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Reducing Harvest Losses Combine Calibration. John Nowatzki Extension Ag Machine Systems Specialist North Dakota State University. Keeping Harvest Losses Low. Where Losses Occur How to Measure Losses Yield Monitor Calibration Machine Adjustments (Dealers). Where Do Losses Occur?.
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Reducing Harvest LossesCombine Calibration John Nowatzki Extension Ag Machine Systems Specialist North Dakota State University
Keeping Harvest Losses Low • Where Losses Occur • How to Measure Losses • Yield Monitor Calibration • Machine Adjustments (Dealers)
Where Do Losses Occur? • Pre-harvest loss • Uncontrollable by Operator • Header loss • Combine cylinder loss • Combine separation loss
How Are Losses Measured? • Pre-harvest Loss • Header Loss • Threshing and Separation Loss • Total Loss
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 Wheat 700,000 Barley 650,000 Oats 400,000 Soybeans 150,000 Corn 80,000 150,000 seeds per lb. 150,000/43,560 = 3.5/sq. ft. for 1 lb.
Pre-harvest Loss Pre-harvest Loss – Count Seeds before Combining 60 seeds per sq. ft. 60/4 = 15 lbs. loss
Header Losses Swather – 30’ Swath – 6’ 30’ / 6’ = 5 • Back up Combine Several Feet • Count Seeds on Ground (200 per sq. ft.) • Subtract Pre-harvest (60 seeds) 200 – 60 = 140) • Account for Swather Width (140 / 5 = 28 per sq. ft.) (28 seeds / 4 = 7 lbs. per acre)
Threshing and Separation Losses • Seeds behind Combine (400 per sq. ft.) • Subtract Pre-harvest (60 seeds) 400 – 60 = 340) • Account for Swather Width (340 / 5 = 68 per sq. ft.) (68 seeds / 4 = 17 lbs. per acre) (30’ swather) Pre-harvest 15 lbs. Header 7 lbs. Threshing 17 lbs. Total 39 lbs.
Yield Monitoring – Field Crops • Quantity • 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
Yield Monitor Calibration • Harvest “Loads” from a Range of Yields • 50 – 100 bushels • Weigh Loads Separately • Enter Actual Weight into Yield Monitor
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