Transcript Reducing Harvest Losses - North Dakota State University

Reducing Harvest Losses
Combine Calibration
John Nowatzki
Extension Ag Machine Systems Specialist
North Dakota State University
4/7/2015
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Keeping Harvest Losses Low
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Where Losses Occur
How to Measure Losses
Yield Monitor Calibration
Machine Adjustments (Dealers)
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Where Do Losses Occur?
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Pre-harvest loss
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Uncontrollable by Operator
Header loss
Combine cylinder loss
Combine separation loss
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How Are Losses Measured?
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Pre-harvest Loss
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Header Loss
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Threshing and Separation Loss
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Total Loss
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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.
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Wheat
700,000
Barley 650,000
Oats
400,000
Soybeans 150,000
Corn
80,000
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Pre-harvest Loss
Pre-harvest Loss – Count Seeds
before Combining
60 seeds per sq. ft.
60/4 = 15 lbs. loss
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Header Losses
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Back up Combine Several Feet
Swather – 30’
Swath – 6’
30’ / 6’ = 5
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)
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Threshing and Separation Losses
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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)
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Pre-harvest
Header
Threshing
Total
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15 lbs.
7 lbs.
17 lbs.
39 lbs.
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Yield Monitoring – Field Crops
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Quantity
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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
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Yield Monitor Calibration
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Harvest “Loads” from a Range of Yields
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50 – 100 bushels
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Weigh Loads Separately
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Enter Actual Weight into Yield Monitor
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More Information
John Nowatzki
Extension Ag Machine Systems Specialist
North Dakota State University
Telephone: 701-231-8213
Email: [email protected]
http://www.ag.ndsu.edu/agmachinery
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