From maintenance on combine heads to replacing feeder house chains, there is no shortage on the amount of work that needs to be done before heading out to the field. However, there is one very important piece that is often overlooked…the Yield Monitor.
Just like anything, your yield monitor should go through proper maintenance prior to and during harvest. There are two key components to making sure your monitor is running smoothly.
Checking for updates should be done prior to calibration. Most monitor updates can cause changes in the calibration process, which can create inaccuracy.
Have you ever seen the same harvest season in a row…I am betting not. Not every season is the same, which, can cause your monitor to become inaccurate year after year. A system that was calibrated for 2019 low test weight, might not perform the same on a field that has high test weight in 2020.\
The most important reason for calibrating is the data. Ever heard the statement “Garbage In, Garbage Out”? Having clean, accurate yield data is essential for making high quality management decisions on your farm. The data you collect this year will be used as insight for input decisions, hybrid selection and management practices that you will utilize in 2021.
There are many factors that could have affected your hybrids standability, whether it be severe weather damage, insects, disease, or mold. It is key to check your fields for any standability issues that maybe occurring. Fields with limited standability should go towards the top of the list and be harvested before standability is compromised.
Calibrating your header height is a key step in data collection. If your header is set too high, it might not disengage and continue to harvest even though you are not sending any corn through the combine, lowering your yield. If it is set to low it may not engage leaving you without data. This can create inaccurate readings, while decreasing the data’s credibility.
Calibrate your Mass Flow Sensor last. Most combine monitors operate by measuring the force that moving grain places on an impact sensor as the grain moves through the combine. Your moisture, speed and header height all are factors in how grain moves through the combine.
Remember, not every harvest season is the same and you only have one chance to collect accurate and effective yield data that can be used to make management decisions in 2021. Why take the risk?
Use the form below to contact an agronomist and set up a time to have your combine calibrated.
