Conventional corn heads can't compare with the "Drago" high performance corn head that's now available in the U.S. in limited supply, says the Iowa importer of the European header. Referred to as the "Ferrari" of corn heads, the Drago boasts a number of special features that sets it apart from the rest.

Thanks to a spring tension mechanism, the Drago has automatic self-adjusting stripper plates on each individual row. As with any header, the corn stalk is pulled down between the knife rollers and a plate set to the width of the corn stalk strips the ears off the stalk. However, with the Drago, each of the plates automatically adjusts to the differing stalk widths found in various soil types and conditions across the field, and the payoff is better harvested yields. Corn loss is minimized by as much as 50 per cent, depending on field conditions, because more cobs are stripped from the stalk before any shelling can occur. Early farmer reports for the 2003 crop is 5 to 6 bushels more per acre, compared to conventional corn heads, says importer Dennis Bollig of Dragotec U.S.

An Iowa State University study has shown that misadjustment of only 3/8 in. on the stripper plates can reduce corn yields by as much as 12 bu./acre.

The Drago's knife rollers are also 50 percent longer, making it possible to run them at slower rpm's, virtually eliminating ear bounce and greatly reducing shelling.

"Drago has the lowest deck angles in the industry," according to sales manager Tom Shafer, of Arnold's in Kimball, Minn. "That, combined with the angled gathering chains, makes the Drago more aggressive in down corn. The corn head is set in a low profile and that creates better feeding action, helping prevent ears from being lost out of the corn head."

Also of major significance is the unit's stalk chopper option, which eliminates the need for a separate pass to chop stalks.

The corn head fits all makes of combines and has a simple component design, which makes repairs quicker and easier, shortening down time.

"It has a higher standard of quality than any corn head in the world," Shafer says. "It's competitively priced, with or without the chopper. This is a 50-something-year old company in Northern Italy, and all they do is build corn heads. They have specialized, and it is very, very well designed. It allows you to maximize more grain yield than any other corn head." According to Bollig, the network of dealers in the U.S. will continue to expand.

"We're looking for dealers that reflect the quality that's built into the Drago," he says.