- (731) 665-7488
- 14 Circle S Road, Rutherford, TN 38369
Modern planters often carry liquid fertilizer systems to deliver starter, in-furrow, or 2×2 nutrients right when seeds need them most. A properly set up system helps crops establish quickly, improves uniform emergence, and maximizes input efficiency.
But these systems also have multiple moving parts: pumps, manifolds, hoses, meters, check valves, and tips. A weak link in any part of the system can throw off rates or placement. That’s why a clear planter liquid setup checklist is so valuable before you hit the field.
Each type requires correct setup and calibration.
Before each planting day:
Accurate calibration ensures gallons per acre match your plan.
Example: 5 GPA (gallons per acre) in-furrow.
Run system with water, catch flow from one row for 1 minute.
Use this formula: GPA=5940×GPMSpeed (mph)×Row Spacing (in)\text{GPA} = \frac{5940 \times \text{GPM}}{\text{Speed (mph)} \times \text{Row Spacing (in)}}
Where:
Change pressure, speed, or orifice size until actual GPA = target GPA.
| Problem | Likely Cause | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Uneven flow across rows | Plugged nozzle, bad check valve, kinked hose | Clean or replace nozzle, check hoses |
| Low overall pressure | Weak pump, clogged filter, air leak | Check pump, replace filter, tighten fittings |
| Over-application | Rate controller miscalibrated | Recalibrate using actual flow test |
| Under-application | Wrong orifice size, pump too small | Install larger orifice, upgrade pump |
| Leaks | Cracked hose, loose clamp, bad gasket | Replace hose, tighten or replace clamp |
Pre-Season:
Daily In-Season:
Q: How often should I replace nozzles?
A: Replace every 1–2 seasons or after 10% wear, whichever comes first.
Q: Can I run fertilizer and insecticide through the same system?
A: Possible, but clean thoroughly between products to avoid residue buildup.
Q: What’s the best pump type?
A: Hydraulic pumps offer steady flow for larger planters. Electric pumps work well on smaller planters or for in-furrow systems.
Q: What about starter fertilizer salt damage?
A: Stay within safe in-furrow rates. Consider using low-salt formulations or move to 2×2 placement for higher volumes.
Setting up your planter liquid system is more than filling a tank and turning on the pump. It’s a careful process of inspection, calibration, and daily checks.
A reliable planter liquid system means healthier seedlings, stronger stands, and less frustration at planting time.
How to properly ground your electric fence for safety, performance, and reliability
An electric fence is only as good as its grounding system. Farmers often focus on energizers, wires, and posts but forget that the fence circuit can’t work without a solid ground return. A poorly grounded fence won’t carry full voltage, won’t deter livestock, and can even damage your energizer.
This guide explains why grounding matters, what materials to use, and the exact steps to build, test, and maintain a reliable ground system.
If the soil is dry, frozen, sandy, or rocky, current doesn’t return well. That’s why grounding must be designed carefully.
| Problem | Likely Cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Fence voltage low everywhere | Poor ground system, insufficient rods | Add rods, improve moisture |
| Voltage drops far from energizer | Broken wires, poor connections, poor grounding | Check splices, test ground |
| Livestock not respecting fence | Shock too weak due to grounding or vegetation | Improve ground, clear weeds |
| Energizer overheating | Ground fault, bad rod connections | Recheck clamps, rods |
Q: Can I use just one ground rod?
A: Not recommended. Even small energizers need at least 2–3 rods for reliable performance.
Q: How far should rods be from buildings?
A: At least 50 feet, to avoid stray voltage entering water systems, barns, or wiring.
Q: Do ground rods wear out?
A: Yes, corrosion reduces conductivity. Replace rods every 10–15 years or if testing shows poor performance.
Q: How often should I test?
A: At least once per season, and always after major drought or freeze.
Grounding is the most overlooked part of an electric fence. Done poorly, it weakens shock and wastes money. Done right, it makes your fence strong, safe, and long-lasting.
A strong ground means a strong fence.
How to clean your sprayer properly to protect crops, equipment, and yourself
Sprayer cleanout prevents residue carryover, crop damage, clogged parts, and equipment corrosion. Doing it right helps avoid costly errors. Always follow the label instructions of the chemicals you used—and the ones you’ll use next. Use this guide for standard cleanout steps, then adapt to your particular tank, sprayer model, hoses, booms, nozzles and chemicals.
Before starting cleanout:
Use these steps as a strong general guide. For certain herbicides or products, label instructions might require more or different actions.
| Step | Action |
|---|---|
| 1. Spray Out Residual Product | As soon as spraying is done, spray out whatever mix is left in the tank, hoses, and boom. Don’t let the spray mix sit. |
| 2. Rinse with Clean Water | Partially fill tank (e.g. ~10% of capacity or more per label) with clean water. Recirculate the water through the system: pump it, run it through booms, hoses, nozzles. Spray some of it out through the boom. |
| 3. Remove and Clean Screens, Strainers, Nozzles & Filters | Remove these components; soak/clean with water + mild detergent or specified cleaner. Inspect for damage. Clean or replace as needed. |
| 4. Add Cleaning Agent | Set up the tank with water plus a cleaning agent (commercial tank cleaner, ammonia solution, detergent etc.), according to product labels. Stronger agents may be needed for stubborn or oily/herbicide residues. |
| 5. Agitate and Recirculate | Run the sprayer’s agitation, operate pump, flow cleaning solution through hoses and booms for several minutes (often 5-15 minutes). Ensure all components are addressed. |
| 6. Soak / Let Stand | After agitation, allow the cleaning solution to sit inside tank/lines for some time (several hours or overnight if possible) so residues loosen. |
| 7. Spray Out / Flush Cleaner | Spray the cleaning agent solution through the boom and nozzles. Then drain. Flush with clean water to remove cleaning solution. Repeat rinse until water is clear with no visible residue. |
| 8. Final Rinsing | Multiple rinses are usually more effective than one big rinse. Run clean water through all lines, hoses, booms, filters, nozzles. Check that no residual cleaning agent remains. |
| 9. Clean Exterior | Wash outside surfaces: tank interior lid, tank walls, boom exterior, pump seals, valves. Residue or drift can stick outside too. |
| 10. Reassemble & Store Safely | Put screens, tips, nozzles back. Check all fittings. Store sprayer in appropriate place. Protect from freezing if relevant. |
| Agent | Pros / Uses | Warnings / Limitations |
|---|---|---|
| Commercial tank cleaners | Formulated for both water- and oil-soluble chemicals; good general performance. Performance often best for oily or stubborn residues. | Cost; need correct mixing ratio; some cleaners may be harsh to materials if left too long. |
| Household ammonia | Helps with boosting pH, dissolving some residues, especially certain herbicides. | Do not mix with bleach or materials containing ammonia + bleach. Ammonia alone does not deactivate all chemicals. Follow label. |
| Detergents / Soap | Removes oily emulsions, helps clean filters, nozzles; mild on materials. | May not be enough alone for tough residues; might leave foam; can interfere with some chemical residues if incorrectly used. |
| Bleach (sodium hypochlorite) | Can deactivate certain herbicides; useful for heavy contamination. | Strong; can damage some materials; reactive with ammonia; safety hazards; dispose carefully; follow label. |
| Alkaline or high-pH cleaners | Some formulations elevate pH significantly, improving solubility of some hard-to-clean residues. | Can corrode metals or degrade seals/gaskets over time; must be compatible with the equipment. |
Here’s a typical timeline for a cleanout when switching from herbicide A to chemical B or before spraying a sensitive crop:
Before spraying next crop, tick off:
Here are a few common situations and how cleanout should be handled in each:
| Scenario | Recommended Adjustments |
|---|---|
| After using a strong herbicide like dicamba / 2,4-D and then spraying sensitive broadleaf plants | Use the most aggressive clean-out path: strong tank cleaner + multiple rinses + overnight soak; clean every hose, tip, screen; test a small batch before full field. |
| Daily reuse of same product, same crop | Basic flush + rinse + filter check may suffice; still good to do a full clean periodically. |
| Spraying oily or emulsion-based formulations | Use detergent cleaners; ensure surfactants dissolved; rinse until no film remains; possibly use hot water if safe. |
| Equipment used infrequently, stored long time | Clean thoroughly before storage; dry if needed; check seals after storage; flush again before use after long rest. |
Q: How many rinses are enough?
A: At least two rinses with water + cleaning agent, then several rinses with clean water until all residue and cleaning agent are gone. Many guides recommend triple-rinse.
Q: Can I use just water if I sprayed a mild chemical?
A: Sometimes yes, especially for simple or low-risk products. But water alone often cannot remove residues that have adhered or dried. If you skip cleaner, risk of residue carryover increases. Always check label.
Q: Is soaking overnight really necessary?
A: For many products, yes. It allows residues to loosen. If time doesn’t allow, longer soak or more rigorous rinse may reduce risk.
Q: What about cleaning the exterior of the sprayer?
A: Don’t skip it. Residue outside tank/booms/pump can lead to contact exposure, drift, runoff. Clean tank lid, boom arms, fittings.
Proper sprayer cleanout:
Follow label instructions, use correct cleaning agents, be thorough on all parts of the system, dispose of rinse water properly. A little effort before spraying can prevent big problems and financial losses later.
Foliar Feeding is the act of feeding plants by applying liquid fertilizer to their leaves. The practice forms a lot of what liquid plant food supports. However, concerns remain. Many farmers wonder if their crops are getting the most micronutrients in this action.
Many have debated what’s the best way to apply Micronutrients. After all, it’s easy to record and get a sample of soil micronutrients. Nitrogen, Potassium and Phosphorus are the big three that drive most soil growth. But, what about the litany of other micronutrients?
Most farmers concur that their crops need 8 essential micronutrients. Those micronutrients are as follows:
Foliar Feeding works in the sense that it’s a direct application. Some might worry about leaf burn, but a steady and informed hand can keep such maladies from taking place. For liquid plant food and similar applications to take effect, they must be placed directly into the plant. Therefore, we have foliar feeding.
Treating soil and other applications can help propel a plant’s growth, but it’s just part of the battle. The three key nutrients (Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium) working together with the above list of 8 micronutrients is the only way to ensure healthy crop growth.
You may think that the NPK fertilizer you pick up at the local Tractor Supply might be cutting it but look at your yield. How much was lost due to heavy rain or heat waves? Do you know if your crops are directly getting micronutrients? When was the last time you took a soil sample?
It’s never too soon to start thinking about what your crops pull out of the ground. When in doubt, reach out for help from your friends at Circle S Farm Supply. After all, we have our fair share of experience working the land.
Liquid Plant Food saves crops every summer. It saves the day by keeping your prized plants well-fed even under extreme heat. But, why is this so important?
Many still don’t think of farms as businesses. Bottom line, returns on investment and gains are all measured as much as the liquid plant food itself. That’s why it’s best to think of liquid plant food as an investment in your farm’s future.
But, what does Liquid Plant Food do that your handy dandy fertilizer can’t achieve? Well, it’s the same theory practiced in two different ways. Treating your land is great to make the soil more accommodating for new planting. But, what do you do for plants having to thrive on their own?
The soil handles the work to a degree, but if your plants aren’t absorbing the right balance of nutrients…then they can be starving to death out in the field. It’s a complicated matter made more precarious by the fact that the seasonal farming clock is always ticking.
What’s a farmer to do? There are only so many hours in a day, but you’re constantly competing against factors that are harming your crops. Liquid Plant Food is a lifeline floated by Circle S Farm Supply to your farm’s future.
When engaging this product, you will ensure that one part of your work-filled day is being loved and nurtured. After all, Circle S believes in America’s farmers. Working together with years of experience in producing hearty crops, the American farmer will thrive.
When outside vendors such as Gallagher show a little love towards Circle S, we like to take a minute and reflect on it. Circle S Farm Supply is a big supporter of the Gallagher mission and we try to share those some goals with our customers.
A farmer is only as strong as the crops they grow and the livestock they raise. In order to preserve strength on the farm, one must have the proper tools to engage farming rigors. Pasture management dictates that a farmer can view their farm as a living natural entity.
Everything from crop placement to controlled grazing is pre-planned to work as separate moving units. Livestock management in return exists to facilitate long-term goals. After all, corn might take a season, but developing a heifer can take longer.
Hay rings and other things make supporting growing cattle easier, but what does that mean for a Pasture Pro? While being no different than a well-oiled machine, it requires knowing where a farmer, his crops, his livestock and equipment must roll out to keep a farm thriving.
The Gallagher Certified Pasture Pro program recognizes those partners that understand this. Plus, it doesn’t hurt that their power fencing makes it easier to draw up lines on a farm property. If you can map your farm management plans, then you can begin building to a new tomorrow.
Defining your farming goals, maintaining what you have and keeping an eye on the future will produce successful farmers for years to come. As Gallagher certified Pasture Pros, we ask that you seek our help in making those future dreams into a reality.
Livestock fencing is an ever-pressing topic. If you were at our Sept 21st Field Day, you might have learned about some interesting products to solve that concern. So, how are you going to apply that knowledge going into 2020?
When planning for your farm’s immediate future, you must take stock of the essentials. How can I turn a profit? What will it take to produce the best product? If all that is achieved, then how can I keep repeating the cycle?
After you strolled around our property during the Field Day or if you just saw the social media images, let one thing remain clear. A farm is equally about crops and livestock. The difference being that you don’t have to spend your time keeping your crops pinned in one area. Now a stubborn heifer or sow will wander anywhere if not fenced in securely.
Arrowquip is a trusted product offering at Circle S. But that’s if you need a chute or sweep tub. What about when you want a strong fence to keep that prize cow in her pasture? That’s when you turn your gaze to our lovely corral panels and grates. Easy enough that a teenager can connect them and help keep the farm free of aimless cattle chewing away the hay.
If you missed our event, Circle S let everyone know that our company is a Gallagher Certified Pasture Pro. While the details of this are quite complex, we want to give you a brief overview. Pasture and livestock management co-exist to produce something bigger than the sum of its parts.
These interwoven experiences of farm life are handled in similar fashions to make life easier for livestock and farmers alike. If a farmer can’t produce adequate fencing and feeding, then his/her livestock will not be happy and produce unpleasant results. So, if you take away one lesson from our fencing talk…it’s this.
Everything in perfect balance. A farmer in the field and cattle behind Gallagher Power Fencing.
Circle S Farm Supply is proud serve farmers and ranchers that supply America’s food source. But do you know what keeps things growing? Circle S Farm Supply’s Liquid Plant Food. These products work by supplying crops their lifeline throughout the growing season, from emergence to maturity, from the ground up. No matter the crop, Circle S Farm Supply has a product to take your crop across the finish line.
But as weather patterns change and seasons grow longer…all farms can use that little bit of extra help. Not everyone has all the time in the world. Watering and direct applications of soil/plant treatments are time consuming.
Summertime on the farm places certain requirements on farmers. These requirements dictate that farmers keep their work life constantly moving. Older plant food treatments require the use of additional farm hands and teenage hires. Then, a farmer is having to supervise them as well as keep farm work moving. All the while, the expense of such endeavors just grows and grows.
Even when it’s not summer, the glory of liquid plant food can be felt. Working together with Liquid farm fertilizer, the materials leave the soil better than they found it. While we know that it’s getting closer to Harvest 2019, the time to think about 2020 is now.
Do you know that our product is different than fertilizer? Fertilizer treats the soil, while liquid plant food feeds plants. More than that, it increases the plant’s changes of sustaining nourishment and surviving in the elements for weeks. Plus, the direct absorption of liquid plant food diminishes chances of the product being washed away.
Liquid Plant Food is an exciting newer product on the market. If you’re on the fence about using it, then talk to your friends at Circle S Farm Supply. We want to make your plants grow alongside your business.
First-generation farmers view their livestock like their pets. While that is charming, it causes some interesting questions when they visit Circle S. I’ve lost track of how many times, I’ve had a bright young person ask me why they can’t give their livestock pet food.
Your dog, cat, goldfish, hamster has different dietary needs than livestock. While you might see a horse grazing on grass, it doesn’t mean that Mister Ed is ready to mow your lawn. For that, you would need John Deere or an ornery goat.
Even grass must be carefully prepared, processed into hay and then blended into a rotation to properly supplement a diet. All your cat needs for you to do is dish out the Whiskas and get out of its face.
The reason you don’t treat your livestock like your pets is that a horse the size of your Uber needs a little more consideration than your 10-pound Pomeranian. Forget all of the Science Diet and recommendations from your vet. The little guy you take for walks around the block doesn’t require the same daily movement just to eat. Don’t believe me?
When you go driving this week, look at the local farms. All of that space that isn’t used for direct farming isn’t for showing off.
The more industrious farmers can mill and mix their own livestock feed. However, it’s not recommended. Does that mean it is impossible? Of course not. What we’re saying is that most of the people asking about making their own livestock feed, don’t have the time or resources for the commitment. But, if you want to go down this path, here are some options available.
Free-range grasses work best for animals such as horses and cattle. That means you will need to be able to rotate pastures. If you can’t rotate pastures to produce enough feed, then you must buy hay. That can get expensive and you might not always be sure what kind of hay you’re buying.
Pigs are the easiest for producing your own livestock feed. Like most of the smaller livestock options, you don’t have to worry about space. Feeding pigs usually requires making use of the scraps and related tidbits you already have on your farm. Barley, wheat and soybean remnants can be scrapped together and broken down into a baseline feed. The catch is knowing how much each size of pigs needs to chow down.
Chickens need a very fine grain. After all, our little feathered friends don’t have teeth. Still, these little guys will graze on a wide variety of grain. Even with that, your chickens should still be supplemented with a good mix of grains for a balanced diet.
But, what do you do if you’re out of farm space to make your own feed? As mentioned before, you can start getting into the pricey hay buying race. Yet, what happens if Farmer Brown treats his hay with chemicals? What happens if you buy a bad batch of hay?
Then, the effort to mill and mix your own livestock feed would be for not. You could still make your own if you have the space and time but take it from your livestock management friends. Stick to a known supplier that can keep your livestock well-fed and happy.