Given the narrow window for planting each season, farmers want innovations that can enhance accuracy and efficiency, but without being too technically challenging or hard to set up and use.

“In recent years, planter technologies have rapidly evolved,” says Phil Jennings, Kinze Manufacturing service manager. “The industry has introduced many new features, but these have often been complex and not part of a single, complete system.”

Three new planter technologies, Blue Vantage™, Blue Drive™ and True Depth™, are being introduced by Kinze for the 2019 planting season that combine the latest advancements along with ease of use. “Everyday technologies such as our smart phones are so easy to use,” Jennings says. “At Kinze, we asked why can’t planter technologies be that smart, but simple to use as well?”

After evaluating farmer input, Kinze designed new planter technologies to be easy for any farmer to operate, Jennings says. For example, he notes that the new Kinze Blue Vantage display offers the most intuitive user interface in the industry by displaying all the information farmers need on one screen.

Jennings says the new display features high-definition mapping and graphs, as well as the most comprehensive diagnostics screen on the market. Blue Vantage is designed to be a “hitch-pin” solution, straight out of the box and ready to use. The quick set-up requires only three clicks for farmers to go from turning on the display to planting.

Kinze Blue Drive electric drive integrates seamlessly with the Blue Vantage display to provide detailed information on all systems components. Blue Drive features section control for individual rows, including split rows. The section control compensates for split rows, where front rows shut off before rear rows for smooth and consistent shut off performance for maximum productivity with no wasted seed.  Industry-leading Ethernet provides faster and more reliable connectivity.

“Individual row modules monitor and control each individual row unit. Fewer moving parts – no chains, drive shafts, clutches or gearboxes – reduce maintenance and repairs,” Jennings explains.

Both of these new products, which were designed by the recently established Kinze Electronics Division, are available on various configurations of Kinze’s 3660 and 4900 planter models.   

The third new technology, Kinze True Depth hydraulic down force, provides row-by-row active control with down and up force to ensure proper seed depth to maximize yield. The True Depth system is available on the 4900 16- and 24-row planter models, and the 3660 16-row planter, including split rows.

“The goal is to help farmers achieve their target yield with high technology planter options that are so easy to use anyone can plant with them,” Jennings says.             

To learn more or see a demonstration of the Blue Vantage display, contact your Kinze dealer or visit Kinze.com.