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A yield monitor can be one
of the most useful tools in a producer's arsenal, provided it is in good
running condition and properly calibrated in time for the autumn
harvest. About 500 producers in the state use some type of precision
agriculture, and a significant number of them have yield monitors. The
vast majority of those yield monitors are equipped with Global
Positioning Systems (GPS), which allows farmers to make maps showing the
distribution of yields in their fields. It is important for those
farmers using yield monitors to start thinking about getting these
sensors ready for their data collection task. An investment of time now
can go a long way toward preventing loss of data or downtime during the
busy harvest season.
Checklist for farmers with yield monitors:
Before going into the field producers should take
the following steps:
 Visually
inspect all sensors and cables. (It's much easier to make repairs now
than during harvest.)
Moisture
sensors that are mounted in the grain tank auger should be inspected for
wear or damage. If you have an elevator-mounted moisture sensor unit,
make sure the manual clean-out switch engages the motor.
Inspect
the grain flow sensor for wear. Also check the clean- grain elevator for
wear, missing or worn paddles and loose chains. Clearance between the
paddles and the top of the elevator should be between 3/8 and 5/8 inch.
With
your combine in an open area, power up your GPS receiver and make sure
you're receiving a good differential correction signal.
Raise
and lower the header to make sure data is recorded only when the header
is lowered, not when it is raised.
Engage
the separator and observe elevator speed. Put the combine in gear and
drive forward to see if the ground-speed indicator is working.
Once
in the field the farmer should begin by calibrating the temperature
sensor if the yield monitor is an Ag Leader or a Case IH AFS.
Calibrating
the grain flow sensor is the most important step in calibration of your
yield monitor. Calibration loads should be at least 4,000 pounds. Begin
with combine and weigh wagon or truck completely empty, and end with the
combine completely empty and all grain in the weigh wagon or truck. Ag
Leader and Case IH AFS monitors require the farmer to calibrate the
grain flow sensor using multiple grain flow rates to determine a
calibration curve for a range of yield levels. A range of grain flow
conditions can be achieved by simply driving the combine faster or
slower than normal, another approach is to harvest using only 1/4 to 1/2
the normal cutting width while traveling at normal speed. In other yield
monitors, the grain flow sensor may be calibrated with one load of grain
harvested under normal expected harvest conditions. Determining a zero
reading when no grain is being harvested completes the calibration.
Set
the swath width properly. In non-row crops, set the monitor swath 1 foot
less than the platform width. Remember to log in the correct crop type
for all fields, and before using the yield data, weigh at least six
separate loads either for initial calibration or to recheck calibration
after a period of use. Calibration of your yield monitor should be
repeated or checked if major differences in harvest conditions are
encountered. Manufacturers recommend recalibration if differences across
hybrids exceed 5 percent in grain moisture, 5 pounds per bushel test
weight or a variation of more than 15 degrees Fahrenheit in grain
temperature.
For more information, go to the MPAC website at www.fse.missouri.edu/mpac
Source: Kent Shannon (573) 884-2267, Forrest
Rose, Information Specialist (573) 882-6843, RoseF@missouri.edu
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