After four years of rigorous on-farm research, Farm Journal Field Agronomist Missy Bauer has successfully identified hardware and technology changes that can help growers looking to maximize the potential of their 15" soybeans.
Through replicated trials conducted from 2022 through 2025, as part of the Farm Journal Test Plot program, Bauer’s team demonstrated how narrow-angle row cleaners are key to overcoming the “residue hurdle” in narrow-row systems.
By using narrow-angle row cleaners, farmers are able to achieve more uniform stands and more robust early-season growth. The research shows these advantages translated into an average yield increase of 2.14 bu. of soybeans per acre, delivering an average $22-per-acre increase.
Multiyear Research Assessment
Bauer’s team compared Martin-Till narrow-angle row cleaners against no-residue management in diverse environments in south-central Michigan. The study parameters included:
Technology. Row units equipped with Martin-Till ACCR 1345 row cleaners, compact, parallel-link row cleaners designed for high-speed planting and narrow rows. They were paired with the Precision Planting CleanSweep system for cab control.
“I’m a proponent of the cab control because of how challenging, physically, it would be, and time consuming, if you had to adjust each row manually on your bean planter,” Bauer says. “The ability to easily adjust the cleaners is crucial for adapting to varying field conditions.”
Duration. Multiple replicated trials over a four-year window (2022 through 2025).
Tillage Systems. Evaluations were done across multiple no-till and vertical tillage plots and one conventional tillage plot.
Yield Data. The study results were collected with a calibrated yield monitor, weighed with a scaled grain cart and analyzed across the fields’ management zones.
“Residue Toss” Dilemma
Traditional row cleaners have a 60-degree angle intended for 30" rows. In a 15" configuration, however, these wider angles often prove ineffective and frequently lead to plugging.
“With the traditional 60-degree angle in 15" soybeans, the residue just gets thrown too far and is always covering up the other row, even at slow speeds,” Bauer explains. “The back row will cover up the front row.”
The pitch on narrow-angle row cleaners contains the residue within a tighter path, preventing the neighbor-row interference that compromises uniform emergence and early growth.
Early Planting Advantage
Bauer’s research suggests the benefits of narrow-angle row cleaners are amplified as growers plant earlier. While the four-year average yield bump from the research was 2.14 bu., April-planted soybeans saw an average response of 2.61 bu. per acre.
“As we continue to push planting dates, row cleaners will probably be increasingly important,” Bauer says.
In the cold, damp soils typical of early spring, she notes clearing the furrow of residue is essential for capturing sunlight and ensuring uniform emergence, the foundation of high-yield soybeans.
Practical Limits
One of the biggest questions growers with high-speed planters often ask is: How fast can I go and still keep residue where it belongs?
To answer that question, Bauer conducted a speed study with a Case IH 2150S high-speed, front-fold Early Riser planter and Yetter narrow-angle row cleaners in no-till.
“In this part of southern Michigan we have a lot of rocks in our fields, so typical planting speeds are 4 to 5 mph,” Bauer says.
The study was conducted at a starting speed of 4.2 mph and then increased to 5, 6, 7 and 8 mph.
“We’re going to suggest a maximum speed might be 6.5 to 7 mph for running a high-speed planter, if you’re using the row cleaners and are concerned about covering rows back up,” Bauer says.
Bauer notes wheel design plays a vital role, finding traditional Finger wheels offer a less aggressive touch and Sharktooth wheels deliver more throw. She says a hybrid Sharktooth Finger design from Yetter emerged as a top performer.
Bauer’s recommendation to farmers: “Test speed in your own conditions,” she says. “Performance could depend on soil type, residue quantity, planting conditions and row cleaner wheel type.”
Is the Investment Justified?
Equipping a planter with row cleaners is a significant capital expense, particularly in a lean commodity market. Hardware and installation costs can vary widely by planter and configuration.
However, test plot data suggests narrow-angle row cleaners are a high-probability investment. With a nearly $22-per-acre increase, many operations can achieve a one-to-two-year payback on investment.
Combined with earlier emergence, better stand uniformity and more reliable residue management in 15" soybeans, Bauer’s research suggests narrow-angle row cleaners are not just a useful tweak; they’re a system change that can help growers make 15" soybeans perform up to their full potential, especially for those who want to plant early.
Thank You to Our Plot Partners
This research on narrow-angle row cleaner use in 15" soybeans is made possible by: Case IH, Great Plains Manufacturing, Martin-Till, Pleasant View Ag, Precision Planting, Unverferth Manufacturing Company, Yetter Farm Equipment and B&M Crop Consulting.
