Check for combine losses as conditions change

Combine losses vary throughout the day. If using the same combine settings all day long, losses in the morning and evening could be significant if the combine is set for easy-threshing afternoons. Or losses in the afternoons could be higher if the combine is locked in for those tough-swath times of day. Checking for combine losses under various conditions will help you get a feel for best settings for various conditions.

Harvest timing: Fastest way to get canola in the bin?

Swathing later will increase yield because more of the later seeds in side branches will reach maturity and contribute to yield. But what if harvest is moving slowing and the priority shifts from highest yield to just getting the crop in the bin?

Swath later for a big boost in yield

Canola fields swathed at 60% seed colour change (SCC) on the main stem can yield 8% more than fields swathed at 30% SCC. That’s according to Canola Council of Canada research from the early 2000s. The yield difference could be even higher with lower plant populations because with fewer larger plants more of the yield will be in the side branches.

What to do after an early fall frost?

Frost on pods can stop plant development and lock in green. It can also cause pods to split. However, a light frost may have no effect at all, and the crop will be better left to mature fully before swathing.

Put canola on aeration immediately after combining

Ideally, growers will want to put canola on aeration as soon as it comes off the field. Cooling hot grain within the first 24 hours is important for safe long-term storage. Removing moisture that sweats from all canola — but especially tough canola (10-12% moisture) — is also important. Conditioning achieves both of these steps. Here are a few handy …

BeGrainSafe: Maintain a strict “bin entry” procedure

The best move is to stay out of bins while they’re being filled or emptied. Usually the only time a person feels the need to enter a bin is if grain is bridged or crusted. This can be a very dangerous situation, especially if a wall of grain is released and buries a person. CASA provides these bin-entry basics….

Scouting and field survey tasks for this week

Pre-harvest scouting is a great opportunity to identify late-season insect threats, disease outbreaks and severity and weed escapes. While in the field, you can assess crop stage and harvest timing, and do an end-of-season plant count. Here are a few specifics to look for….

Harvest timing for an uneven field

Canola fields with large areas at different stages lead farmers to ask the inevitable harvest timing questions: When do I swath? Should I leave it standing for straight combining?