Key Takeaways
- Bushel Plus CEO Marcel Kringe emphasizes the economic risks of unmeasured harvest losses.
- Even minor grain loss during harvesting can lead to thousands of dollars in reduced revenue per farm.
- Factory settings and in-cab sensors may not provide an accurate assessment of combine efficiency.
- The SmartPan System™ by Bushel Plus offers a solution for measuring and reducing harvest losses.
- Data-driven calibration can help improve yields and overall profitability for grain and row crop farmers.
Bushel Plus Calls for Improved Harvest Loss Monitoring
Focus on combine calibration to recover lost yields
Bushel Plus, a provider of harvest optimization tools, is encouraging grain and row crop producers to prioritize measuring harvest loss as a key strategy for maintaining profitability. According to the company’s CEO, Marcel Kringe, many farmers unknowingly experience significant losses during harvesting due to uncalibrated or inefficient combine settings.
“Combine grain loss is one of the biggest invisible threats to profitability,” Kringe stated. “Most farmers assume their machines are performing efficiently, but without measuring actual loss, they’re often losing more than they realize.”
Measuring to Manage: The Case for Accurate Data
Estimated losses show real economic impact
Kringe explained that even small percentages of crop loss can translate into considerable financial consequences. For instance, a 3% loss on a 200 bushel-per-acre corn yield could result in more than $24,000 in revenue lost over 1,000 acres. Similar calculations apply to other crops, such as soybeans, with 3% loss totaling over $21,000 under typical price and yield scenarios.
He emphasized that many farmers rely heavily on combine factory presets and in-cab loss sensors, which may not account for key variables like crop conditions, terrain, or equipment wear. “Factory settings are a starting point, not a precision solution,” Kringe said.
Bushel Plus’s SmartPan System™ Offers Field-Level Insights
A technology-assisted approach to accurate calibration
To address this issue, Bushel Plus developed the SmartPan System™, a remote drop pan tool designed to capture grain loss data in real time during field operation. The system includes a magnetic release drop pan, the Air Separator for sample cleaning, and a digital weighing scale connected to the SmartDrop™ mobile app for instant analysis.
The company reports that users of the SmartPan System have been able to reduce harvest losses from as high as 8% to under 1%. The tool is compatible with major crop types, including corn, soybeans, wheat, canola, barley, and rice, and is used by various equipment manufacturers.
Bushel Plus Stresses ROI from Real-Time Adjustment
Turning loss data into actionable performance gains
Kringe argues that timely and accurate measurements allow farmers to make informed adjustments to combine settings and improve efficiency. “This system gives growers everything they need to take quick, corrective action,” he said. According to Bushel Plus, the SmartPan System has helped many producers achieve a return on investment during their first harvest season using the tool.
Bushel Plus Inc.
Bushel Plus Inc. is a global provider of harvest optimization technology, offering solutions that help farmers reduce grain loss and improve yield outcomes. The company is active in over 35 countries, working alongside dealers, agronomists, and equipment manufacturers.
Driven by the principle that “you can only harvest once,” Bushel Plus equips growers with field-proven tools to make invisible grain losses measurable and actionable, supporting more profitable harvests worldwide.
