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VOLUME 9 • ISSUE 1 SUMMER 2013
UltraPro is Better Than Corn Planters for Canola Near-Singulation Metering There’s been plenty of hype in Western Canada lately about the idea of using corn planters to seed canola. But American corn and grain grower Doug Fitterer advises farmers who are considering the idea to look at the near-singulation precision of SeedMaster’s UltraPro Canola Meter™ instead. Fitterer once considered seeding canola with a planter on his own farm, but abandoned the idea after manufacturers told him they couldn’t guarantee singulation for small seeds like spring canola with existing metering plate technology. He purchased a SeedMaster with an UltraPro Canola Meter instead and says the results have been excellent on his canola and cereal crops.
Single-Pass Fertilizer Placement “The singulation and depth control you get with the UltraPro and SeedMaster openers are by far the best option because you can place all of your fertilizer in one pass. The UltraPro spaces the seeds evenly along the row instead of having a bunch of plants in one area. And germination is quick and even. You won’t see better emergence of canola with a corn planter or any other drill,” says Fitterer, who grows 2,000 acres of canola along with wheat, durum, corn, and sunflowers near New England, N.D. Fitterer says he saves $10/acre by applying his fertilizer in a single pass with a SeedMaster – something he can’t do with a corn planter, which requires two passes to safely apply all of his fertilizer. “The CONTINUED ON PAGE 3
INSIDE New Corn Meter …page 2
Auto
Calibration™
Being Launched …page 2
Nova Offers Huge Advantages …page 5
The Leader. By Design.™
The near-singulation metering accuracy of the UltraPro Canola Meter is the superior choice for seeding canola because of its gentle metering precision and the ability to apply all fertilizer in a single pass with SeedMaster drills up to 100’ wide.
FROM THE PRESIDENT
Celebrating a Decade of New Seeding Technology As we mark our 10th anniversary here at SeedMaster, it’s hard to believe how much we’ve accomplished in such a short time. More than 20 years ago, I captured farmers’ attention with an industry-first, active-hydraulic, independent opener – placing seed and fertilizer with unmatched depth control on any terrain. Ten years later we completely redesigned the frame and opener, adding cutting-edge features like our bolttogether frame, deflector shield, angled carbide knives, larger drills and active wing braces. CONTINUED ON PAGE 4
Norbert Beaujot
New Auto Calibration™ Prevents Costly Errors While Seeding
SeedMaster Developing New Corn Meter Farmers Can Seed Corn and Canola With a SeedMaster American farmer Doug Fitterer is watching with great interest as SeedMaster develops a corn meter that will allow farmers to seed grain corn – along with canola and all other crops – with their SeedMaster air drill. The biggest advantage of being able to seed corn and canola with a SeedMaster would be the “huge equipment savings of not having to buy a planter,” says Fitterer. “The labour efficiency of planting all your crops with an 80’ or 100’ SeedMaster – applying all your fertilizer in one pass – would be another big benefit.”
With SeedMaster’s new Auto Calibration technology, farmers can relax knowing they’re always applying the right product rates, says Owen Kinch, SeedMaster Field Research Manager. SeedMaster is launching its game-changing Auto Calibration technology on all new tank systems this fall.
weights to a Viper Pro™ in-cab monitor as farmers seed, and to a remote monitor on-tank as they fill.
“Auto Calibration catapults SeedMaster far ahead of any other seeding system, because it eliminates calibration errors that can cost farmers tens of thousands of dollars,” says Owen Kinch, SeedMaster Field Research Manager.
“The operator always knows exactly how much product is in each tank, so they can fill their tanks with precisely the right amount of seed or fertilizer for a particular field with very little clean out at the end.
Auto Calibration continuously tracks real-time product usage in each tank as farmers seed, and uses that data to automatically recalibrate on the go with exceptional accuracy, explains Kinch.
Auto Calibration eliminates the need for manual calibrations – automating the whole process for unbeatable accuracy and efficiency, says Kinch. “In addition to preventing calibration mistakes, it alerts farmers of low tank weights.”
“The operator simply accepts each new calibration rate on their in-cab monitor – or overrides it if they choose. Farmers can sit back and be confident they’re always applying the right amount of product.”
Advanced Weigh Scale Technology Auto Calibration advances SeedMaster’s Real-Time Product Weighing™ technology to a whole new level. Real-Time Product Weighing – unveiled by SeedMaster a few years ago – features load cells under each SeedMaster tank that relay live, individual product
Unbeatable Accuracy
Farmers can preload initial calibration settings for the most common products. Auto Calibration will then readjust and refine those rates after five or ten minutes of seeding for optimal precision and accuracy. “You can just get in the tractor and go,” says Kinch.
After spending 20 years perfecting its terrain-following, hydraulic opener technology, and the gentle precision of its Individual Row Metering and UltraPro Canola Meter™, SeedMaster is “taking what we’ve learned from the UltraPro and applying that to corn,” says company president Norbert Beaujot. “We’re very excited by how evenly and gently it’s been metering individual seeds during testing.”
Side-By-Side Trials SeedMaster is conducting side-by-side trials with its new corn meter – comparing its performance to a corn planter – on its Research Farm in Saskatchewan this year. “We’ll compare yields and measure how evenly our corn meter spaces plants within the row,” says SeedMaster Field Research Manager Owen Kinch. There’s tremendous interest in SeedMaster’s new corn meter on both sides of the border, says Kinch, “because farmers know our drill is top notch for canola, and they don’t want the added expense and workload that planters require to seed corn and soybeans. They’d rather do it all with our drill.” Field tours of the side-by-side trials will be held June 27 at the SeedMaster Research Farm. Call 1-888-721-3001 to register.
Available on 2014 SeedMasters Auto Calibration will be a standard feature on 2014 SeedMaster models. It will also be a free software upgrade for SeedMaster owners who’ve previously purchased Real-Time Product Weighing.
All Aboard! This year’s SeedMaster Winter Trip destination will be the Queen Mary luxury liner docked in Long Beach, California. SeedMaster owners who purchased Novas or air drills through our 2013 Summer Sale Program and traded in their $700 discount card will enjoy this winter getaway with us. Be sure to stay tuned for next year’s Summer Sale bonus reward!
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SeedMaster is developing a new corn meter that will allow farmers to seed corn, canola, and all other crops with their SeedMaster air drill.
UltraPro is Better (CONT. FROM PAGE 1) SeedMaster has much better fertilizer safety with its dual-knife openers and I’ve got way more options than with a planter.”
Saving $20/acre on Canola Seed Fitterer says he saves another $20/ acre on seed costs by dropping his canola seeding rate to 3 lbs/acre with the precision metering of the UltraPro – down from 5.5 to 6 lbs/acre with his old drill.
You could seed a rock-hard roadbed and still get a crop up with the hydraulic down pressure and narrow, carbide-tipped knives on SeedMaster openers, says Montana farmer Darrel Briese.
Farmers Seed Hard-Packed Grassland in a Single Pass When Darrel Briese decided to seed 250 acres of marginal grassland to wheat on his farm near Havre, Mont., a few years ago, he never imagined he could do it in a single pass. The land had sat untouched for 12 years under the U.S. Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). It had been grazed by cattle and wildlife, leaving it hard-packed and less than ideal for seeding. Briese figured he’d have to disc the land before coming in with his air seeder. But a neighbour insisted he could direct seed it with a SeedMaster, so Briese agreed to let him try. He was surprised and impressed by the results. “We had a beautiful stand. It would have been a 50-bu crop if it hadn’t stopped raining. Everything burned up in July. We ended up with 25 bu/acre, but we were more than happy with the job the SeedMaster did,” says Briese, who purchased his own SeedMaster soon after and now seeds his wheat, pulses, canola, and irrigated alfalfa with it.
Land Untouched for 20 or 30 Years Briese isn’t alone. Thousands of acres of CRP land are being pulled back into crop production across Montana and North Dakota by farmers focused on high commodity prices, says SeedMaster ACE Advisor Jason McKee. “In some cases, it’s land that hasn’t been seeded for 20 or 30 years.” “It’s a trend that’s fuelling new demand for SeedMaster as farmers look for a seeding system that can do the job in a single pass,” he says. “With the SeedMaster, they don’t
have to work the land several times. Most guys just spray it and direct seed 12 hours later. They’ve raised some excellent crops.”
The SeedMaster is also easier to maintain, says Fitterer. “Corn planters are very high maintenance. If everything isn’t just right, you won’t get singulation or consistent seed depth. Your chains have to be tensioned properly, and you have to make sure your shafts, bearings and seed plates aren’t worn. There are so many wear items on a planter – while the SeedMaster has hardly any wear items. It’s very low maintenance.”
Bigger and Stronger
Independent Openers; Hydraulic Down Pressure Briese attributes his success on CRP land to the SeedMaster’s independent openers with terrain-following packer wheels that maintain a constant seeding depth. He also credits the ability to increase hydraulic down pressure on the shanks Jason McKee with the Auto-Adjust Packing Force Sensor™, making it easy for SeedMaster’s dual knife openers to penetrate hard soil. “When you’re direct seeding CRP fields, you’ll have wet spots and hard spots, but the way the SeedMaster is designed, the packing wheel keeps the knives from going too deep, and the hydraulic down pressure gives enough force to seed the hard stuff,” says Briese. “You could seed a rock-hard roadbed with this air drill and get a crop up.” McKee says the SeedMaster’s carbide-tipped knives offer an added advantage. “Our narrow knives cut through that super hard ground easily, and the carbide tips are extremely long wearing. A lot of units bend their openers on CRP land but our openers are tough and follow the contour of the land, so they get the job done, no problem.”
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SeedMaster has upgraded its front, mainframe caster wheels – on all drills 50’ and wider – boosting their strength by 40 per cent to withstand the most severe field and road conditions.
New Leader SPEC™ Program Offers Cost Savings; Simple Pricing SeedMaster has launched its new Leader SPEC pricing program – making it faster and easier for farmers to choose the best seeding systems for their farming operations – at the best price.
Pass)™ to prevent overlap; the UltraPro Canola Meter™ for near-singulation metering; Real-Time Product Weighing™; the Auto-Adjust Packing Force Sensor™; blockage monitoring software; variable rate software; and a Raven in-cab monitor that includes Slingshot® – a device that allows for remote troubleshooting of all electronic functions, a farm office view of all seeding activities, and easy, secure, remote field file storage.
“It’s a farmer-driven program that helps refine and simplify our pricing procedure,” says SeedMaster Sales Manager Rochelle Beaujot. Leader SPEC bundles SeedMaster’s most popular and valuable seeding technologies, offering them as packages. “This saves farmers from wading through a long list of options when pricing out a new drill. And it provides cost savings by bundling these technologies together,” says Beaujot.
SeedMaster’s new Leader SPEC program makes it fast and easy to choose the best seeding system for your farm at the best price.
“Until now, we priced our seeding systems the way other companies do,” she explains. “Farmers would start with a bare bones unit and then add on options.”
Advanced Technology “But the reality is SeedMaster owners don’t want bare bones products. They’re progressive farmers interested in profitability and improving their bottom line. Ninety per cent of them choose all of the advanced technology options we’re now bundling together as standard features in our Leader SPEC packages. It only makes sense for us to offer these technologies as complete packages.”
FROM THE PRESIDENT (CONT. FROM PAGE 1) We’ve since revolutionized metering technology with the near-singulation accuracy of our UltraPro Canola Meter (see page 1) – letting many farmers drop canola seeding rates as low as 3 lbs/acre or less while still achieving full yields.
Leader SPEC offers 40 different packages grouped into four categories: drills with an Individual Row Metering (IRM) tank on board; toolbar-only models; Novaready drills with on-board IRM tanks; and Nova-ready toolbars. Farmers can choose from various drill widths and row spacings. They can also choose Nova Smart Cart™ Leader SPEC packages. Every Leader SPEC package includes the Lift Kit that helps prevent getting stuck while seeding, and the Tirein-Tire packer wheel – a non-pressurized, no-flat tire. All Leader SPEC models with tank systems include: Auto Zone Command™ and FLIP (Full Last Implement
product is in each tank with our Real-Time Product Weighing. I plan my whole day based on those weigh scales – when to schedule fills, when to stop for lunch. It facilitates a very smooth seeding operation all around.
This past year we unveiled the advanced metering capabilities of the Nova Smart Cart (see page 5) – offering completely separate airflows for seed and fertilizer in up to 10 primary runs. Many farmers seeded with the Nova for the first time this spring, distributing up to 400 lbs/acre of product in each of the dual airstreams at 5 mph with exceptional rowby-row metering accuracy and no plugging.
Our new FLIP (Full Last Implement Pass) technology – patented overlap control mapping software – was introduced on all 2013 SeedMaster tank systems. FLIP works with Auto Zone Command to prevent overlap while seeding. It prompts Auto Zone Command to immediately halt product flow the first time openers pass through an overlap area. Product is then applied on the last pass – avoiding seedbed disturbance and preventing double seed and fertilizer for major cost savings!
Auto Calibration Coming This Fall
We’re Expanding Again
Today we’re excited to announce groundbreaking seeding technologies.
The time and cost savings farmers achieve with SeedMaster technologies is the reason demand continues to grow for our tank and drill systems. This spring, we completed a new 28,000 sq. ft. assembly facility that dramatically increases our production capacity. It frees up space on our manufacturing floor to double production and produce hundreds of Novas and complete seeding systems every year. We also plan to hire up to 20 new employees over the next year to keep up with demand.
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We’ll launch our new Auto Calibration™ feature this fall (see page 2), saving farmers tens of thousands of dollars by preventing the calibration errors so many of us have made while seeding. As a farmer, this new technology gives me great comfort knowing my metering settings will be constantly cross-checked and recalibrated – ensuring I’m always applying the right rates. It’s also comforting knowing how much
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“We believe these technologies are ‘musthaves’ because they provide tremendous value and cost savings in the field,” says Beaujot.
Cost Savings
Rob Vogelgesang, of the Watrous New Holland dealership in Saskatchewan, says farmers like the cost savings that Leader SPEC offers. “I had a guy quoting on a 72’ SeedMaster who could save $10,000 by buying a 70’ Leader SPEC model instead,” says Vogelgesang, adding he likes how quickly he can quote prices for farmers using Leader SPEC. SeedMaster will continue to custom build seeding systems to suit the needs of individual farms, notes company president Norbert Beaujot. “It’s something we do very well because of our strong engineering team.” More details on Leader SPEC are available through SeedMaster dealers and at www.seedmaster.ca.
The new building offers three assembly zones – large enough to build two 100’ drills with on-board tanks, and a Nova Smart Cart all at the same time. The new facility also includes an expanded area for our aggressive R&D program where we continually develop innovations – like our new corn meter (see page 2), which allows farmers to seed canola and corn with a SeedMaster system up to 100’ wide, placing all fertilizer while seeding.
Research Farm Tours This summer, we’ll host field tours at the SeedMaster Research Farm on June 27 where you can see sideby-side grain corn plots comparing the accuracy of our new corn meter with a corn planter. We expect to eventually achieve the same near-singulation accuracy that farmers already enjoy with our UltraPro Canola Meter. And don’t forget to visit us at the Farm Progress Show in Regina on June 19 to 21. We’ll have our newest innovations on display, including a live demonstration of Auto Calibration. See you there! Norbert Beaujot, P.Eng. President, SeedMaster
Nova Smart Cart Offers Huge Advantages SeedMaster’s new Nova Smart Cart™ has been delivering tremendous advantages in the field for many farmers across Western Canada and the Midwest who seeded their crops with it for the first time this spring. With enhanced, user-friendly design features on 2013 models, and the same great advanced metering and distribution capabilities, the Nova continues to prove it’s the best bulk metering system on the market. The Nova offers:
The Nova’s 520 to 820-bu capacity seeds more acres per fill and handles up to 4 products at once – wet or dry – to fit the needs of any farm. This 780-bu unit on the Schultz farm in Alberta is custom-fitted with tracks.
Advanced Metering and Distribution • Meters up to 400 lbs/acre on drills 48’ to 100’ wide at 5 mph with no plugging. • Hi-Flow Pulse Manifold™ offers wide airflow passages to help prevent plugging; Most accurate row-by-row distribution.
Combine the Nova with an on-frame UltraPro Canola Meter™ and tank for the most advanced canola metering and a combined carrying capacity of up to 1,120 bu!
Flexible Design Fits Any Farm • Choose 2 or 3 large tanks – 260 bu or 2,000 Imp. gal. – and optional 40-bu tank. • Large tanks meter from 20 to 400 lbs/acre or more.
Large, wide catwalks provide safe, easy access.
• 40-bu tank meters as low as 2 or 3 lbs/acre. • Non-corrodible tanks; single or double shoot.
Loaded with Smart Technologies
Remote-controlled, hydraulic lids automatically seal for peace of mind. No more climbing on tanks to open or close lids!
• Auto Zone Command™ and FLIP (Full Last Implement Pass)™ eliminate overlap for huge savings. • Real-Time Product Weighing™ displays live product weights in-cab and on-tank as you fill. • Variable Rate Control ready – vary rates and blend on the go. • User-friendly, hydraulically-activated conveyor fills each large tank in 3 minutes.
Up to ten primary seed and ten primary fertilizer runs, each with isolated airflow. Metering boxes feature trouble-free bushing technology, and each one is designed to match a 6- or 8-outlet manifold size.
SeedMaster Owners Win Award Congratulations to Dustin Williams and Laura McDougald-Williams on winning Manitoba’s Outstanding Young Farmers award.
by Dustin’s family in 1886 – were recognized for their commitment to environmental stewardship and innovation.
The Williams – whose farm near Souris, Man., was homesteaded
As long-term zero-tillers, Dustin says their SeedMaster is a good fit with
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Quick Disconnect – unhook or connect drill and cart quickly.
their focus on the environment and innovation. “Our area is drought prone and our sandy soil is erodible, so conserving moisture and minimizing tillage is important.” He adds, “Being able to side band fertilizer and seed place Alpine® starter with the SeedMaster lets us use higher fertilizer rates without risk
of burning crops, and the nutrients are readily accessible for quick uptake.” “The SeedMaster knives also leave a thin black strip that promotes faster emergence, and creates a microclimate that helps protect our seedlings from frost. We get an excellent crop establishment that has let us reduce our seeding rates.”
Farmers Gain Huge Cost Savings with SeedMaster, says Dealer Ron Jones says the cost savings farmers gain with SeedMaster’s UltraPro Canola Meter™ and Auto Zone Command™ are a big reason he sells so many SeedMaster air drills and tanks every year. “With the UltraPro, that near-singulation metering precision lets them cut back on canola seeding rates without losing yield. At $10/lb, if they cut back by 2 or 3 lbs, that’s a $20 to $30 savings per acre,” says Jones, owner of RJ Sales and Service, an independent dealer in Wadena, Sask., specializing in seeding equipment. “Auto Zone Command prevents overlap so they’re not applying double seed and fertilizer. That’s another big savings,” he says, adding that’s why demand is growing for SeedMaster.
Savings Cover Drill Payments “A lot of guys tell me they cover their drill payments with the money they save on canola seed and fertilizer, so these air drills and tanks pay for themselves.” Jones sells about 25 SeedMaster systems each year – and will top 30 this year. Most of those drills are assembled onsite in a new shop expansion at his dealership.
SeedMaster’s independent hydraulic openers also drive sales, says Jones. “Their openers last up to four times longer than competitors – maybe more.” The terrain-following design and carbide dual-knife tips give the openers an extremely long life and exceptionally accurate product placement, he says. “I’ve never seen a company with so few warranty claims. Their stuff doesn’t seem to break down.”
Family-Owned Because SeedMaster specializes only in seeding equipment, they do a better job than larger manufacturers that sell combines, tractors and other farm implements, says Jones. And being family-owned means SeedMaster has a personal commitment to making sure things are done right, he says. “Their service is excellent. No issue ever goes unresolved. They even hold clinics every spring for farmers who purchase new or used SeedMasters – showing them all the do’s and don’ts for operating it.” “SeedMaster knows what farmers want because they farm themselves,” he adds, “like that Lift Kit that lets you
SeedMaster dealer Ron Jones seed in wet conditions. I talked to a farmer who said his crop wouldn’t have gotten seeded last year if it wasn’t for his SeedMaster. That paid for his drill in one year.”
To purchase SeedMaster products, visit our website and contact a dealer near you: BIG EQUIPMENT CO.
MAZERGROUP
RA WEST INTERNATIONAL INC
406.265.9554 HAVRE, MT www.bigequipment.com
204.376.5600 ARBORG, MB 204.728.2244 BRANDON, MB 204.873.2480 CRYSTAL CITY, MB 204.858.2000 HARTNEY, MB 204.523.4414 KILLARNEY, MB 306.435.3610 MOOSOMIN, SK 204.476.2364 NEEPAWA, MB 204.857.8711 PORTAGE LA PRAIRIE, MB 204.937.2134 ROBLIN, MB 204.447.2739 STE. ROSE DU LAC, MB 204.759.2126 SHOAL LAKE, MB 204.734.9361 SWAN RIVER, MB www.mazergroup.ca
403.485.1604 VULCAN, AB www.rawest.com
CENTRAL ALBERTA PRECISION SEEDING 403.505.9524 PONOKA, AB www.precisionseeding.ca FARM CHOICE EQUIPMENT 780.876.5759 GRANDE PRAIRIE, AB FARM WORLD EQUIPMENT LTD. 306.682.9920 HUMBOLDT, SK 306.864.3667 KINISTINO, SK 306.922.2525 PRINCE ALBERT, SK www.farmworld.ca FARMERS UNION OIL 701.756.6469 MOHALL, ND www.mohallcenex.com GLASGOW IMPLEMENT INC. 406.228.9341 GLASGOW, MT MAPLE FARM EQUIPMENT 306.334.2492 BALCARRES, SK 306.272.3345 FOAM LAKE, SK 306.435.3301 MOOSOMIN, SK 306.547.2007 PREECEVILLE, SK 204.773.2149 RUSSELL, MB 306.554.2536 WYNYARD, SK 306.783.9459 YORKTON, SK www.maplefarm.ca
RAYMORE NEW HOLLAND
403.295.7824 BALZAC, AB 403.652.1410 HIGH RIVER, AB 306.463.2335 KINDERSLEY, SK 306.825.6141 LLOYDMINSTER, SK 403.556.3939 OLDS, AB 306.237.4272 PERDUE, SK 306.934.4686 SASKATOON, SK 306.228.2686 UNITY, SK www.moodysequipment.com
TINGLEY IMPLEMENTS INC.
REDVERS AGRICULTURAL & SUPPLY LTD.
WATROUS NEW HOLLAND
780.875.8010 VEGREVILLE, AB
306.452.3444 REDVERS, SK
306.946.3301 WATROUS, SK www.watrousnewholland.com
R-J SALES & SERVICE LTD.
WESTERN SALES
306.338.2541 WADENA, SK
306.796.4320 CENTRAL BUTTE, SK 306.567.2828 DAVIDSON, SK 306.378.2575 ELROSE, SK 306.867.8601 OUTLOOK, SK 306.882.4291 ROSETOWN, SK www.westernsales.ca
306.638.4516 CHAMBERLAIN, SK www.schroederbros.ca SOUTH COUNTRY EQUIPMENT LTD. 306.642.3366 ASSINIBOIA, SK 306.721.5050 EMERALD PARK, SK 306.424.2212 MONTMARTRE, SK
YORKTON NEW HOLLAND 306.783.8511 YORKTON, SK www.yorktonnewholland.com
For more information and a free video, please contact us at:
NELSON MOTORS 306.483.5115 OXBOW, SK www.nelsonmotors.com
#1 South Plains Rd. West Emerald Park, SK Canada S4L 1C6
PEACE COUNTRY EQUIPMENT 780.837.5433 DONNELLY, AB
www.seedmaster.ca
306.746.2911 RAYMORE, SK www.raymorenewholland.com
SCHROEDER BROS. IMPLEMENTS LTD.
MOODY’S EQUIPMENT LTD.
306.692.2371 MOOSE JAW, SK 306.354.2411 MOSSBANK, SK 306.726.2155 SOUTHEY, SK 306.842.4686 WEYBURN, SK www.southcountry.ca
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TOLL FREE: 1.888.721.3001 LOCAL: 306.721.3001 FAX: 306.721.3002