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- Introducing RowFan by Precision Fanning
Introducing RowFan by Precision Fanning
Precision Fanning today unveiled their latest planter attachment called RowFan. Brad Henderson, Chief Engineer, explained the rationale behind the RowFan.
“We’ve always known that planting delays cost yield, and it’s difficult to sit and wait for the ground to dry up after a rain. RowFan blows ambient air directly in front of the row units and will allow growers to get back into the field up to 30 minutes sooner than normal. Based on our calculations, that 30 minutes of extra growing time translates to .08 bushels per acre of extra yield.”
Brad had the idea for RowFan when he was in his parents’ basement, where he is currently living, and saw their old oscillating fan. He thought, “I bet we could put that on the row cleaners and charge 900 bucks for it.” Brad also added that he came up with the name all by himself in a sudden moment of inspiration.
Adjustable Direction and Speed
From the factory, RowFan is set to blow air straight ahead but can also be set up to blow in a side-to-side motion if you lift the little knob on the back.
“We know every operation is different,” Brad said, “and nobody knows their field conditions better than the farmer. We wanted to put the airflow direction decision back in the hands of the farmer where it belongs.”
The secret sauce is the built-in moisture sensor on each fan that analyzes the moisture of the ground 6 times per second and instantly adjusts fan speed accordingly.
Possibly May Pay For Itself Eventually
Greg Nelson, Vice President of Operations for Precision Fanning, explained the ROI of RowFan. “With the increase of .08 bushels per acre, we’ve calculated that it will pay for itself in about 3 years. They usually need to be replaced after 2 years, though, so the ROI calculations get a little fuzzy at that point.”
Greg also wanted us to mention that it was his idea to remove the space between the words “Row” and “Fan”, resulting in what is now called “RowFan,” and so he should get some credit for contributing to naming the product even though it was mostly Brad’s idea.
Installation is super easy. Each RowFan comes with a full mounting kit, which is 14 zip ties. The RowFan is compatible with all brands of planters and comes in several colors including whitish, tan, and dark tan.