Set-N-Seed
Copywriting, Press Release Writing, and Public Relations
In late 2023, Cowpunch Creative provided writing and public relations services to Big R Ag, the maker and inventor of the Set-N-Seed, an innovative new planter depth calibration tool. This included writing an editorial piece about the product for the Ag Advantage January 2024 Spring Planting Issue. This article, which is linked in the image below, accompanied an advertisement in the publication.
Additionally, we also put together a press release to help Big R Ag tell their product’s story to media outlets, distributing it to relevant media and podcasters for consideration. Read it below.
Press Release: Innovative Set-N-Seed Tool Calibrates Planting Depths in Minutes
Oakdale, IL - Setting the correct planting depth is crucial for uniform seedling emergence, and the Set-N-Seed, a creation of Precision Planting Specialist Blake Patton, offers a game-changing solution. No longer reliant on using a forklift and cumbersome wooden block apparatus, this first-of-its-kind tool not only checks planting depth but efficiently sets it.
Patton, the Director of Agronomy Innovations at Rend Lake College in southern Illinois, developed the Set-N-Seed to combat the inconsistencies in seeding depth caused by row unit wear. “I’ve seen up to a half-inch difference in depth due to wear,” he said. “That can drastically reduce germination in the row and cost farmers a couple of bushels of yield.”
The Set-N-Seed streamlines the calibration process and saves valuable time for farmers, eliminating hidden yield losses due to depth variations and aiding in the identification of potential planter unit issues requiring maintenance. The invention is designed to calibrate all planters and drills utilizing gauge wheels adjacent to disk openers, making it a versatile solution for farmers with various planting equipment. Its efficiency has been field-tested, earning praise for its ease of use, simplistic design, and time-saving benefits.
Key features and benefits of the Set-N-Seed include:
Efficient Calibration Process: The tool operates through a straightforward five-step calibration process, ensuring precise seeding depth from one to two-and-a-half inches.
Field-Tested Efficiency: Farmers and planter dealers have lauded the Set-N-Seed for its user-friendly functionality, simplicity, and time-saving attributes.
Local Sourcing and Manufacturing: Blake Patton emphasizes his commitment to sourcing components locally, supporting businesses within a 35-mile radius of his home, and assembling the product with the help of the Washington County Vocational Workshop, employing individuals with disabilities.
Brian Kunz, a farmer and Set-N-Seed user from Trenton, IL, highlighted the tool’s ease of use and its ability to set planting depth accurately. “Before, I just had to use a two-by-four and hope it was the right height,’ said Kunz. “This process made it so much simpler, easier, and faster to get the settings checked and make sure everything goes right. It’s a time saver and I know when I use the Set-N-Seed it’s setting it at exactly the correct depth.”
Jeremy Harris, Precision Ag Specialist at Southern FS in Marion, IL, echoed those sentiments, highlighting Set-N-Seed's efficiency in depth true-ups, leading to reduced service labor charges and increased overall productivity. “On a 16-row planter, you can correct the depth settings in 10-15 minutes or less,” he said. “That is a huge advantage especially in-season when growers are having depth issues due to incorrect settings.”
The Set-N-Seed, priced at $185, includes a one-inch main block and multiple half-inch stackable inserts. As of December 2023, two additional adapters are available to expand the span of available planting depth calibration from a half-inch to two and three-quarter inches. This range accounts for the majority of seed and crop types grown around the world.
Farmers can purchase the Set-N-Seed directly from setnseed.com, aftermarket parts retailer Shoup Manufacturing, and select equipment dealers. CFC Distributors/Granit Parts and S.I. Distributing, are the current distributors to dealers in the US. The site also has videos that walk customers through the Set-N-Seed calibration process.
About Set-N-Seed
The Set-N-Seed is a planter depth calibration tool invented by Blake Patton, a Precision Planting Specialist based in Oakdale, IL. With a focus on efficiency and consistency, the Set-N-Seed revolutionizes the calibration process, providing farmers with a reliable solution to achieve optimal seed depth for improved crop emergence and higher yields. For more information, visit setnseed.com.