This JD 750 Drill of Mike and Janet McDonald, at Indigo Ridge Farms, Palmyra, NE was modified in at least seven ways to more effectively drill into heavy residue.

The Exapta modifications include: spiked Thompson closing wheels, narrow/flexible seed firmers, narrow/spiked/flexible gauge wheels, and the harder/single discs and the unilever hydraulics for each row unit. The two, Needham modifications are the long/hard seed tubes and the double-ribbed seed tube connector thus ensuring consistent seed flow.

Each step is intended to help cut through deep residue and hopefully allow more residue to stand and also to allow the cover crops to grow as long as possible so I increase the potential of mineralization in the biological steps.

The drilling of beans occurred in May 2022 into an 11-way mixture (hemp, sunflowers, flax, oats, various clovers, lentils, BMRs and sudans) after wheat in 2021. The CCs were drilled in July 2021 after the Monument wheat from Arrow Seed yielded well (90+ b.) and produced heavy stubble. We allowed the CCs to grow over the Fall of 2021 into the spring of 2022. This was also to allow us to spread 3 tons/acre of compost and chicken litter in Dec. 2022 so it did not blow or erode in any manner.

There were +/- to this as it is bottom ground and it does not always warm up in the spring plus the hemp and heavy carbon did not breakdown at the desired level. Subsequently, we had problems with the hemp wrapping around the new, spiked-style Thompson closers. I will not lie...it was a challenge but it is more that I would use less or roll down the hemp before drilling into heavy carbon.

I was hoping to save one herbicide pass while balancing with the diverse CCs.

Last, we received a late freeze in May and we had to replant the beans. The heavy carbon worked in a contrarian way as the ground did not warm up but in fact reflected the solar energy. Most every neighbor had to replant their beans particularly if they had heavy residue.

All in all the drill has worked very well on several occasions and the modifications for a single disc drill to cut through heavy residue has worked very well. I am pleased and I would do it again save the two modifications: the hemp and laying down the heavy CCs.

Thank you for this opportunity and please contact me at 402.314.1571 with any questions. Mike McDonald--NTOP Board Member