Grain Guide 2018

Figure 1: Position of pan Quickly calculate harvester losses After the planting process, the harvesting process for any crop is very important, because its activities have an effect on the yield. Losses occur during any harvesting process, and it is important to limit these losses in order to increase the yield. When determining losses, a small scale is used to determine the mass of the seeds in the frame and pan reasonably accurately. The losses can then be determined with the aid of a simple formula. The losses are divided into four categories, namely:  Pre-harvest losses  Header or table losses  Drum losses  Separation losses Pre-harvest losses  These losses can be determined by weighing all the seeds in a square frame of 1 m x 1 m beforehand – before you start harvesting.  Position the frame at different places in the field and obtain an average mass in grams of the seeds in the frame. By multiplying the average mass (in grams) of the seeds in the frame by ten, you obtain the pre-harvest losses in kg/ha. 54 Header or table losses Here you use a pan measuring 25 cm wide and a little longer than the width of the straw outlet of the harvester so that no straw and seeds fall on the ground behind the harvester. While you are har­ vesting, the pan is placed below the straw outlet of the harvester so that the long sides of the pan are positioned transversely to the direction in which the harvester is moving (see Figure 1 ). Pan 50 GRAIN GUIDE 2018 Implements