Full Answer
What is a Corn Combine Harvester?
The corn is harvested using a combine harvesting machine. In this particular case, they are using a Case IH 8230. The combine is able to rip the ears of corn off of the plant and spit out all unwanted materials and retain the corn kernels. The kernels are stored in the machine, and the rest of the corn plants (and any additional weeds) remain in the field.
Why is corn harvested using machinery?
The corn harvested to produce corn silage is also machine harvested, but different harvesting machinery is used because the machines are harvesting corn with significantly different moisture contents.
Why use corn combine?
Why Harvest Using a Corn Combine? Corn is harvested using a corn combine when it is going to be processed for human consumption. In this case, the corn will be used to make tortillas and tortilla chips. This same harvesting process is used for all different colors of corn, including the white, yellow and blue chips and tortillas.
Where does a combine go when it is full?
Once the combine is full of kernels, it goes to the trailers on the side of the field to transfer the kernels into the trailers. The contracted harvester (that runs the harvesting machine) is paid per harvested weight by the grower.
Can a corn combine get stuck?
As you can see in the video above, there are some issues during the harvesting process where the corn combine can get stuck. This is not an issue with the corn combine, but rather, an issue with growing organic corn. This season, the grower had issues with the Johnson Grass weed in the corn field that caused a bit of a nuisance during the harvesting process.
Identifying Factors for Setting Rotor Speed
One way to identify if rotor speed is too high is to evaluate the stream of grain traveling from the rubber shoot into the grain cart. If you see a small stream of ‘corn meal’ or fines in the sample, ease up on rotor speed.
Harvesting Soybeans Troubleshooting
Click any of the links below to access the full list of videos and combine tips!
How long does it take for a grain to separate in a combine?
Inside the Combine. About 10 seconds after the head takes in the ears there will be clean, separated grain in the grain tank.
How many bushels of corn can be in a grain tank?
Our tank holds just over 400 bushels. Some grain may go through a secondary cleaning process via the tailings elevator. We routinely check samples of grain for damage and cleanliness, and make adjustments to the combine as needed. With today’s modern machines we can make nearly all the adjustments from the cab on the go with the push of a button.
How to tell if hybrid corn is male or female?
You are seeing the female plants of hybrid seed corn production that have had their tassels removed. Depending on the season when you see the detasseled fields, about every fifth row will have its tassels. Those are the male plants. Before the corn is picked as ears, NOT with a combine, the male plants will be destroyed so that their ears do not end up in the harvest. The combination of detasseling the female plants and destroying the male plants before picking ensures that only cross-pollinated ears are harvested. http://industrialscenery.blogspot.com/2014/10/hybrid-corn-seed.html
How does a corn head work?
I discuss how a corn head works in the videobelow. Basically what happens is a pair of spinning rolls pull the corn stalks down through the head. Just above those rolls metal plates pop the ear off the stalk. Gathering chains push the ears to the back of the head where an auger funnels the ears to the center of the head and into the front of the combine to begin the grain separating process .
How long does it take for corn ears to clean?
About 10 seconds after the head takes in the ears there will be clean, separated grain in the grain tank. In this short span of time a lot of activity happens inside the machine. Once the whole corn ears enter the combine they are introduced to a spinning rotor which threshes the grain from the cob. This is done both mechanically by the machine and by grain on grain threshing as material is flung around the rotor. After the rotor a series of cleaning mechanisms come into play. This short animationreveals the process much better than I can say in words.
What is the front of a combine?
At the front of a combine is the corn head. Combines can switch between a variety of heads depending on the type of crop harvested. The inner workings of the combine itself don’t require a swap like changing heads from corn to another crop like soybeans, but adjustments in speeds, spacings, and more are made accordingly.
Why is it called a combine?
The reason this piece of equipment is called a combine is simply because it combines several jobs into a single machine. Combines cut the crop and separate the grain from the plant while processing and spreading the remaining material over the field.
What Does A Combine Do During A Harvest?
As materials flow through the combine, they are gathered and cut up by the combine header. After this, they are carried by the feeder throat up to and through the chain and flight elevator. Following this, the materials are fed through the thresher.
What is a combine harvester?
One of the most essential machines on a larger farm is a combine harvester. It is that used for harvesting many different types of crops in large quantities. Read on to learn more about harvesting with a combine.
How efficient is grain separation?
A combine that is correctly maintained and adjusted for the crop being processed can produce 90% efficient grain separation.
How to store grain in a combine?
After this, a flapping auger will discharge grain out of the tank and into a trailer to be processed or stored.
Why is the adjustable aspect of the grain system important?
The adjustable aspect of this system is extremely important because different types of grains have different sizes and textures of both stem and grain. The entire system must be able to adjust to accommodate these differences.
How can farmers reduce the cost of human labor?
By combining four separate processes in harvesting grains, farmers can reduce the cost of human labor along with overall costs, greatly improve efficiency and save a lot of time.
How does rotation function help separate grain from chaff?
As the rotation function adjusts to accommodate the materials being processed, the grain is effectively separated from the chaff. After this, the mixture falls into the cleaning shoe. Here, more friction help separate the grain from the chaff.
How to harvest high moisture corn?
To harvest high-moisture corn, start by making sure all concave, sieve and chaffer settings are calibrated and zeroed out. Your manual describes the procedure. Calibration is necessary to make sure if a setting is supposed to be at 12, for example, it’s truly at 12 when the display says it is.
Why is it important to set the corn cob diameter?
Therefore, it’s critical to set the concave according to cob diameter to keep cob damage to a minimum for greater threshing efficiency.
How to set a Lexion combine for threshing?
When setting a Lexion combine for threshing, set concave according to cob diameter and adjust in 1- to 2-millimeter increments to minimize potential for damage. If you’re using round bar concaves, set it at cob diameter to 3 mm over cob diameter. For large wire concaves, set at 3 mm over cob diameter. Increase threshing speed, starting around 360 rpm, in 10-rpm increments to minimize the potential for damage.
What is the advantage of a Claas Lexion combine?
Claas Lexion: One key advantage of a Lexion combine is threshing and separation systems speed is adjusted separately. This enables greater flexibility to adapt to changing conditions more efficiently to prevent overthreshing while optimizing separation for maximum grain retention.
What is combine advisor?
Combine Advisor is an option from John Deere on S700 Series combines that will adjust settings if conditions change.
Can you power shutdown a John Deere combine?
John Deere: Our recommendations don’t change that much for corn above 25% moisture. However, if you’re at 30% or above, I recommend doing a “power shutdown” to inspect performance. When the combine is fully loaded going through the field, reach over and stop the separator; then stop the machine quickly. In other words, kill the combine loaded with crop. Sometimes customers look at me funny on this one, but it works. I’ve yet to plug one.
Is Agco Gleaner harvesting above 30%?
Agco Gleaner: Harvesting above 30% is problematic and presents uniform challenges for any combine platform. However, adjustments made at the 24% to 28% levels still apply. The operator can adjust ground speed as needed to reduce loss. Gleaner’s platform allows for it to adapt and be forgiving in all conditions, including non-optimum conditions.
What happens if you thresh too fast?
Also, a too-slow threshing speed can overload the separator and cleaning shoe.
What happens if you travel too fast for a chain?
Match the gathering chains’ movement to the forward speed of the combine. If chain speed is too fast, stalks may be pulled out of the ground and broken, which results in ear losses. If the combine is traveling too fast for the chains, stalks will be pushed forward, and ears will be stripped off and thrown to the ground.
How far ahead of the cutter bar should you keep the reel axle?
Keep the reel axle 6 to 12 inches ahead of the cutter bar and as low as possible. Notice if the reel bars leave soybeans just as they are cut. The reel depth should be set low enough to control the beans. Check the movement of cutter bar, suspension springs, and support runners on cutting platforms.
Can you thresh corn with a high moisture?
The only exception to this rule is when harvesting hard-to-thresh corn like high-moisture or frost-damaged crops. In this case, Quick recommends trying to reduce the clearance slightly to see if that improves threshing. If that doesn’t do the trick, then you will have no other choice but to turn up speed to get the grain off the crop, even if it damages some kernels in the process.
Can you harvest soybeans on a combine?
If the soybean crop is delivering up a high amount of green beans, your only option is to hold off on harvesting. Don’t wait too long, though. Soybeans that reach 13% moisture content should be harvested as soon as possible. Again, the combine’s operating manual will offer initial settings to accommodate particular crop conditions. Set according to that guide and adjust as needed.
