News

Slow your roll during soybean harvest

An extension educator says there are three main ways to reduce harvest losses in soybeans.

Mike Staton with Michigan State University Extension tells Brownfield harvest timing, equipment maintenance and combine speeds are the common issues that can cause farmers to leave bushels in the field.  “We actually cut our losses from a bushel and a quarter down to a half of bushel just by slowing down from five miles an hour to three miles an hour.”

Staton says reel speed and position can cause about 80 to 90 percent of harvest losses.  “If you ever experienced where your beans are starting to hit the windshield and things like that, your reel speed is probably too fast for the conditions.”

He says before starting harvest farmers should make a trial pass about 15 feet into a field and make adjustments with equipment.

Staton spoke to Brownfield during a recent soybean harvest equipment field day where farmers tested new ag equipment and identified areas to reduce harvest loses.

AUDIO: Interview with Mike Staton