Technologies for harvesting corn and corn residues (in bales)

There are several technological schemes for harvesting grain corn. Currently, the main method for harvesting commercial corn is combine threshing of ears in the field, shredding and spreading of the cut biomass with the use of combine harvesters equipped with corn reapers. This method of harvesting grain corn is the most economically feasible. In comparison with harvesting ears, the method provides 1.8-2 times decrease in labor costs and 20-25% reduction in fuel consumption[2]. Only a few agricultural enterprises (seed factories) collect corn as non-threshed ears with the following stationary threshing, which makes it possible to collect cobs. The seed factories grow corn to obtain (hybrid) corn seeds as planting stock. Collection of mixture of grain and cobs with combines is not widespread in Ukraine yet.

For Ukraine, we recommend “combine + tractor with stalk-shredding windrower + tractor with baler” technology.

Prepared by: Semen Drahniev – Member of the Expert Council of the Bioenergy Association of Ukraine for the platform of sustainable agribusiness SAF Ukraine.

Technologies for harvesting corn and corn residues (in bales). Semen Drahniev. The platform of sustainable agribusiness SAF Ukraine. October 8th, 2019.

The Bioenergy Association of Ukraine since 2019 is a partner of the platform of sustainable agribusiness SAF Ukraine.