If you’re losing more than 1.5 to 2 bu. per acre of corn this harvest, you have a lot in common with many farmers in central Illinois. Harvest losses there are above that in a lot of fields, according to Ken Ferrie, Farm Journal Field Agronomist and owner of Crop-Tech Consulting, Heyworth, Ill.
He says losses in the range of 7 bu. to 10 bu. per acre are common this year, due to very dry corn, poor test weights, rubbery cobs and poor standability.
“We’ve measured as high as 30 bu. per acre losses in some fields this harvest,” Ferrie adds.
A Common Reason for Butt Shatter
In some instances, the speed of the combine and the speed of the header in combination are resulting in too much corn going out the back of the machine.
Other factors contributing to the issue are also at play and can be addressed with various combine settings that will keep corn losses to a minimum.
“We have helped farmers in some cases reduce harvest losses by up to half by making some adjustments to their combines,” Ferrie says.
Check out the following, brief video to hear Ferrie explain how to address adjustments that can help you take more corn to the bin.
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