1974 International Harvester Model 500 8 Row Cyclo Planter

Roger Lubiens of Fullerton, North Dakota shares the story of his 1974 International Harvester Model 500 Cyclo planter.

The Cyclo planter was the dawn of a new age in planting for 1971. A planter
using a plateless design and a flow of air, that offered precision planting of
corn, beans, and sunflowers. Available in 4,6,8, or 12 row design, planting
could be precision driven and electronically monitored.
In my 1974 Model 500 Cyclo, I am planting a food plot of field corn for wildlife
in Dickey County, North Dakota. This eight row planter conveniently spaces
my rows 30 inch wide, and with the aid of planting sprockets, the planting rate
can be varied from 17,000 to 35,000 seeds per acre for corn. In this field, I’m
using a setting of 27,000.

As you can see, an air drum spins the seeds and deliver the seeds
to each of the eight rows through black hoses. A Dickey Monitor was
used in the 70’s to monitor the flow and rate of seed.
In these pictures the corn is being planted, and 85 days later the
harvest of some delicious sweet corn takes place. With planting this
season on June 5th, we enjoyed a bounty of sweet corn at the farm
in late August. If you are ever near the farm in late summer, stop by
to enjoy it with us.

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