In this episode of Outstanding in Your Field, hosts Bryan Schrader, Carl Joern, and Crystal Williams sit down with planter technology specialists from Indiana and Illinois about the must-check maintenance items growers should tackle before the first pass across the field.

Guests Matt Risley of Petersen Ag Service and brothers Jake and Connor Finley of Finley Farms bring both shop wisdom and field reality—covering the wear parts growers tend to ignore until they’re a problem, how to dial in planting depth the right way, and why even the fanciest planter tech still needs a human to hop down and check what’s actually happening in the row.

From disc openers and gauge wheels to firmware updates and closing wheel setups, the crew digs into the small tweaks that lead to better seed placement, more uniform emergence, and stronger yield potential. If you’re about to drag the planter out of winter hibernation, this episode is your friendly reminder: a few minutes in the shop now can save you a lot of colorful language in the field later. 

What to Listen For in This Episode:

The most overlooked planter wear parts: Learn why disc openers, seed tube guards, gauge wheels, and parallel arms should be the first components inspected during planter maintenance.

Why consistent planting depth matters more than perfect spacing: Hear why some agronomists argue that depth uniformity can have a greater yield impact than seed spacing in certain soils.

How to properly calibrate planter depth: Jake and Connor explain a practical method using static seed blocks or simple shop tools to ensure every row unit is truly planting at the intended depth.

Common maintenance issues technicians see in the shop: From bent row-unit shanks to severely worn parallel arms, the guests share real examples of how far planter components can drift out of spec.

Choosing the right closing wheel system: A discussion on popular closing wheel options—including poly spike wheels and two-stage systems—and how soil type, speed, and budget influence the best choice.

Technology checks before planting begins: Why updating monitor firmware, verifying GPS connections, and confirming farm/field data can prevent costly delays once the planter hits the field.

The importance of “ground truthing”: Even with advanced sensors and automation, successful growers still get out of the cab early in the season to dig seeds and verify performance.

Why soybean planters deserve the same attention as corn planters: As soybean seed costs rise and planting becomes more precise, proper planter setup for beans is becoming just as critical as for corn.

Outstanding in Your Field is the podcast created for farmers and powered by Pioneer Agronomy—bringing you trusted insights and proven solutions to fuel forward-thinking farming.

Hosted by agronomists Brian Schrader (eastern Indiana), Carl Joern (northwest Indiana/northeast Illinois), and Crystal Williams (northern Illinois), this show delivers timely, practical agronomic advice you can apply directly to your fields across the Eastern Corn Belt.