The combine harvester is a piece of farm equipment used for cutting and sorting grain. Corn, wheat, soybeans, flax, rice, rye, oats, barley, and other crops can all be harvested with a combine harvester. Combine harvesters can process a variety of grains thanks to the ability to swap out headers.
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What is a Combine Harvester?
A farm tool that cuts and separates grain is called a combine harvester. Corn, wheat, soybeans, flax, rice, rye, oats, barley, and other crops can all be harvested with a combine harvester. Combination harvesters can process a variety of grains thanks to the ability to swap out headers.
The combine harvester gets its name because it “combines” the job of the header and thresher[1]. Before the development of modern combines, the procedure required the use of two different machines and took a lot longer. Combine harvesters have played a significant role in increasing overall farm productivity over the past century because farmers can harvest entire fields much faster with fewer workers.
150 to 200 acres can typically be processed per day by modern combines. Performance of combines has increased as a result of technological advances and larger engines. One of the most robust and substantial combines available today, the John Deere X9 1100 Combine has a 460-bushel folding grain tank capacity, a 690 horsepower engine, a top speed of 25 miles per hour, and an unload rate of up to 5.3 bushels per second. The wheat and corn harvesting capacities of the John Deere X9 1100 are up to 30 acres per hour and 7,200 bushels per hour, respectively.
Between $300,000 and $500,000 can be spent on brand-new combines, while between $150,000 and $350,000 can be spent on late-model used combines. Prices for new and used combines fluctuate over time depending on factors such as demand, material costs (steel, copper, etc.), and governmental regulations.
Modern combines are available in tracked and wheeled models, like tractors. On less stable and uneven surfaces, tracks typically perform better. Typically tracked systems cost more than wheeled systems.
In order to determine how much use the machine has seen, farm equipment buyers typically look at the combine’s separator hours. Total hours show how long the machine has been in use, while separator hours show how long it has been used for threshing. Separator hours are often abbreviated as “sep hours”. Engine hours are always greater than separator hours because of unloading and travel time.
Major combine manufacturers today include:
- John Deere
- Case IH
- CLAAS
- Challenger
- Fendt
- Massey Ferguson
- Laverda
- Deutz-Fahr
- Gleaner
How Does a Combine Harvester Work?
Combine harvesters are huge and complex machines that contain many different moving parts and stages. The field’s crops are cut and gathered by the combine header. The crops are processed several times in the combine’s belly to separate the grain from everything else (stalk, etc.) before entering the combine’s body. This separation process is where the old saying “separate the wheat from the chaff” originated – the process separates valuable contents (grains) from everything else.
Following the separation procedure, the grain is transferred into the grain tank, and any leftover components are discharged through the machine’s back and back into the field. The farmer can then decide whether to bale the discharge later or let it break down naturally and feed the soil.
Farmer time is greatly reduced by the ability of combine harvesters to unload grain tanks while in motion. Typically a tractor pulling a grain cart will drive alongside the combine while the combine continues harvesting, and then the combine’s grain auger extends over the grain cart and empties the grain tank into the grain cart.
What is a Combine Harvester for Corn?
A combine harvester is a piece of equipment used to increase the collection of different grains by cutting and sorting them. Because this machine combines reaping, thrashing, gathering, and winnowing, harvesting crops is a less tedious process than when the collection was done by hand. Farmers can swap out headers to accommodate different crops, which will make the process even simpler.
Types of Combine Harvesters
There are three major types of combine harvesters that are currently in use:
Self-propelled: For farms with hard soil, these wheeled harvesters are fantastic. They are the standard type that is used commonly in India.
Track: These are fitted with tracks instead of wheels. In locations where wheels are likely to become clogged, they are very effective. Harvesting rice and some other crops from wetlands typically involves the use of track combines.
Tractor Mounted: These harvesters are driven by tractors that are mounted on top of them. They work best on lands where the soil is loose and the farmed area is extensive.
Benefits to Farmers
The growing issue of finding enough skilled labor for farm work can be solved by combine harvesters. India is suffering from a severe manpower shortage as a result of the rapid increase in migration from rural to urban areas. Farmers can increase grain yields while spending less money thanks to the increased productivity of combine harvesters. Additionally, combine harvesters can be used on both dry and wet terrain. They can be fitted with tracks to make it more convenient on water-submerged fields. By simply changing the header, they can also be used in mountainous areas. There are specialized systems that can be attached, such as the Super-Straw Management System, which clears fields of chaff and straw.
Combine harvesters are getting many new features and advantages as a result of agriculture becoming a sector that is experiencing rapid technological growth.
