Copperhead Agricultural Products

Closing wheels play a crucial role in ensuring a consistent planting depth and uniform seed-to-soil contact. They close the seed trench consistently, fracture the sidewall, and put loose soil above the seed. This helps provide the seed with the necessary moisture and nutrients for germination. It also ensures that the seed is protected from the elements and is less likely to be washed away or exposed to pests, maximizing yields. However, conventional rubber and cast closing wheels frequently result in poor germination due to inadequate seed-to-soil contact or trench cracking, impacting crop yields.

To address this pressing issue of furrow closers, Dave Terveen and Kevin Berg stepped up to assist farmers. They took on the challenge and conducted thorough research to find an improved solution. This resulted in the development of The Furrow Cruiser—an innovative closing wheel featuring a spiked design to break down sidewall compaction and a broad wheelbase to firm up the soil around the seed. This clever solution ensures optimal soil treatment on both sides of the seed trench, promoting uniform seed emergence and maximizing crop yield.

“With an impressive 15-year legacy in the market, our closing wheel is a testament to unparalleled originality and durability. Widely acknowledged as a leader in the closing wheel market, our product has demonstrated exceptional resilience across diverse conditions, making it the preferred option among industry professionals,” says Kevin Berg, owner of Copperhead Agricultural Products.

In addition to its iconic closing wheel, Copperhead has introduced other notable products, including the closing wheel frame repair kit and the gauge wheel arm repair kit, which are time-tested solutions and showcase the company's commitment to creating simple yet effective technology.

The acquisition of Sunco Products has further enriched Copperhead's product portfolio, introducing specialized row cleaners and fertilizer placement solutions. The row cleaners feature a controlled and aggressive design, specifically crafted to efficiently manage debris and create a clear path for planter row units. The proprietary SABER TOOTH blade, characterized by its concave shape and distinctive tooth profile, sets these row cleaners apart.
In tandem with the row cleaners, the NUTRIMATE fertilizer placement tool emerges as a standout component within Copperhead's offerings. It is one of the few double disc opener tools dedicated to fertilizer placement that guarantees precise and consistent application of fertilizer adjacent to the row.

Expanding its impact beyond row cleaners and fertilizer placement, Copperhead has introduced a game-changing enhancement for JOHN DEERE and CASE IH combines— the Copperhead Concaves. There are ongoing efforts to extend this compatibility to FENDT and New Holland models. These concaves offer a more open and efficient threshing system, complemented by disruptor kits that effectively minimize rotor loss. They are universally adaptable across various crops and necessitate the addition or removal of cover plates based on the specific crop being harvested.

Copperhead primarily channels the sales of these products through dealers, as they possess a profound understanding of their respective regions and help in the effective distribution of products that are most suitable for local farmers. It excels in swiftly addressing customer needs through flexible support and tailored adjustments. The products undergo in-house assessments and extensive field testing, lasting one to two years, guaranteeing strength and durability to provide customer satisfaction. This success is attributed to its exceptional sales, marketing, and engineering teams, with robust support from backend functions like distribution and manufacturing. The majority of products are internally manufactured or produced with closely aligned partners to maintain control, high standards, and delivery of top-quality products.

An illustrative case involves a farmer from North Dakota facing challenges with a no-till drill during anhydrous application. The smooth wheels intended for anhydrous use proved ineffective in closing the trench, leading to issues like outgassing and potential hazards for the operator, particularly in specific wind conditions or travel directions. Copperhead collaborated with the farmer and developed a solution in the form of the SFP cruiser. This tool efficiently closed the anhydrous slot and provided better ground sealing, improving the capture of fertilizer value and enhancing the safety of equipment operation for the farmer. This collaborative problem-solving exemplifies Copperhead's commitment to addressing real-world challenges and ensuring the practical effectiveness of its solutions.

In anticipation of spring 2024, the company is gearing up to unveil two new innovative products. The first is a cutting-edge gauge wheel arm repair kit featuring a bearing and a screw-in permanent stud, simplifying the process of removing, adjusting, and reinstalling gauge wheels. The second addition to the lineup is the Furrow Cruiser 2, a one-piece poly wheel with the same geometry as its predecessor. This offers a cost-effective alternative for a comprehensive wheel assembly in the realm of closing wheels. As these new releases mark the company's ongoing commitment to advancing agricultural equipment, Copperhead is poised to make a significant impact in optimizing farming practices for the upcoming season and beyond.