New for most makes of combines is The Spreader, designed by Illinois farmers Eldon and Earl Hesterberg, of Gifford, to scatter chaff coming off the sieves which isn't spread by the combine's straw chopper.

"It doesn't replace the original chopper-spreader, and doesn't affect its operation," explains Eldon.

He feels The Spreader is "a must for minimum and no-till to prevent nutrient tie-up by trash, and to help eliminate plugging problems with fertilizer, planting and cultivating equipment."

Power for The Spreader is supplied by the hydraulic return line from the reel. "No hydraulic fluid is robbed from this or other components," notes Eldon.

Fits all IH, Deere and Case-IH combines, and some other makes and models. Rubber paddles, affixed to a dished steel disk, do the spreading. Available in a 52 in. dia model and a 44 in. dia. model. Both models mount to the rear axle. Width of the spreading pattern is adjustable (from about 10 to 30 ft.) by adjusting rotation speed.