ground and less than an acre so it worked fine for my use. Having more agricultural or fabrication skills helps because you know what needs to be done and what things will generally work. Your BIL looks like an underutilized resource since he's already familiar with the 71 and it's use. Note that Yetter, the new owner of the 71, sees no need for a press wheel on their planter since corn and soybeans are almost totally what it's used for and not needed. I kind of want to make a press wheel for mine but it does corn fine for me with a smooth seedbed.

Most people with plate planters like the 71 have a box of seed plates because you'll need them. You'll also need sized seed for best results and I don't think you're getting that with at the places you mention. Seed plates are an inexact science and larger is better. Not too large but having a mix of unsized seeds will necessitate it.

Try reading more online from 71 or similar owners with plate planters so you can learn more. Also get some penetrating oil and an owner's manual so you can free up the various parts of the 71 that are likely frozen from age and rust. You also likely have too much down pressure on the drive wheel as well and the planter bar at the wrong height and that's lifting the drive wheel and causing skips because some parts aren't moving as they should. That's likely an issue. The Yetter manual I posted will work. You need a hunger to learn to get the max out of the 71, or any planter. It also takes experience learning what not to do and that takes time. Things need to be learned that almost cannot be taught.

 

[sixdogs]

Here's the pic I said I would post of a wheel that could be used for a front packer or press wheel. I've done it before but not on a 71 planter. All are similar.

It's just an old cultivator gauge wheel. This is off a Ford but anything would work and there are lots around. Just make some brackets, make them "float" with a spring if you want and this runs in front of your gauge wheels to smooth the seedbed.

Also attached is a pic of some other gauge wheels I have that would work. Most any type of gauge wheels works. Use a bolt for your axle.

 

[koolken]

Ya should be simple enough to make something like that. Will give it a try before spring. Thanks dog..

 

[sixdogs]

Ya should be simple enough to make something like that. Will give it a try before spring. Thanks dog.. ��

Th best pics of that attachment are on the Deere parts list, and possibly owner's manual for the 71. It's a little hard to hook up on the 71 but it's not rocket science. You still need pretty smooth ground and this does a great job of pressing the seedbed.

Get on it before spring since there is some setup required when you use it and that takes time.

 

[sixdogs]

Any pics of your planter?