Brian Hefty is a farmer and agronomist from Baltic, South Dakota. Since 1998, he and his brother Darren have co-hosted “Ag PhD,” the nation’s most-watched agronomy television show. The brothers also…
For the Chirpich family of Wells, MN, their farming roots run generations deep. After decades of farming and raising their children on the family farmstead, Don and Teresa Chirpich drive positive…
In the Agriculture sector, the 2021 year came in bullish. Some might even say the new year came in roaring. For farmers, the transition into a new year can stack up the January to-do list and add up…
If you think equipment brands have the same dedication to quality parts, precision engineering and productivity, then you need to read the exceptional effort Olimac makes in building its Drago corn…
Iowa producer says having a good corn head is crucial for a successful harvest. While many producers find it difficult to consider purchasing a corn head that isn’t from a major brand, northern Iowa…
For many producers, optimizing the performance of their combine is considered key to corn harvest efficiency, but today we know corn head performance is equally as critical.“Twenty years ago it was…
These simple maintenance tips can help capture more yield and extend the life of your corn head. “With today’s farm economy, trading for a new corn head every other year to avoid a breakdown is hardly…
“We tend to accept the fact we're going to have yield loss every year. Well, I wasn't happy with that.” Kansas farmer Josh Koehn said he grew accustomed to the sound of kernels pinging off his combine…
Every corn head brand today features deck plates as a means of limiting small ear and kernel loss at harvest. And for good reason: University studies have proven that gaps as small as 1/8 inch between…
After 14 seasons with a Drago corn head, Daren Lauritsen says, “It owes me nothing.” The farming goal of Daren Lauritsen is to be as efficient and profitable as possible. He had that goal in mind in…
The first corn head was introduced more than 60 years ago. How have they changed since then? The year 1954 was revolutionary for corn harvest mechanization. It was then when U.S. brands John Deere and…
Drago says there is a better way. University research has shown that 60% of yield loss at harvest occurs at the corn head. So, it should be easy to Google “corn head yield loss” to learn the latest…
“In today’s tight farm economy, bushels matter,” says Dustin Bollig, farmer and marketing director for Dragotec, USA. “More and more producers understand the value of precision agriculture for growing…
If there’s better testimony than a producer buying his first Drago corn head, it’s when a producer buys his second Drago corn head. And according to Hancock County Iowa farmer Mark Hiscocks…the…
During harvest, every combine operator has a front-row seat for learning how the growing season went and what can be done to make the next season better. That’s the view of Denny Bollig, farmer and…
“I’ve always said that for a farmer, hell would be having to combine downed corn for all eternity because there’s nothing more stressful or more of a pain point than harvesting downed corn.” The above…
The unusually wet planting season this past spring has created significant plant variability that may cause harvest challenges this fall.And while many producers are re-evaluating their equipment and…
Corn growers understand the critical role of deck plates for capturing yield during harvest. University studies have shown that plate gaps as little as 1/8” wider than stalks could translate to a…
Higher corn plant populations, tougher stalks and an increase in stover yields has resulted in an overabundance of plant material, adding residue management to producers’ harvest time activities…
From the low profile of its row units to the fin design of its auger, every component of the Drago corn head is engineered for added yield and durability. This is the third in a series of Row by Row…
Part 2: Knife rollers Regardless of brand, knife rollers perform essentially the same job, and that is to pull down stalks and separate the ear from its stalk. How well each brand accomplishes that…
Editor’s Note: From the low profile of its row units to the fin design of its auger, every component of the Drago corn head is engineered for added yield and durability. This is the first in a series…
For many producers, brand loyalty plays a major role in the decision to purchase a new corn head. But producers who do their research -- who talk to their trusted neighbors and have watched…
Evaluating your corn head for the next harvest season should begin during harvest in the current season, according to Fenton, Iowa farmer and Dragotec President, Denny Bollig. “That’s when you have…
Combine optimization has often been considered the key to corn harvest efficiency, but as producers’ harvest equipment needs have grown, corn head performance has become equally as critical. “Twenty…
University research has shown that 60% of yield loss occurs at the corn head itself. There are many factors that can be attributed to this loss – and many of them are related when one problem leads to…
When downed corn disrupts harvest season, the potential for yield loss should never be underestimated. “It’s not uncommon to see 10 to 20 bushels/acre of yield loss in downed corn, and in severe…
“As a piece of equipment, university research* indicates sixty-percent of yield loss at harvest is credited to the “corn head,” says Fenton, Iowa, farmer and Dragotec President Dennis Bollig. “But it…
One of the dominant storylines in row crop agriculture in recent years has been the pressure bearish grain market prices have exerted on profitability. Sixty-nine percent of the more than 450 farmers…
Don't let hard-earned bushels of corn slip through the cracks. Much attention is focused on the combine when it comes to reducing yield loss, but university research* has shown that 60% of that loss…
Purchasing a used corn head can be a smart way to save both yield and money, according to Fenton, Iowa, farmer and Dragotec USA president Denny Bollig. And as it is with any used piece of equipment…
When it comes to maximizing the life of a corn head, maintenance matters. “With today’s tight farm economy, trading in for a new corn head every other year to avoid a breakdown is hardly an option…
With 45 years on his family’s Century Farm near the northern Iowa town of Fenton, Denny Bollig has seen his share of economic cycles in agriculture. His experience working through those cycles not…
When corn planting and early crop development are slowed by rainfall and less-than-perfect conditions, corn diseases should be a key target for crop scouting as the growing season unfolds. This will…
At harvest time, farmers say there is no greater concern when it comes to yield loss potential than downed or wind-damaged corn. Of the more than 450 corn farmers responding to a Dragotec USA survey…
The combination of the pest, weed or disease pressures your corn crop faces, the treatments you choose and the environment into which you apply those pesticides can create a lot of variability in your…
Extreme environmental conditions and the crop management adjustments they force upon farmers are the two biggest causes for corn yield loss. That’s according to the more than 450 corn farmers surveyed…
In a year when the markets look to continue to strain corn farmers’ profitability, it’s important to keep insects in check and account for their damage with the right in-season management and…
Corn yield loss can start even before seedlings emerge from the ground. New research into how plants interact with one another at their earliest stages of development has implications for weed control…
Environmental and soil conditions that create plant variability in a corn crop cause potential yield loss from the day it’s planted all the way through harvest. Making adjustments to account for the…
Today’s tight profit margins in corn are pressuring farmers to cut costs, gain efficiency and do whatever possible to maximize yield and get the most revenue out of their crops. In order to maximize…
Fall harvest is when corn farmers reap the rewards of their hard work. It’s also when they face major variability in environmental conditions — and potential yield loss — as they race against the…
Inside a factory in northern Italy, cutting-edge production practices and personal attention converge to produce the corn heads that bear the Drago name. But the facility located near the city of…