The Science vs. Art of Harvesting Corn
The Drago engineering technology is as advanced as the biotech corn it harvests. We have it down to a science. Because every detail from the self-adjusting deck plates to the slower tip speed of the knife rollers are designed to ensure the elimination of human error in reducing yield loss.
When human judgment and action is required, it turns the process from science to art at best. The precision of the Drago self-adjusting deck plates scientifically achieves reduced shelling loss.
Hydraulically adjusted deck plates are only as accurate as the skill and attentiveness of the operator. That’s artful guessing. Misadjusted deck plates increase yield loss.
Here’s proof:
Dr. Graeme Quick
Dr. Graeme Quick holds a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering and Agricultural Engineering. As a former Engineering departmental head at Iowa State University and as an author of several books on harvesting equipment, he is recognized as a world authority on combines and corn heads. Here are some of his research findings and conclusions.
“Deck-plate settings or stripping plate openings are absolutely critical in corn harvesting. Even the slightest excess in the setting is a cause of kernel loss. Hydraulic deck plate adjusters on modern, U.S. built corn heads are very convenient but they do not assure accuracy in the deck plate openings across the head.”
“Differences between openings on conventional 8-row heads have been surveyed, and can be as great as one-half inch,” states Dr. Quick.
“As a rule of thumb, each additional 1/10th of an inch deck plate opening may be causing as much as 4 bushels an acre loss.”
Dr. Quick continues, “There is good argument for keeping deck plate openings as tight as feasible; this is precisely where the Drago has the edge, by virtue of it’s auto-adjust feature.”
“Furthermore, fixed or hydraulically-adjusted deck plates rely on operator judgment to set the openings to match crop conditions. That is not a satisfactory solution, giving the crucial effect of deck plate openings on yield,” concludes Dr. Graeme Quick.
Dennis Bollig - President, Dragotec USA
“There are solid reasons why we do not offer hydraulic deck plates on Drago Corn Heads,” states Denny Bollig, President and CEO of Dragotec USA Inc.
1). Hydraulic deck plates greatly increase the risk of head loss
2). Hydraulic deck plates are set on the go by the operator. Human error increases the potential yield loss
3). Only one side of deck plate moves increasing whipping and potential shelling loss
4). Wear on both the deck plates and linkage increases the risk of yield loss
5). Hydraulic deck plates are old technology. The self-adjusting deck plates are the newest and best technology to reduce yield loss
Randy Flora
Carroll County, IN
“I’m happy to get away from the hydraulic deck plates. You no longer have to question yourself as far as width.”
Greg and Eric Palmer
Grove City, MN
“We did a replicated strip comparison with a Pioneer weigh wagon between a demo Drago and our Harvestec – the results were 4-5 Bu/Acre increase with the Drago. The Drago did a great job chopping stalks and we also found we could drive 1 mph faster with the Drago. After doing the comparison we traded our Harvestec for a 6 row Drago.”
Charles Hawley
Auburn, NE
“Until you run one or watch it run, you can’t believe how much corn you save…I think some test show 2-3 Bu/A savings. When you talk $3.50 - $4.00 corn it doesn’t take long to make-up difference of price of corn head.”
Randy Dermody
Parnell, IA
“We had no problems what-so-ever. We had yields ranging from 50 bushels to 220 bushels – I never saw any corn on the ground from the corn head.”
