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Combine harvester workshops run by the Foundation for Arable Research came up trumps to win the Primary Industries New Zealand Technology and Innovation award.
The initiative, which took a closer look at the efficiency of a key piece of machinery for arable farmers, was instigated by FAR鈥檚 technology manager Chris Smith.
The combine harvester workshops aimed to save growers valuable time and money during the critical harvest period as well as reducing potential yield and profit losses.
While on the surface it might have appeared that arable farmers and their machinery dealers already knew everything about successfully running combine harvesters, FAR funded an independent team of experts from Australia and Canada to visit and take a fresh look.
For the past two seasons these experts have carried out grower workshops prior to harvest and then returned to visit individual growers on their farms during harvest to check how adjustments are performing in the field.
Smith said adjustments made to combines led to some instant harvesting gains and cost savings including reduced crop losses, faster harvesting speeds, lower diesel consumption, reduced horsepower and better harvest samples.
鈥淥ne grower took 70 hours off his combining and another reduced fuel consumption by 30% as well as producing a clean sample.
鈥淎nother farmer increased his harvesting capacity in barley from 20 hectares to 30ha a day.
鈥淪ome farms were already doing well, and it was confirmation for them that they are running their combines efficiently.鈥
The combine specialists, led by Peter Broley of Primary Sales Australia, each concentrate on specific brands with Kassie van der Westhuizen advising on John Deere; Brett Asphar on Case and Claas, and Murray Skayman, from Canada, on New Holland and Case.
Each expert has 20-30 years鈥 experience with the brand companies, dealerships and as independent consultants.
As combines cost $500 to $1000 an hour to run, including diesel, finance and depreciation, any increase in efficiency and throughput saves money.
The workshops show the importance of growers measuring and monitoring potential grain and seed losses and fine-tuning settings to mitigate these.
鈥淕rowers have only one opportunity to harvest a crop. Once it is gone out the back of the harvester it is too late.鈥
Another round of combine workshops is planned in the South Island this summer.