Gandy Cover Crop Seeders
Welcome to the Gandy Company Cover Crop Page. Our goal is to provide you with important information regarding the benefits of planting cover crops with Gandy’s OrbitAir® Seeder.
Q&A
- Why plant Cover Crops? Cover crops have been around for a long time. While there are many reasons to plant them, some of the most popular reasons are to prevent erosion, improve soil organic matter, improve soil aeration, improve cash crop yield over time andprovidenutrients to the soil.
- What types of seed do you plant? The types of cover crop seeds varies dramatically by both region of the country and when you are planting. We strongly suggest you consult your local soil and water team or you university extension office for suggestions on what type of seeds work best in your area. Some farmers will plant one type of seed while others use “cocktail” mixtures of seeds. Some examples of cover crop seeds include: annual rye grass, cereal rye, crimson clover, winter peas, hairy vetch, turnips and radishes just to name a few.
- When do you plant cover crops? Again, the answer varies by region. Some of the most popular times to plant cover crops are after harvest using seeders mounted on some type of tillage equipment or harvesting equipment, interseeding cover crops into standing crops from June to August and at the time of planting cash crops. A lot depends on the type of seed and the equipment you are using.
- How do you terminate your cover crop prior to the next planting season? There are various ways depending on the seed variety you have planted. Some seeds will “winter kill”. Others will come back in the spring and can either be terminated by spraying, crimp rolling or spring tillage. Many farmers also choose to plant into the cover crop.
- What is the effect of herbicides on cover crops? Read the label on your herbicide to determine the residual holdover for the type of seeds you are planning to plant. You can access additional information from the suppliers of your herbicide and seed or your local university extension office.
Choosing the correct Gandy OrbitAir® Seeder
- Drive System
- Speed Compensating Hydraulic Drive (Raven Controller)
- Speed Compensating Ground Drive
- Non-Speed Compensating Electric Drive
- Width of Coverage and # of rows or outlets (ie: 30’ wide and 12 outlets)
- Hopper Capacity
| CAPACITY | COVERAGE | DRIVE | ||||
| Cu. Ft | Bushels | Width | # of Outlets | Hydraulic | Ground | Electric |
| 10 | 8.2 | 30' Max | 12 | X | X | X |
| 23 | 18.4 | 40' Max | 16 | X | X | X |
| 31 | 24.8 | 40' Max | 16 | X | X | X |
| 40 | 32.1 | 40' Max | 16 | X | X | X |
Cover Crop Links
University of MN Extension Cover Crop Site: http://www.extension.umn.edu/agriculture/soils/cover-crops/
University of MN Extension Soil Mgmt & Health Site: http://www.extension.umn.edu/agriculture/soils/
Practical Farmers of Iowa Cover Crop Page: http://www.practicalfarmers.org/member-priorities/cover-crops/
Midwest Cover Crop Council: http://mccc.msu.edu/
Michigan State University Extension Cover Crops Page: http://msue.anr.msu.edu/topic/info/cover_crops
Cover Crop Strategies: https://www.covercropstrategies.com/?utm_campaign=nccs19&utm_source=web&utm_medium=gandy
If you would like your cover crop site link to appear here, please send the information to sales@gandy.net.
For product information on the Gandy Cover Crop Seeders, please click on the links below.
Orbit-Air 12-volt drive systems mount directly to vertical tillage tools, field cultivators, chisel plows, planters, row cultivators, trailers, high-clearance units and much more. Available in 10, 23 and 31 cu. ft. models. Ideal for applying small seeds, grains and cover crops. 12-volt drive systems are non-speed compensated. Orbit-Air units are built-to-order and lead times vary - call factory for details.
Gandy's range of Orbit-Air speed-compensated ground-driven systems up to 31 cu. ft. are ideal for applying fertilizer, planting cover crops, small seeds and grains along with putting down granular chemicals alongside BT corn to reduce the effects of corn rootworm, corn borer and other pests. There's even a model to plant soybeans and field peas. Orbit-Air systems mount directly to field cultivators, chisel plows, planters, row cultivators, trailers, high-clearance units, or other implements. Orbit-Air units are built-to-order and lead times vary - call factory for details.
Get unmatched accurancy with these Raven hydraulically-controlled speed-compensated units - even at low rates. System will automatically adjust metering to deliver the correct application rate and lets you change rates on-the-go. From seeding and fertilizer to granular chemical application, there's a model that's right for you. Available in 10 to 31 cu. ft. capacity hoppers. Orbit-Air units are built-to-order and lead times vary - call factory for details.
