Planting Pre-Season Checklist

Planting Pre-Season Checklist What a spring! With beautiful weather and warming soil temperatures many of you have started to feel the “itch” to get out and start planting.  The Ag Leader’s Tech Support wants to take the time to give you a few helpful pointers to ensure your planting season runs as smooth as possible, while using your Ag Leader equipment. Measures taken prior to lowering the planter into your first field should begin with powering up your display to manage data, update firmware, and to create a back up of your display for the 2012 planting season. Here is a list of the suggested steps:

• Create a backup of display
• Copy your harvest data from the previous year and import into SMS
• Once you have copied your data you can delete old seasons, farms/fields, and configurations that will not be used
• Enter in any new configurations, products, and farms/ fields into display
• Create a backup of the newly remodeled display
  • We recommend creating a backup at least once a week during planting
  • Be sure you are running on the most current firmware provided to you by Ag Leader

Ag Leader is happy to announce the release of the new v 3.1 firmware for the Ag Leader® Integra and Versa displays. The new firmware download is only available through your Ag Leader dealer at this time. You can find all of our display firmware that is available to our customers here. With your display ready to go we will now proceed to check the Ag Leader equipment found on your tractor and planter.

• Start by powering up your display in the tractor you intend to use
• Load the planting configuration to the run screen
  • You may be prompted to update any CAN module firmware that is out of date

*Simply do this by clicking “accept” on the window

• Drive your tractor outside to be sure your GPS receiver is getting signal
  • Suggested settings

*Baud rate is set at 38,400 *GPS Hz rate of 5 ( minimum)

• Check over your planter for pinched or stripped cabling
• Confirm all cable connections are properly and securely plugged in
• Raise and lower your planter to confirm your implement switches are being tripped
• If using seed tube sensors check your seed diagnostics screen as seed is dropped into the seed tubes to verify the system is registering the passing seed
• Remember to maintain your clutches by following your manufacturer’s recommendations
  • Ag Leader SureVac &Sure Stop clutches require no maintenance
  • Sure Stop clutch chains do need to be oiled appropriately
  • If using SureVac clutches be sure to inspect seed disks for any wear and tear
    • Extended wear on the seed dick can affect SureVac performance
    • Ensure your clutches are turning off and on as the implement switch is being tripped
      • Confirm you can manually turn clutches on and off using the switchbox
      • When using hydraulic seed rate control; use the seed meter prime button to ensure your drives are working properly
      • If using a Rawson drive; press the jump-start switch to make sure the drives begin turning

  To help with settings, configuration setup, and troubleshooting steps we have listed below some very helpful links found on our Ag Leader Customer Support site to help you through your 2012 planting season. Seed Command Pre-Season Checklist Clutch Control Module Quick Reference Sheet Seed Tube Monitoring Module Quick Reference Sheet Planter Population Module ( Kinze planters) Quick Reference Sheet Hydraulic Seed Control Module Quick Reference Sheet Ag Leader strives to provide many resources to our customers during this busy season. You can always reach Tech Support by calling 515-232-5363 or emailing support@agleader.com. We are currently in our extended hours for planting season and can be reached: Monday-Friday, 7:00 a.m.to 8:00 p.m. CDT Saturday 8:00 a.m.to 4:00 p.m. CDT Sunday from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00p.m .CDT We hope our tips and resources help things run as smoothly as possible and wish you all the very best as you begin your spring fieldwork.