Double Toolbar Planter Filled by Grain Leg Cart

Double Toolbar Planter Filled by Grain Leg Cart PLANTERS Planters 22-1-3 Manufacturer Rich Follmer, Hudson, Ill., is known as an innovator in the farm equipment market place through his company, Progressive Farm Products. He also builds innovative equipment for use on his own farm that's not for sale. For example, Follmer couldn't find all the features he wanted in a planter so he built his own 15-row, 15-in. double toolbar planter equipped with Kinze row units spaced 30 in. apart. The front toolbar has seven row units and the rear has eight row units. The planter is supported by four 7.50 by 20 wheels located between the front and rear toolbars and to the side of the front row units. A cultivator equipped with four rows of S tines mounts ahead of the planter in order to eliminate tractor wheel marks. "It cost less to build than a conventional planter, but I didn't build it to save money," says Follmer. "I built it because I couldn't find what I wanted on the market. The problem is that too many engineers at farm equipment manufacturing companies don't work on farms, and too many manufacturers just copy each other's ideas instead of doing their own thinking. We're one of the few companies left in ag manufacturing where the owner still farms." Follmer's planter has a rectangular steel frame with the front row units bolted on just behind the front part of the frame and the rear row units bolted on just behind the rear part of the frame. "It's such a simple idea that I'm totally amazed no one else has thought of it," says Follmer. "There's enough room between the rear row units that I can walk between them and fill the front row units without having to walk around to the front," he says. "On other double toolbar planters steel framework between the rear row units gets in the way, forcing you to walk around to the front. "Because the planter support wheels are located between the front and rear toolbars and to the side of the front row units, I don't have to drive on any rows that I've already planted. Also, the row units are close enough together front to rear that when I go around a corner or make a turn with the planter in the ground, the openers can gently work their way around without breaking." Follmer also built his own wheel lifts and low-profile, flat-fold markers equipped with 18-in. dia. notched discs. "It's the lowest hanging marker in the industry," says Follmer. "When it's folded parallel to the planter bar it's only 18 in. above the top of the frame."

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