Ag Leader Technology has announced that the INTEGRA display will soon feature planter down force monitor and control capability, allowing the display to monitor and adjust down force based on field and soil conditions.

Planting seed at the optimum row unit down force is an important factor in good crop germination, and ultimately, yield. The system will be available for the 2013 spring planting season, with field test systems in operation during the spring 2012 planting season.

The heart of the system is a hydraulic down force actuator, engineered by Dawn Equipment. The actuator is the fastest on the market, allowing the INTEGRA display to make quick row unit down force adjustments. Ag Leader will be selling and supporting a branded version of the actuator.

"Soil conditions encountered by the planter change fast," says Ag Leader Product Manager Roger Zielke. "Other down force pressure systems that rely on air compressors and air bags can't respond like this hydraulic system. The planter can be a long way past a different soil condition before air bags fully respond.

The hydraulic system reacts as soon as the planter enters a different soil condition, providing consistent seed depth without seed trench compaction. Plus, hydraulic systems hold up better in dusty, rigorous field conditions compared to air-compressor systems."

Located in Ames, Iowa, Ag Leader Technology, Inc. manufactures and markets precision farming technology designed to help growers make smart, profitable business decisions. The Dawn Equipment Company is a Sycamore, Illinois-based manufacturer of ground engaging row crop tools.