Kinze announces 5000 Series row unit, two new planters

Kinze is launching the new 5000 Series row unit, available for two new planter models in the 5000 Series for 2024, designed to increase durability and reduce daily maintenance.

"Our new 5000 Series row unit is built to run longer and stronger, while providing increased protection for farmers' investment," says Susanne Veatch, president of Kinze. "It elevates precision and performance to the next level, providing farmers with more planting control and efficiency."

5000 Series Row Unit

The new 5000 Series row units are fully redesigned, powered by Kinze's Electric Drive, in bulk-fill only configurations. The units are capable of planting at speeds up to 12 mph, on its adjustable spoke gauge wheels, which come standard on the 5000 Series, and are equipped with steel gauge wheel mud scrapers.

The True Depth hydraulic down force comes standard, with plenty of mounting points and brackets built in to enable easy upgrades in the future.

Buyers can upgrade the row units from the standard-equipped True Rate vacuum electric meter, with pneumatic down pressure, to the True Speed high-speed electric meter, with hydraulic downforce. While supply chain issues haven't settled yet, Kinze has started buying further ahead, enabling the return of the True Rate meter after its absence in recent years, says Eric Broadbent, Kinze's vice president of sales.

Customers have the option to factory-install Yetter air-adjust residue wheels, with the face plate-mounted style or the Yetter coulter combo. The standard Kinze no-till and mechanical-adjust residue wheels are still available to order.

• READ MORE: 10 things you gotta do at the National Farm Machinery Show

Kinze's double disc-openers have a machine-cast center cup with double row bearings, and larger rivets for better durability.

Insecticide and seed corn hoppers are optional on the row units. The mini hopper lid has dedicated storage for seed and vacuum tube plugs for easy access, regardless of meter option.

Maintenance-free

Nearly everything on the row units has been designed with the farmer's daily maintenance routine in mind. The large-cast parallel arms are 20% larger than Kinze's previous generation of parallel arms, and are equipped with maintenance-free double bushings for a longer life.

The outer disc scraper is now made out of steel and is spring loaded, no longer bolted on.

The row units tout shim-less and greaseless gauge wheel arms, with fiber bushings placed inside. Kinze has eliminated the need to physically remove the gauge wheel to adjust gauge wheel contact to the outside of the double disc opener scrapers

A quick flip-up feature on the closing wheel has been added to make field checks and setting clutch control a little bit easier. By removing a single pin, the wheel can pivot up, and lock back into place with the pin — no change to downforce required.

Integrated harness routing and retention protects the electric drive system harness.

New 5000 Series planters

The 5000 Series row unit will be available on Kinze's 5900 and 5700 planter models, replacing the current 4905 and 4705 models with the same configurations. Both planters will be powered by the Blue Drive electric drive, and are bulk-fill only.

The 5900 planter will be offered with 30-inch spacing in 24, 16, and 12-row configurations. The 5700 planter will be offered in 36-row, 20-inch and 24-row, 30-inch configurations, as well as a 24-row, 20-inch narrow row planter. Depending on configuration, these planters will have up to 120 bushels of seed capacity and 750 gallons of liquid fertilizer capacity.

All models have active hydraulic weight transfer. The planters have articulating swivel hitches, supporting category 4 and 5 hitches.

• READ MORE: SWIFT irrigation tire eliminates flats, reduces ruts

5700 24 row 20"

The 5700 24-row, 20-inch planter will have a new 40-foot, three-section frame configuration. This front-fold model has 30° of wing flex It's equipped with front-mounted, high flotation tires to reduce soil compaction, and features a rear-facing camera, and work lights.

Blue Vantage 2024 updates

All features on the 5000 Series planters can be controlled through the Blue Vantage display, which is also receiving updates for model year 2024.

Remote support enables dealers — or other customers — to remote into the Blue Vantage display via wifi connection to help troubleshoot issues. Cloud to cloud data sharing eliminates the need for USB transfer when working with other manufacturers' machinery platforms.

Kinze has also allowed prescription rate changes after the map has been loaded into Blue Vantage, enabling customers to adjust application rates where needed.

Finally, owners will be able to customize the display's user interface to best suit their needs.

Price and availability

Pricing information is not yet available, but Broadbent says to expect a reasonable price increase with all the new features available. The planters will be available to order in April for the 2024 planting season. For more information about the 5000 Series row units, and 5900 and 5700 planters, visit Kinze.com.