Maybe you’re an experienced no-tiller. Or perhaps you’re new to minimum-till or no-till planting. Either way, likely one of the challenges that still raises its head from time to time is the inability to close the seed slot completely. Pieces of residue often get in the way. When they wind up in the seed slot, they can create changes in moisture levels and less-than-ideal seed-to-soil contact. The result may be a few hiccups in an otherwise good stand.

Prescription Tillage Technology has an option for you to consider. The company has developed saber-tooth disk openers that retrofit on a wide range of existing planters. These openers have serrated edges instead of one cutting surface.

The new disk openers are available through SI Distributing. Representatives for SI Distributing say farmers they’ve talked to are excited because these coulters provide a clean cut through residue. The end result is that fewer pieces of residue wind up pressed into the planter trench. That situation is called hairpinning, and when it occurs, stands are usually less than perfect.

That isn’t the only advantage of these openers, however. Prescription Tillage Technology says if you switch to these openers, you can remove the leading no-till coulter on each row. You can rely on standard operating equipment working with the saber-tooth planter disks to break down the trench sidewalls, reducing the chances for sidewall compaction. Representatives say that due to the special design of the disks, about one-fourth inch of granulate soil forms on top of the trench, even in harsh conditions.

Blades come in left- and right-hand variations. Prices range from about $67 to $107 per row, depending upon planter make and model. Learn more at sidist.com, or call 800-368-7773.

CLEAN CUT: If residue in the seed slot is still your nemesis, there may finally be an answer. Check out this new disk opener design with serrated edges.

Editors' views
Three editors who search for and write about new products at farm shows each fall reviewed this product. They are Tom J. Bechman, Indiana Prairie Farmer; Lon Tonneson, Dakota Farmer; and Mindy Ward, Missouri Ruralist.

Tom’s take
The idea is so intuitive that you might wonder why it took so long for someone to come up with it. It seems only natural that things would go better in no-till situations when residue is cut cleanly and doesn’t wind up in the seed trench. This one might be worth the investment. 

Lon’s view
Attention to detail is one of the keys to higher corn yields, and maybe this is an area that deserves some attention. There are lots of different blades on the market. This one might be worth checking. The company says you won’t need the no-till coulter to run ahead of this pair of disks.

Mindy’s insight
Getting that perfect stand is all about seed placement and soil contact. Too much trash in the trench can impact stands in no-till operations. These new disk openers reduce the residue. The ability to add these to an existing planter makes them worth a look.