Getting The Most Out of Your Yield Monitors After Harvest

By Farms.com Editorial Team 

• Cleanup the data card and after taking back up delete old data to provide sufficient space for the upcoming season.
• Create a backup copy of your raw yield data from the season. This step should be taken before uploading yield data to a Farm Management Information System (FMIS) or providing to your trusted data consultant. Place this backup copy in a secure and safe location at your house or office.

• Write down field notes from the growing season and during harvest, if not done already. This information will be important for analyzing or using to generate prescription maps. Generally we forget information about field conditions and yield monitor operation that can influence the resulting yield maps. 
• Documenting all final calibration factors is important. This information can be useful for the next growing season to Document all your load weights used for calibrating your yield monitor. Again, this information could be useful during post-season analysis.

• Check the expiration dates for any subscription services you are purchasing such as for your GPS. You might want to take care of subscriptions during the winter months.
• After making sure all data is stored to a data card or uploaded to storage location, turn off and consider storing inside for the winter.
• Check all in-cab cabling and connections for any damage.

• Suggest taking off the combine and storing inside if you are not storing the combine in a conditioned space.
• Ensure any correction subscriptions will be renewed so ready for spring work.

• Remove sensor from housing and clean of debris, dirt, and grain.
• Inspect for any excessive wear or damage of plates / fins.  If damaged, suggest replacing over the winter.
• Look over the wiring harness and other electronic devices (e.g. electronic control units – ECU) connected to the moisture sensor for wear or damage.

• There should not be any material built up on the impact plate
• Inspect for excessive wear and replace impact plate if needed.
• Suggest making sure debris and dirt is cleaned from the area where the sensor is mounted since debris can attract rodents.
• Look over wiring harness.

• Check for excessive wear of the elevator chain and paddles; replace if needed.
• Ensure the elevator chain tension is adjusted properly.
• Check both top and bottom bearings on the clean grain elevator.
• If possible, engage separator to ensure the yield monitor system is reading the correct elevator speed.