How to Choose the Best Canola Harvester Depending on the field topography and environmental conditions, canola harvester options can vary. Producers can choose from swathing, pushing, direct combining or cutting standing canola. Each of these methods can help producers control the harvest timing and efficiencies. The key is to plan ahead and make harvesting a productive operation. Swathing is the most common method for canola harvesting in the northern Great Plains. The process involves two passes. One pass involves placing a swath on the stubble for seven to ten days. Once the seed moisture drops to about eight to ten per cent, the swath is removed. The other pass involves cutting off the pods from the plant. In the Great Plains, producers often apply a desiccant like diquat before swathing. This type of desiccant can help reduce the risk of seed shattering. It can also increase the greenness of the seed. Depending on the seed, the colour change may take a few days to a few weeks. The seed colour change is important, although the colour of the field may also play a role. The combination of a low seeding rate and a fast curing period will increase the greenness of the seed. These two factors may result in an earlier harvest. This can help increase double cropping opportunities. The timing of a harvest also affects yield and quality. If a crop is cut too early, the seeds will not have time to mature. The best time to cut is when the seed is at about sixty per cent of its colour change. Using this method allows producers to get the highest quality and the most yield. Direct combining is another harvest method that can be used to manage efficiencies during harvest. This method involves using auger-style headers. For this method, the
Midwest Fabrication started life on a property in The Gums, Qld. After purchasing his first combine harvester with no front, Martin believed he could build a front for himself keeping in mind the undulated conditions he would be harvesting in.
