A combine, regardless of it's colour is not very productive if it is sitting in the field waiting to unload.
Example of Two Combines Harvesting Barley
This example with utilize a barley crop yielding 80 bu/acre, and 2 combines operating in good to ideal weather conditions.
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Combine harvester with 36 ft (11 m) head = 21.8 acres/hr (8.8 ha/hr) @ 5 mph (8 kph).
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A combine doing 21.8 acres/hr (8.8 ha/hr) will fill it’s 320 (11.25m3) bushel hopper every 11 minutes.
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With two combines in the field, we can estimate that each combine will average about 2 minutes of down time waiting for the truck to come to unload. This will vary on field conditions, distance to truck unload point, and skill of truck driver.
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The two combines have harvested 369 acres (149 ha), or 29,520 bu. (1040m3) in one 10 hour day. The same combines would spend 185 minutes (3.1 hours) waiting for the truck(s).
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The 3.1 hours of down-time @ 21.8 acres/hr (8.8 ha/hr) equals 67 acres (27 ha) not harvested at the end of the day.
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Actual thrashing efficiency is 85%. This equals 2685 bu. (95m3) of barley not harvested at the end of the day.
Third Combine Will Increase Harvest Capacity
Purchasing a third combine of the same capacity as the first two will increase thrashing capacity, but will put additional strain on the movement of the grain out the field.
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In the same field, each of the three combines may increase to an average of 3 minutes per load for the same truck(s). Again, this will vary on field conditions, distance to truck unload point, and skill of truck driver.
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The three combines, in a 10 hour day will spend a total of 385 minutes (6.4 hours) waiting on the truck(s).
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The three combines have harvested 514 acres (208 ha), or 41,120 bu. (1449m3) in one day.
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The 6.4 hours of down-time @ 21.8 acres/hr (8.8 ha/hr) equals 140 acres (56.5 ha) not harvested at the end of the day.
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Actual thrashing efficiency is now 79%. This equals 11,200 bu. (395m3) of barley not harvested at the end of the day.
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Actual harvesting capacity has increased by 28% with the addition of a third combine, but thrashing efficiency has actually decreased by 6%.
Bourgault 1200 Grain Cart Will Increase Harvest Capacity & Efficiency
Going back to our two combine example, we now add a Model 1200 Grain Cart to ensure that both combines, as well as the grain truck(s) will keep moving at all times.
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With the two combines thrashing 100% of the time, the producer will be able to take off 436 acres (176 ha) of barley per day.
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Actual thrashing efficiency is now 100%, resulting in a gain of 18% in harvesting capacity in a two combine operation. This increase is achieved at approximately 1/10 of the cost of a third combine!
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If we add a 1200 Grain Cart to a three-combine operation, thrashing efficiency is increased by 21%! Efficiency gains in trucking are also realized, since the 1200 grain cart will keep the trucks moving as well as the combines.
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If weather conditions were to hamper the ability for the trucks to travel in the field, combines could be forced to travel to the trucks to unload, greatly decreasing the time thrashing. The 1200 Grain Cart could actually exceed the benefits of a third combine in both efficiency and capacity in adverse conditions.
Maximize Your Harvesting Efficiency and Capacity
Once you’ve done the math, it’s easy to see that the addition of a Bourgault 1200 Grain Cart is the most logical option for increasing harvest efficiency and capacity. You also improve your ability to harvest through challenging harvest conditions. The bottom line is that the 1200 Grain Cart has the ability to improve the profitability of your farming operation. The unique features of the Bourgault 1200 Grain Cart will ensure that your investment will increase both efficiency and capacity in the widest range of harvesting conditions.