Personal planter: A self propelled transplanter for setting 100 to 1,000 plants at a time

Note to readers, attached is the complete final report for FNE05-545.

The project goal was to develop a self-propelled transplanter suitable for transplanting 100-1,000 plants at a time. The original design concept of a ride-on transplanter was abandoned after encountering several problems and a second approach of a walk-behind transplanter has been taken up. Initial testing of components for the walk-behind transplanter has been successful. The critical components of the walk-behind transplanter has been machined and fabricated and final assembly of the transplanter will be complete in early April. Through literature research, I have learned of several commercially available Japanese walk-behind and ride on transplanters suitable for planting up to 6 acres/day. Unfortunately, there do not appear to be any plans to export these machines to the United States. Outreach through Cornell Cooperative Extension was successful and generated interest in the project at the NOFA-NY winter conference in January 2007. Which I did not accomplish all of the goals set for the project within the time frame of the project, I am confident that I will see results from the project this growing season.

• FNE05-545 Final Report