04/22/23 1
Reducing Harvest LossesCombine Calibration
John NowatzkiExtension Ag Machine Systems SpecialistNorth Dakota State University
204/22/23
Keeping Harvest Losses Low Where Losses Occur How to Measure Losses Yield Monitor Calibration Machine Adjustments (Dealers)
304/22/23
Where Do Losses Occur? Pre-harvest loss
Uncontrollable by Operator Header loss Combine cylinder loss Combine separation loss
404/22/23
How Are Losses Measured? Pre-harvest Loss
Header Loss
Threshing and Separation Loss
Total Loss
504/22/23
Seeds per Sq. Ft. = Loss per AcresCanola: 4 seeds = 1 pound per acreWheat: 16 seeds = 1 bushel Barley: 15 seeds = 1 bushel Soybeans: 4 seeds = 1 bushel Corn: 2 seeds = 1 bushelOats: 9 seeds = 1 bushel
150,000 seeds per lb.150,000/43,560 = 3.5/sq. ft. for 1 lb.
Wheat 700,000Barley 650,000Oats 400,000Soybeans 150,000Corn 80,000
604/22/23
Pre-harvest LossPre-harvest Loss – Count Seeds before Combining
60 seeds per sq. ft.60/4 = 15 lbs. loss
Header Losses 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)
704/22/23
Swather – 30’
Swath – 6’
30’ / 6’ = 5
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)
804/22/23
Threshing and Separation Losses
Pre-harvest 15 lbs.Header 7 lbs.Threshing 17 lbs.Total 39 lbs.
904/22/23
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
1004/22/23
Yield Monitor Calibration Harvest “Loads” from a Range of Yields
50 – 100 bushels
Weigh Loads Separately
Enter Actual Weight into Yield Monitor
1104/22/23
More Information John Nowatzki
Extension Ag Machine Systems SpecialistNorth Dakota State University
Telephone: 701-231-8213
Email: [email protected]
http://www.ag.ndsu.edu/agmachinery
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