Required Minimum Specifications.pdf

Precision Research Plot Planter Required Minimum Specifications:

• Base Planter

- 4-row planter with 3-point mounted Category 2-3 hitch assembly

- Rigid toolbar with 4 row units set on 30” row spacing

- Smooth tread Crank style gauge wheels must be adjustable to match the above row spacings and trail down the center of the beds. Gauge wheel height is adjustable for planting in raised beds

- John Deere Max Emerge 5 row units preferred for local parts availability

- Pneumatic down pressure with dial adjust down force setting and separate air compressor

- Must have a Yetter Shark tooth trash whipper system with a 25 wave coulter and floating mount

- Must have lock ups for each row unit

- No row markers required

• Platform

- Full width safety platform set up for two-person operation

- All safety options must be included for safe operation o 2 – seats with seat belts and adjustable seat height o 2 – adjustable fore and aft on seats o Handrails must slide down for transport and up for operation o Ladder assembly for easy access to platform

- Platform must be lightweight aluminum to lower the overall planter weight and lifting requirement of the stations existing tractor

- 2 – Fully adjustable seed packet trays that must fit the research units existing packet boxes. Minimum size requirement is 15” – 30” adjustable width and 36” long.

- 2 – Pneumatic 4 into 2-way seed splitters to divide one packet into two rows with quick disconnect tube expanders to switch to single row planting easily and quickly

- 4 – Remote seed funnels installed on the splitters for individual row planting

• Seed Meters

- Must be a single seed plate design with the following seed plates provided – 4 each required o Corn plate – 24 holes with a 4.75mm hole size o Corn plate – 60 holes with a 4.75mm hole size

- Seed plates must be available locally for parts availability

- Seed meter mut be actuated by a single air cylinder for planting and discard at the end of the plot

- Must have a bulk seeding attachment for the seed meter

- Must have an insert block installed for planting dihaploid seed

- 1 – Cray vacuum control system with excess seed hopper

- 12-inch color touchscreen display with heaters

- Controller must allow for population changes “On the Go”

- Controller must be able to automatically clean out each plot to a central chamber for seed collection

- Control must have the ability to provide a “Field Mapping Software” for the researcher to use in conjunction with GPS tripping

- Planter must be equipped with a GPS tripping system and software o USDA will provide tractor with auto steer and hardware to link the GPS tripping software from the planter manufacturer

• Accessories

- 3-person watertight noise cancelling head set system required

• Software and Support

- All software updates, annual license fees, and product technical support must be provided at no additional charge to the USDA

• Warranty

- A minimum 2-year warranty with future extended warranty option availability

• Parts Availability & Service

- U.S. origin components to allow purchase of repair parts from local vendors

- Vendor must provide 24-7 service support for repair parts for planter. Must also be able to provide next day air shipping services to reduce down time that may happen during planting season

Specifications for the farm tractor designated for use with this planter will be provided upon request. Tractor is GPS-RTK guidance equipped and is located at the North Central Regional Plant Introduction Station (NCRPIS). Tractor can be reviewed and accessed by contractor as needed.

Project must be completed, and planter delivered for field testing no later than 150 days from date of award.

Delivered to: USDA-PI, 1305 State Avenue, Ames, IA 50014