It’s not that long ago that the corn head on your combine by default came from the same company that built the combine. But today, there are an increasing number of choices for producers looking for additional or different features with their corn head.
For many years, corn head designs changed very little. In recent years, an increasing number of growers have looked for alternatives to the standard options available through the companies building the combines.
Row spacing, residue management, transportability, and capacity – all these factors are at play in the new marketplace for corn heads, and a number of after-market companies are rushing to deliver the goods. The combine manufacturers are also hearing the message from corn producers and offering more of the choices that are in demand.
If you are considering a new corn head, there are a number of factors to consider especially if the corn head is not built by the combine manufacturer.
1. Weight
If going to narrower row spacing or a head with more rows than you currently have, there will be more weight. Talk to your combine dealer to find out if the extra weight will be an issue for the hydraulic lifting capacity of the combine. Tire configuration may also be something that you need to upgrade if going to a heavier head.
2. Adapter kits
The angle of the head is very important for optimal performance. Make sure that you can get the new head to the correct angle on your combine with adaptor plates/kits that are available with most after-market heads.
3. Transportation
Big heads can be more difficult to transport. Some companies now offer hydraulic powered folding corn heads that eliminate the need to drop the head on a transport wagon when moving from farm to farm.
4. Power Requirements
Corn heads that chop or shred corn residue are becoming more popular, especially with producers that are growing extremely high yielding corn crops and are finding it difficult to manage the residue that is left behind after harvest. Corn heads that chop residue require more horsepower than a standard corn head. Make sure your combine has enough power for this kind of head.
5. Adjustability
Ease of adjustability is one area where new heads are much improved over older models. If you encounter significant variability in conditions, explore the options available that allow for easy, on-the-fly adjustment of key components, including deck plates.
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