Corn Header Kit Reduces Shatter Loss

Corn Header Kit Reduces Shatter Loss COMBINES Accessories Corn kernels are gently lifted up and into the header with this new header attachment designed to reduce shatter loss     The “Operation Harvest Sweep” system replaces existing deck plates and gathering chains in corn headers with patent-pending components designed to reduce shatter loss The company says field tests show the product can reduce shatter loss by 80 to 85 percent “In a year when inputs are high and commodity prices are low that can add up to huge savings ” says inventor Shawn Gengerke of Leading Edge Industries Groton S Dak “Farmers can expect a full return on their investment as soon as one year ” Kits are available for most popular makes and models of corn headers Each kit contains deck plates specially designed gathering chains impact pads with nylon bristle sweeps and hardware for one row units Unlike standard plates the deck plates included in the kits are lipped to retain shattered kernels rather than letting them fall to the ground The impact pads and sweeps form one-piece units that bolt onto the gathering chains with the sweeps bringing the shattered kernels from the deck plates up to the auger The system takes about 15 min per row to install “The first corn head went on the market in 1954 ” Gengerke says “and it really hasn’t been changed in more than 60 years There will always be shatter loss so instead of trying to stop it we’re focusing on how to retain it “I came up with the idea 3 years ago when I was harvesting corn on my farm It was a dry fall and there was terrible shatter loss of the grain as it flowed into the combine I figured I was losing 8 to 9 bushels of corn per acre That was when corn was worth $7 a bushel In a 100-acre field that meant a loss of $4 000 to $5 000 And then I would have to battle volunteer corn the following year in my soybeans So I decided to do something about it ” According to Gengerke shatter loss is getting worse because seed companies are breeding new varieties that dry down faster in order to reduce drying costs “That’s a good thing but at the same time it’s causing more shatter problems because farmers are harvesting earlier in the season trying to finish harvest before the corn dries down too much and shatter losses get too bad An early harvest means the corn has a higher moisture content which results in higher drying costs ”    Made from a unique blend of polyurethane for retention and flexibity the impact pads cover the top part of the paddles on the gathering chain paddles for gentler grain handling “High speed camera tests show that a lot of shatter loss on conventional gathering chains comes from cobs hitting the paddles which are high narrow and hard The impact pads soften the impact so the cob slides off with less shatter loss ” notes Gengerke Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Leading Edge Industries 12702 406th Ave Groton S Dak 57445 ph 605 397-2020; shawn@leadingedgeind com; www harvestsweep com

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