Harvest Management

1. Harvest Management Key Check 8. Cut and threshed the crop at the right time. Part1: Understanding the PalayCheck System

2. Which banana would you like to eat? An overripe banana will not satisfy you. An underripe banana won’t either. Rice is the same.

3. To be satisfied, Harvest at the RIGHT TIME. TOO EARLY TOO LATE • Immature grains • Unfilled grains • Low milling recovery • Harvest LOSSES • Increased grain shattering • breakage during milling • Harvest LOSSES

4. Key Check 8 Cut and threshed the crop at the right time • Timely reaping, threshing and drying ensure good rice quality, high market valueand consumer acceptance. • Untimely harvesting also makes the crop more prone to bird and rat damage, and lessens the quality of seeds harvested.

5. Remember: How to achieve Key Check 8? Drain field 7-10 days before the expected date of harvesting • To attain uniform maturity/ripening • To prevent wetting of the grain during harvesting • For easy operation in the field

6. 1 5 4 3 2 ripened How to achieve Key Check 8? Harvest when… • 1/5 or 20% of the grains at the base of the panicle are at hard dough stage • Most of the grains in the panicle are golden yellow. • When grain moisture meter ticks 20-25% MC (WS) or 18-21% (DS)

7. TECHNIQUE Assess hard dough stage by pressing a grain from the panicle base between the thumb and forefinger. If milky liquid spurts out, palay is at milky grain stage

8. TECHNIQUE How MC can be determined? Experienced farmers look at the color of the palay,feel the grain in their hands, and crack it with their teethto determine whether the grain is more or less wet or dry.

9. REMEMBER: Avoid piling the harvested crop in the field for more than a day to avoid grain discoloration and low-quality milled rice due to heat build up.

10. How to achieve Key Check 8? Threshing • Thresh palay not later than a day after harvesting (WS), not later than 2 days (DS) • Avoid threshing dripping wet palay using a mechanical thresher to prevent losses from poor grain cleaning & separation • Observe recommended threshing speed (800 rpm) to prevent grain damage

11. To avoid/minimize losses, observe: • RIGHT moisture content • RIGHT temperature • RIGHT maturity Protect grains from: • Microorganisms and insects • Impurities • Mechanical stress

12. You have cut and threshed palay at the right time, IF… Palay is harvested when most of the grains are golden yellow or 20% are in hard dough stage Palay is threshed not later than a day after harvesting for WS and not later than 2 days for DS.

13. INPUT OUTPUT OUTCOME • Harvesting at 80-85% grain maturity • Right length of time for piling/ stacking • Threshing at the right time and speed • Proper drying • Minimize shattering, unfilled grains • Prevents discolored and fissured grains • Prevents pest infestation and broken grains • GOOD grain quality (high milling recovery, high market value)

14. Key Check 8. Cut and threshed the crop at the right time.

15. CREDITS Instructional presentation designer:Ms. Ella Lois Bestil Sources of technical content/reviewers of presentation: Dr. Manny Regalado, Dr. Eulito Bautista, Engr. ArtemioVasallo, Dr. JosueFalla, Dr. Caesar JoventinoTado Note: Adapted from a powerpoint presentation developed by:Dr. Caesar JoventinoTado, Dr. Ricardo Orge You may use, remix, tweak, For more information, visit: & build upon this presentation non-commercially. However, alwaysuse with acknowledgment. Unless otherwise stated, the names listed are PhilRice staffers. Produced in 2011. Text: 0920-911-1398