Reducing Harvest Losses Combine Calibration John Nowatzki Extension

Reducing Harvest Losses Combine Calibration John Nowatzki Extension Ag Machine Systems Specialist North Dakota State University 10/30/2020 1

Keeping Harvest Losses Low n n Where Losses Occur How to Measure Losses Yield Monitor Calibration Machine Adjustments (Dealers) 10/30/2020 2

Where Do Losses Occur? n Pre-harvest loss u n n n Uncontrollable by Operator Header loss Combine cylinder loss Combine separation loss 10/30/2020 3

How Are Losses Measured? n Pre-harvest Loss n Header Loss n Threshing and Separation Loss n Total Loss 10/30/2020 4

Seeds per Sq. Ft. = Loss per Acres Canola: 4 seeds = 1 pound per acre Wheat: 16 seeds = 1 bushel Barley: 15 seeds = 1 bushel Soybeans: 4 seeds = 1 bushel Corn: 2 seeds = 1 bushel Oats: 9 seeds = 1 bushel 150, 000 seeds per lb. 150, 000/43, 560 = 3. 5/sq. ft. for 1 lb. 10/30/2020 Wheat 700, 000 Barley 650, 000 Oats 400, 000 Soybeans 150, 000 Corn 80, 000 5

Pre-harvest Loss – Count Seeds before Combining 60 seeds per sq. ft. 60/4 = 15 lbs. loss 10/30/2020 6

Header Losses n Back up Combine Several Feet Swather – 30’ Swath – 6’ 30’ / 6’ = 5 Count Seeds on Ground (200 per sq. ft. ) u Subtract Pre-harvest (60 seeds) 200 – 60 = 140) u Account for Swather Width (140 / 5 = 28 per sq. ft. ) (28 seeds / 4 = 7 lbs. per acre) u 10/30/2020 7

Threshing and Separation Losses n Seeds behind Combine (400 per sq. ft. ) Subtract Pre-harvest (60 seeds) 400 – 60 = 340) u Account for Swather Width (340 / 5 = 68 per sq. ft. ) (68 seeds / 4 = 17 lbs. per acre) (30’ swather) u Pre-harvest Header Threshing Total 10/30/2020 15 lbs. 7 lbs. 17 lbs. 39 lbs. 8

Yield Monitoring – Field Crops n Quantity u u n n Volumetric – Grain Pile Measured with a Light Beam Impact-plate – Grain Impact Electronically Sensed Moisture - Measures Electrical Capacitance GPS - Records to Locations on Field Map 10/30/2020 9

Yield Monitor Calibration n Harvest “Loads” from a Range of Yields u 50 – 100 bushels n Weigh Loads Separately n Enter Actual Weight into Yield Monitor 10/30/2020 10

More Information John Nowatzki Extension Ag Machine Systems Specialist North Dakota State University Telephone: 701 -231 -8213 Email: John. Nowatzki@ndsu. edu http: //www. ag. ndsu. edu/agmachinery 10/30/2020 11