A corn harvester, also known as a corn combine harvester, is a piece of equipment used to harvest corn crops. With the combination of several functions in this piece of machinery, users can easily and efficiently harvest crops.
Corn Harvester Product Page
A corn harvester works in a series of stages to successfully harvest corn. First, the cutter head is adjusted to the appropriate height and position to match the crop height and row spacing. From there the corn harvester cuts the stalks of corn while the reel guides them into the machine. The kernels are then separated from the cobs and are cleaned, removing any debris. The cleaned kernels are then stored in the grain tank, the stalks are copped, and the straw spreader evenly distributes the residue. Each step within the process is controlled by the operator via a control panel inside the corn combine harvester.
Corn combine harvesters provide several benefits in harvesting corn that help improve efficiency and effectiveness. Some benefits of using a corn combine harvester include:
Corn combine harvesters are designed to simplify and streamline the harvesting process, compared to manual processes. Combine harvesters can easily cover large areas of crops which helps improve efficiency and reduce time-consuming labor.
Corn combine harvesters have the capability to harvest large amounts of crops which allows them to continuously harvest without constantly unloading, increasing productivity and saving time.
Most corn combine harvesters feature advanced cleaning systems to remove debris and impurities from the harvested corn or crop.
Corn combine harvesters feature residue management which helps to chop the remnants of corn stalks and distribute them evenly over the field. This process helps to promote soil protection and eliminates the need for separate residue management operations.
Using a corn combine harvester automates the harvesting process, reducing the need for manual labor. These machines enable farmers to harvest more efficiently, which helps free up time for other labor-intensive tasks.
Combine harvesting is the process of cutting and feeding a crop into the harvester, threshing to separate the grain, cleaning to remove impurities, storing the grain in the tank, and managing residues.
The parts of a corn combine harvester consists of mechanisms that cut, gather, thresh, clean, store, and manage residue of the crop. While these are the most common parts of a traditional corn combine harvester, there are also variations of their parts and additional features depending on the manufacturer of the harvester.
The two main types of corn harvesters include self-propelled harvesters and pull-type harvesters. The main difference between the two is that self-propelled harvesters have their own engine, while pull-type harvesters are attached to a tractor or another piece of machinery and are towed on the pulling force provided by the machinery.
For more information regarding corn combine harvesters, contact your local John Deere dealer.
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When is Corn Planting Season?
On our farm we grow corn for grain. Unlike sweet corn our corn remains in the field until fall when the plant reaches maturity and the grain dries out. So what kind of equipment do we have to get it out of the field and into our grain bins or off to market?
A combine harvester, or combine, is the tool of choice for harvesting corn and other grains. The reason this piece of equipment is called a combine is simply because it combines several jobs into a single machine. Combines cut the crop and separate the grain from the plant while processing and spreading the remaining material over the field. The invention of the combine was a major moment in human history (with some debate about who really invented it!) that revolutionized the way grain crops were harvested. Wikipedia has a really nice page on the history of the combine harvester.
At the front of a combine is the corn head. Combines can switch between a variety of heads depending on the type of crop harvested. The inner workings of the combine itself dont require a swap like changing heads from corn to another crop like soybeans, but adjustments in speeds, spacings, and more are made accordingly.
I discuss how a corn head works in the video below. Basically what happens is a pair of spinning rolls pull the corn stalks down through the head. Just above those rolls metal plates pop the ear off the stalk. Gathering chains push the ears to the back of the head where an auger funnels the ears to the center of the head and into the front of the combine to begin the grain separating process.
About 10 seconds after the head takes in the ears there will be clean, separated grain in the grain tank. In this short span of time a lot of activity happens inside the machine. Once the whole corn ears enter the combine they are introduced to a spinning rotor which threshes the grain from the cob. This is done both mechanically by the machine and by grain on grain threshing as material is flung around the rotor. After the rotor a series of cleaning mechanisms come into play. This short animation reveals the process much better than I can say in words.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D4MmtI1zVEA
Once the corn is clean it enters the clean grain elevator where it is transported up into the grain tank where it can be held until the tank is full. Our tank holds just over 400 bushels. Some grain may go through a secondary cleaning process via the tailings elevator. We routinely check samples of grain for damage and cleanliness, and make adjustments to the combine as needed. With todays modern machines we can make nearly all the adjustments from the cab on the go with the push of a button.
Once the kernels are in the grain tank all the material left behind must be dealt with. Bits of leaves and stalks along with the corn husks and cobs exit the rear of the combine. Combines are equipped to either spread the material evenly over the field or to drop a windrow of plant material that could be baled for livestock. We spread our chaff and let it sit for no-till or incorporate it into the soil with tillage.
To see our corn harvest in action check out the following video from my YouTube channel. Enjoy! And if you have any questions or comments about combines and corn please comment below!
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