Model 5500WD Carousel Transplanter (Mechanical Transplanter)
Made in the U.S., the Model 5500WD has all the features of the company’s 5500W planter, with its patented float-wheel drive system to drive the planter and prepare the soil.
The 5500WD 2 comes with barrels and barrel mountings and is equipped with an optional poly-double disc shoe and six-tray carousel. Other features include: a water valve and tank system; multi-row units with a direct drive or line-shaft drive system; and an adjustable furrow opener for use with a wide variety of cell sizes.
The 5500 base model features a cam-activated plant ejection system and easy-to-adjust patented ski system to eliminate the packing wheels. This makes the machine the fastest and easiest-to-use transplanter on the market, according to the company.
MechanicalTransplanter.com
SeedPro (Checchi & Magli)
Whether seeding or transplanting, on mulch or bare ground, growers can turn to the new SeedPro unit from Checchi & Magli (C&M). The company’s SmartWolf and Wolf Pro transplanters are now even more versatile with the introduction of SeedPro.
The pneumatic seeder is electrically or PTO-driven and is equipped with a depressor that discharges seeds directly into the perforating cups for precise seed placement. The seeding discs are easily interchangeable based on the size of the seed, be it pumpkin, tomato, melon, zucchini, corn, etc. In addition, C&M’s state-of-the-art electric watering device for synchronized plant-to-plant (or seed-to-seed) watering is compatible with SeedPro, Wolf Pro, and SmartWolf. For growers ready to switch to transplanting, the transition is quick and easy: Simply remove the SeedPro unit, and they are ready to go.
ChecchieMagli.com
Wizard vacuum planter (Sutton Agricultural Enterprises)
Low acreage and diversified planting operations have limited options when it comes to accurate and reliable seeding equipment. All the low-cost seeders on the market are mechanical in their singulation of seed, which results in doubles, skips, and plant spacing issues.
Additionally, nearly all of the planters on the market are designed for small seeds or large seeds, but not for planting both.The Wizard vacuum planter solves all of these issues. Vacuum planter technology, with its near-perfect singulation and spacing, has traditionally only been available to high-acreage growers due to the cost of vacuum seeders.
Wizard has taken this technology and scaled it down to be affordable for low-acreage operations. The Wizard vacuum planter is also unique in that the metering unit can manage both large and small seed, being able to plant the full range of crops in a diversified operation from carrot up to corn.
SuttonAg.com
We recently asked several farm equipment suppliers to pick their best planters and transplanters for vegetable crops. Scan the slideshow to view their latest technologies in planters and transplanters.
Feedback was provided by Checci & Magli, Mechanical Transplanter, and Sutton Ag Enterprises.