Farmers who attended the Soil Health Field Day in Morris, Minn., this summer had the opportunity to watch field demonstrations of interseeding equipment.

Two of those at the June 28 field day demonstrating their interseeders were Carson Klostermann of Wyndmere, N.D., with Strip Till for You, and Scotty Wells of the University of Minnesota.

CUSTOM-MADE: Carson Klostermann built a custom-made interseeder using a Moore-Built toolbar, Dawn Equipment DuoSeed units, Yetter strip fresheners converted to seeders and an old Hiniker seed box.

Klostermann showed a custom-built 20-foot machine using a Moore-Built toolbar, Dawn Equipment DuoSeed units and Yetter Manufacturing Co. strip fresheners converted to seeders. He also added a seed box from an old Hiniker seed hopper which he converted over to electric drive, allowing him to operate it using a tablet.

“Last fall, we used the machine with 24 Dawn DuoSeeders to seed rye in between the standing sugarbeets,” he said. “This allowed for rye to establish itself before the beets were harvested to aid in soil erosion fall and spring, and soil health.”

The field was then strip-tilled in the fall after harvest.

ADDING SEED: On his custom-built interseeder, Carson Klostermann converted Yetter strip fresheners into seeders.

“We ran the machine down the row where the beets were so we wouldn’t disturb the rye in between the rows,” he said. “We came back in the spring and seeded on the strip with green rye growing in between the corn.”

The cover crop did what it was supposed to do.

“It held the field from blowing,” Klostermann added.

OVER THE TASSELS: This Avenger interseeder shown by the University of Minnesota features a Gandy box and the ability to seed over tall corn.

Scotty Wells, University of Minnesota forage and cropping systems Extension agronomist, demonstrated a 10-foot wide Avenger interseeder fitted with a Gandy box.

“This one is unique,” Wells said. “You can plant in 110-inch tall corn.” It allows for soil disturbance and drill units at the soil surface. He added that they have used it for soybeans, corn and wheat.

BELOW THE CANOPY: With the Avenger interseeder on display at the soil health field day June 28, visitors could see soil disturbance occurring below the canopy.

A prototype was built two years ago, and it worked well. After additional funding was secured, this version was built.