Spring Tips to Capture More Yield this Fall
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…
Drago Owners Never Look Back
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…
Strategies for Success in 2021
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…
No other corn head works like a Drago or is built to last like one.
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…
After his first decision to buy a Drago, the next three decisions were easier.
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…
Upgrade or added maintenance?
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…
Check your corn head now for optimum harvest performance this fall.
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…
Once he ran a Drago, he knew he made a smart decision.
“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…
Harvest study reveals most corn heads leaving yield in the field.
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…
Efficiency and profitability goals lead Iowa farmer to a Drago corn head.
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 evolution of the corn head and the quest for maximum yield.
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…
Why do most producers accept unnecessary loss at the corn head?
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…
Harvest study shows combine guidance can pay for itself in added bushels.
“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…
Why I bought a Drago (again). Repeat purchase confirms Drago corn head quality.
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…
Leverage insights at harvest to boost productivity next year.
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…
Harvesting downed corn: "You just have to go down and get it."
“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…
Re-evaluate your equipment. Now's the time to prepare for the plant variability at harvest
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…
Harvest study highlights benefit of automatic deck plates for capturing yield
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…
Managing Corn Residue
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…
Part 3: A component-by-component look at what makes Drago the most advanced corn head in the industry.
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…
Parts 2: A component-by-component look at what makes Drago the most advanced corn head in the industry.
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…
Part 1: A component-by-component look at what makes Drago the most advanced corn head in the industry.
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…
Brothers describe their decision to buy a Drago corn head and what they’ve learned
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…
Post-Harvest Corn Head Check List
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…
Upgrade your corn head, capture more harvest
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…
Top Three Reasons for Harvest Loss at the Corn Head
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…
Reminders for dealing with downed corn
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…
Preharvest corn head checklist: Guidelines to significantly reduce yield loss and in-season breakdowns.
“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…
Keep costs down with durable corn harvest equipment
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…
When you're looking for a way to improve yield, take a look at your corn head.
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…
How to buy a used corn head
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…
Key maintenance checkpoints extend corn head efficiency.
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…
Tough times make you better
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…
Corn disease pressures, variability and yield loss
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…
Downed corn can put a dent in yield potential
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…
Four steps to avoiding corn pesticide injury and variability
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…
Top 5 factors influencing corn yield loss
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…
Vigilance, the right equipment keeps insects from robbing corn yield
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…
Weeds Cause Corn Yield Loss From Day One
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…
Top 5 causes of corn yield variability
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…
How much is corn yield costing you
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…
Hit the right harvest window to minimize yield loss
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…
Olimac: Dedicated to building the best performing corn head on the planet
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…
