Research Objective

• Study combine loss in the field across Western Canada
• Determine how many variables affect combine loss
• Generate a report summarizing methods and findings for the research community and producers
• Publish the results in a scientific journal

Project Description

The three sources of harvest loss in on-field operations include environmental loss (prior to cutting or gathering), header loss, and combine loss. The average total harvest loss is approximately 5.9% in Western Canada. This study will focus on combine loss and the adjustments that operators can make to manage this. The study will be conducted over 100 farms across Western Canada, with over 100 combines to look at variables that increase or decrease combine loss. Currently there has not been an in-field survey such as this to look only at combine loss in canola (or any crop), and this will help to quantify where the harvest loss is mainly coming from. This project will have direct benefit to researchers, providing them with parameters to reference for harvest loss, as well as producers so that they can manage and minimize harvest loss in the future.