TRACTORS • MACHINERY . DRAINAGE • IRRIGATION . SOIL CONSERVATION
•    FARM ELECTRIFICATION    •    CROP DRYING AND PROCESSING
Purdue University
Agricultural Extension Service
Lafayette, Indiana
Mimeo AE-59
OFFSET HITCHING--FOR WHEEL TRACK CORN PLANTING
C. L. Hill, Agricultural Engineering Department
One promising method of performing the plow and plant part of "minimum tillage" 1/
is wheel track planting.   Wheel track planting offers the greatest advantages (1) on muck~
or sandy soil, (2) when sod has been plowed or (3) when dry conditions exist during planting
season.
One way to wheel track plant with a four-row corn planter is to offset hitch the planter
behind and to the right or left of the tractor.   For several years, farmers have offset the
plow 2/ as well as the harrow and other tillage tools behind the plow.   Other farmers have
offset their two-row planters to achieve wheel track planting.
Correct offset hitching of a four-row corn planter results in no noticeable side draft
on the tractor and little on the planter.   With a small amount of shop work, making an offset
hitch for wheel track planting is easy; but farmers should be aware of the principles to follow
when hitching.   Also, since planters using the offset principle are on the market, realizing
their potential use is necessary if an intelligent selection is to be made.
Offset Hitch Principles
To offset a 40-inch row corn planter behind and to the right of a tractor with 80-inch
wheel spacing first the planter is moved 20 inches to the right.   The tractor swinging drawbar should point directly at the load center of the planter.   Usually this means moving the
hitch point of the drawbar only six to eight inches to the right.   Then the hitch point of the
planter must, in some way, be moved 12 to 14 inches to the left.
Taking the 20-inch offset at both tractor drawbar and planter hitch is necessary.   If
the entire 20 inches were taken at the tractor drawbar, the tractor would be difficult to steer;
if taken entirely on the planter hitch, the planter would not trail correctly.
The first hitch assembled should be tested on sod or in a stubble field.   This will tell
whether any changes are necessary to eliminate side draft.
V See Extension Circular EC 479, "Minimum Tillage."
V See Purdue Mimeo AE-56, "Hitching a Plow for Level Land Operation.