Congratulations, you’ve made it through another harvest. And while it’s certainly a perfect time to take a bit of rest and relaxation to recharge the batteries, now is also a perfect time to review your harvest operation while it is still fresh on your mind.
It should start with a complete evaluation of your harvest. How would you grade your harvest? Did everything go as planned? Were there some pinch points where equipment wasn’t operating as efficiently as possible? Did weather delay activity a bit longer than you’d like? Did an unplanned maintenance issue come up?
At the center of your harvest plan is the combine. It’s one of your most significant investments, and an integral part of the entire operation. It’s also the one area where your harvest can move along without a hitch, or a point of consistent issues that can impact your entire workflow.
“There are a number of factors that can determine if your current combine is the right fit for your operation, or if it’s time to think about an upgrade,” explains Leo Bose, customer segment lead for harvesting, livestock and application equipment with Case IH. “Right after harvest is complete is a great time to evaluate your needs, because harvest is fresh on your mind.”
Harvest involves an intricate mix of equipment and employees working toward a single goal. So, it’s imperative to look at more than just upgrading one piece of equipment. It starts with answering some key questions, Bose says.
Then comes the evaluation of your current equipment. “A great resource is your Case IH dealer and a certified maintenance inspection program on your current combine,” Bose says. “Our program looks at more than 160 inspection points from front to back. You can then evaluate what’s needed to maintain the efficiency and productivity of your combine, or what areas that could benefit from an upgrade.”
Knowing the current status of your equipment can be one factor in helping you evaluate if a new combine is in your future. Another is whether new technology in today’s Axial-Flow® combines can benefit your bottom line.
“Cart automation is a great tool, especially when working with less experienced operators,” Bose says. “And Harvest Command™ is a game-changer when it comes to harvest automation. These tools let your equipment and employees work at peak efficiency.
Evaluating your combine needs takes a holistic approach. “You need to not only evaluate the acres you farm, but the features a new combine can offer to help you farm more efficiently and effectively,” Bose says. “And if you are adding combine capacity, do you have the grain carts, trucks and employees available to keep grain moving.”
Bose lays out this example: “What does that really mean if I get 30% additional productivity by jumping up a class size of combine? If you are harvesting 3,500 bushels per hour, that’s three to four semis coming out of that field every hour. If you increase combine capacity by 20% to 30%, that’s going to increase unloading five or six semis per hour. Do you have the capacity to handle that increase?”
But increased capacity also means a faster harvest, which can help maximize yield. “Because every day that grain starts to dry, you start to lose kernels, whether it be on that corn cob or bean pod. So, if you can harvest faster, that’s an incredible advantage,” Bose says.
Your Case IH dealer can be a tremendous resource as you evaluate your combine needs. “Your dealer knows your area, how you farm, and can help you match the right equipment to your needs,” Bose says. “That includes providing the parts and service you need throughout the year.”