"We've used them for 20 years on our own farm," says Dave Ryden, Hallock, Minn., inventor of wheel track spikes for grain drills that dig into compacted wheel tracks just ahead of disc openers so seed can be planted normally.

The spike assembly bolts directly in front of openers that run in the tire tracks. Spikes are designed to pull themselves, and the discs, down into the packed soil, cutting a groove 3/8 in. wide and 1 to 1 1/2 in. deep which gets the seed down into moist soil so it'll sprout along with the rest of the seed. No heavier springs are needed.

"They don't dig up large clods like other such devices which leave a poor seedbed that'll dry out. Also, these spikes raise and lower with the drill discs and pivot up for transport. Depth control is adjustable and when they wear down you can replace just the spike," says Ryden. "Once installed, you can no longer see wheel tracks in grain fields."

Ryden also makes a harrow tooth drill attachment that fastens behind the disc opener and ahead of the press wheel. The harrow tooth mixes wet and dry dirt over the seed, helping eliminate the need for after-harrowing to cover uncovered seed.