What is a Performance Upgrade Kit?
John Deere Performance Upgrade Kits provide options to retrofit existing equipment, such as planters, with many of the new technology offerings from John Deere. You are able to utilize your existing planter or toolbar and add the latest technology, enabling features such as high-speed planting at speeds up to 10 mph, individual row hydraulic downforce, pneumatic row cleaners and closing wheels that are adjustable from the in-cab display, and many more.
Why Choose a Performance Upgrade Kit from John Deere?
John Deere is a leader in planter technology. Historically, to get the latest technology, you had to purchase a new planter from John Deere. However, that has changed with the introduction of performance upgrade kits that allow you to retrofit existing equipment. You can now realize the many benefits of industry-leading technology on a piece of equipment you already own.
Performance upgrade kits provide many benefits, such as:
- Get the benefits of a new machine without the new machine price tag.
- Extend your equipment life cycle and ROI.
- Free up capital to invest in other equipment improvements or other areas of your operation.
Benefits of John Deere Over the Competition
There are many benefits to choosing a John Deere performance upgrade kit over offerings from competitors. In addition to higher-performing technology, other benefits include reduced cab clutter, receiving structural upgrades and a new serial number from John Deere, higher resale values, and superior dealer support.
Technology
John Deere’s planter technology has been tested extensively and found to be superior to similar offerings from competitors. In a recent five-year study of high-speed planters at Iowa State University, the John Deere ExactEmerge system was found to have more consistent seed spacing at all speeds, from 5.0, 7.5, to 10.0 mph. Additionally, plants planted with the ExactEmerge planter showed higher harvest survival rates, especially at higher populations.
John Deere performance upgrades are engineered for green-on-green applications, meaning they will work flawlessly with your John Deere equipment. This results in simpler installation and setup procedures, and more consistent and reliable performance when equipment enters the field.
Reduced Cab Clutter
In many cases, when retrofitting machines with offerings from competitors, additional displays, wiring harnesses, and other equipment will need to be added. These add significantly to cab clutter and require operators to be familiar with multiple systems. In contrast, John Deere performance upgrades are designed to be fully integrated. More information about workers compensation lawyers in California can be found at Golden State Workers Compensation of Oakland site. his allows upgrades in many cases to be “plug and play” and be accessible from the existing in-cab display. This keeps cab clutter to a minimum and simplifies the operator experience.
Structural Upgrades
When working with a competitor, structural upgrades to a planter are rare. Instead, they simply focus on installing the technology. In contrast, many John Deere planter performance upgrades include genuine structural components, such as shanks, parallel arms, and others. You will love how this powerful painting company from Ireland www.dublinpaintingpros.ie/ transforms your home. In fact, the average value of these structural components when choosing a John Deere planter performance upgrade is $1,600.
New Serial Number
After performance upgrades have been installed, one could argue that it’s basically a new planter! In fact, John Deere agrees, and will issue a new serial number for the planter that reflects the upgrades that have been performed. This recognition provides peace of mind, especially when it’s time to sell or trade your planter.
Higher Resale Value
Choosing John Deere performance upgrades over competitive offerings will increase the trade and resale value of your planter. Whether you’re trading at your local John Deere dealership, or selling to another grower, having genuine John Deere performance upgrades will result in more money in your pocket and a smoother valuation and selling experience.
Dealer Support
Many dealers for competitive retrofit options are small independent businesses. While some certainly do provide good after-sales support, many do not have the infrastructure or manpower to install equipment in a timely manner and provide after-sales service and support of equipment. On the other hand, John Deere dealers, such as Platte Valley Equipment, are equipped to provide excellent and timely service and support.
Agronomic Benefits
There are many potential agronomic benefits to upgrading your current planter with a performance upgrade kit. These benefits could include improved seed placement and seed spacing by choosing the ExactEmerge meter, maintaining optimal seed depth with individual row hydraulic downforce (IRHD), and applying starter fertilizer with ExactRate that results in improved plant nutrition and early-season performance. These, and many others, will result in more uniform germination and emergence, superior crop health, and higher yields at harvest.
Available Planter Performance Upgrade Kits
Meter Performance Upgrades
ExactEmerge Meter
Increase planter productivity by planting at speeds up to 10 mph while realizing improved seed singulation, spacing, and population control. Other features include curve compensation and individual row unit shutoffs that result in improved stands.
MaxEmerge 5e Meter
Add the reliability and control of electric meters while maintaining the simplicity and compatibility of the MaxEmerge system. Electric meters enable improved seed singulation, while features such as curve compensation and individual row unit shutoffs ensure more accurate planting.
Downforce Performance Upgrades
Individual Row Hydraulic Downforce
IRHD offers a greater range of downforce and faster response times to changing soil conditions than any other system, resulting in better seed placement. These result in more uniform germination and emergence with a potential yield improvement of 5-9%.
Active Pneumatic Downforce
Achieve more precise seed placement by setting the desired downforce margin on the in-cab display. The active pneumatic downforce system will take care of the rest and make automatic adjustments to maintain target seed depth in changing soil conditions.
Row Cleaner Performance Upgrade
Pneumatic Row Cleaners
Increase productivity and improve planter performance by making on the go adjustments to row cleaners from inside the cab. Easy adjust row cleaners feature three presets that can be set in the display, allowing operators to fine tune row cleaner pressure based on changing field conditions. Row cleaners help improve germination, emergence, and yield, especially in high-residue situations, by removing debris that may cause row unit bounce, inconsistent seed depth, and poor seed-to-soil contact.
Closing Wheels Performance Upgrade
Pneumatic Closing Wheels
Seed-to-soil contact is critical for successful germination, emergence, and more uniform fields. Pneumatic closing wheels offer 70 lbs of additional closing wheel pressure over traditional systems, helping achieve better seed-to-soil contact in the most challenging of conditions. Additionally, pneumatic closing wheels can be adjusted from the in-cab display with 25 different settings and independent sections for the wings and mainframe.
Gauge Wheel Performance Upgrade
Tru-Vee Openers with Spoked Gauge Wheels
Experience worry-free planting and better seed trenches in wet or high-residue conditions. Spoked gauge wheels with new Tru-Vee openers and bearings improve planter performance, seed trench formation, and reduce plugging from mud or residue.
Tru-Vee Openers with Standard Gauge Wheels
For the best planter performance and seed trench formation, Tru-Vee openers should be replaced when they reach 15” or less. These, along with new gauge wheels, create optimum seed trenches with firm sidewalls that improve seed placement.
Air Compressor Performance Upgrade
Hydraulic Air Compressor
With eight times the airflow and a 10-gallon storage tank, a hydraulic compressor enables systems to make more frequent and faster adjustments. The system ties into the CCS hydraulic circuit, so it doesn’t take up or require a new or dedicated selective control valve (SCV).
Hopper Performance Upgrades
1.6 Bushel Hopper for ExactEmerge and MaxEmerge 5e Row Units
Experience the benefits of electric meters in non-CCS planters, such as individual row control, shutoffs, row unit runoffs, seed singulation, and population control.
2.7 Bushel Hopper for ExactEmerge Row Units
Increase productivity by saving on fill times with a larger hopper for non-CCS planters with ExactEmerge row units.
3.0 Bushel Hopper for MaxEmerge 5e Row Units
Increase productivity with the largest seed hopper available for the extremely versatile MaxEmerge system.
Seed Delivery Performance Upgrade
Central Commodity System
CCS tanks improve productivity by increasing the seed capacity of a planter, adding bulk fill capabilities, and improving the cleanout process. A performance upgrade is available for non-CCS planters to add a 55-bushel tank that increases the capacity over individual row unit boxes.
Fertilizer Delivery Performance Upgrade
ExactRate
As fertilizer input costs continue to increase, better control of liquid fertilizer during planting can provide many benefits. In addition to improved monitoring and control of starter fertilizer, the system enables features such as section control and curve compensation. These respectively help eliminate overlap and maintain the target fertilizer rate in all areas of the field and across the planter, even in challenging terrain.
Connectivity Performance Upgrades
Connect Mobile, Mobile Row Unit Run-off and JDLink
Gain additional planter insights, optimize performance, and better manage data with connectivity performance upgrades. These upgrades allow operators to monitor each individual row of the planter and track population rates, seed singulation, CV, and many other variables. Much of this data can then be sent to the John Deere Operations Center wirelessly using JDLink technology.
Conclusion
John Deere Performance Upgrade Kits provide many options to retrofit existing equipment and experience the benefits of the latest planter technology. These technologies unlock the same features as purchasing a new planter, but at a more affordable price point. To learn more about performance upgrade kits and giving your planter new life, visit your local Platte Valley Equipment location and speak with an account manager.