Easy-To-Use, Low-Cost Splitter Hitch

Easy-To-Use, Low-Cost Splitter Hitch PLANTERS Planters 21-2-11 "Commercial models I looked at cost $6,000 and were hard to hook up," says Myron Stammen who built a low-cost, easy-to-use splitter hitch that allows him to plant soy-beans in 15-in. rows. The New Weston, Ohio, farmer's 14-row planting combo consists of two Deere corn planters pulled in tandem behind his 80 hp Deere 2840. The front planter is a ground-driven 6-row (30-in.) plate-type planter. Stammen converted it from 3-pt. mounted to pull-type with a 15-ft. tongue he made out of a section of Deere plow beam. The rear planter is an 8-row (30-in) Deere 7000. Stammen made a heavy-duty triangular-shaped hitch that holds the two planters together. Wheels off the front planter mount on turnbuckles on each side of the splitter hitch and are raised for planting and lowered when Stammen detaches the front planter and switches to 30-in. corn. Removing the three hitch pins that hold the two planters together and unhooking the hydraulic hose takes only a couple minutes, he notes. "I was astonished at how well it worked," Stammen says. "I didn't have a bit of trouble." Eventually, he plans to convert the front planter to newer-style 7000 planter units. Out-of-pocket expense was $1,000. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Myron Stammen, 3083 St. Rt. 705, New Weston, Ohio 45348 (ph 937 338-3955).

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