A new combine accessory called "The Whole Buncher" makes 3-ft. high piles of straw and chaff on-the-go during harvest.

"The height of the piles mean the snow can get more than 2 ft. deep, and the cattle can still locate them," says inventor Allen Jones. "At the same time, these feed piles are small enough that manure is evenly distributed across the field. The smaller piles are very important because with the older systems like chaff wagons, piles can get too big and cows start to bed in them and waste the feed. Then you're left with a residue problem because it's a great big mat that you can't get through for seeding in the spring."

Jones and his business partner, Jim Sutton, started using their system in 2002.

"We normally run cattle on bunches for five or six months of the year, which is the majority of our wintertime," Jones points out.

The Whole Buncher looks like a giant pitchfork that attaches to the combine's back axle and operates on a system of counterbalance. When about 40 to 50 lbs. of straw and chaff pile up on the tines, it tips, and the pile falls to the ground while the device springs back to its original position.

Lorne Klein, a forage specialist in Saskatchewan, recently organized a number of on-farm winter grazing demonstrations with Whole Buncher piles on various farms.

He says that ideally, an electric wire should be used to control cattle's access to the piles, especially in severe winters with snow drifting. This ensures they will clean up piles before drifted snow could cover partially eaten piles. The wire should be moved every 7 to 10 days, Klein says.

"By only giving the animals access to a limited number of piles, they'll do a better job of cleaning them up, and not leave any residue issues for spring seeding," Klein explains.

The Whole Buncher eliminates baling and transportation costs associated with getting residue off the field, as well as preventing the need to haul manure out of pens in the spring.

AJ Manufacturing sells the units. Mounting brackets, which vary according to the particular combine make, are priced separately.