A costly failed corn planting led peanut and wheat grower Dave Humphreys to question his existing planter last year, a second-hand machine that had been operating on his 500-hectare family farm for 25 years.

After much internet research, Dave chose to buy a US-manufactured Monosem twin row planter - a vacuum planter with double disc openers.

He says the need for a new planter was evident after the costs of failing to produce a corn crop, which forms part of a rotation that also includes peanuts and wheat. His new planter sows crops in a diamond pattern with a staggered seed drop to help increase yields.

The twin rows are 200 millimetres apart and 100mm off the centres, matching conventional harvesting machinery.

The planter's diamond patter allows for maximum space between plants. This maximises photosynthesis, decreases compettion for nutrients and moisture and reduced weed pressure.

More information: Dave Humphreys, dhumphreys@beagle.com.au