[AT] For the steamer guys

[John Hall]

 I take it that the weather in your area is typically pretty dry during 
harvest time? We are normally dodging rain showers that time of year. Could 
rain on consecutive days, could be 3 weeks apart,normally we only get rain 
about once a week. Either last year or the year before it started raining 
with a lot of wheat still out in the field. Lots of folks had it sprout in 
the head. I had some straw one time I had to wait 3 weeks to bale due to 
rain. I didn't complain too much as the rain sure helped the beans get off 
to a running start.

John
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Ralph Goff" <alfg at sasktel.net>
To: "Antique tractor email discussion group" <at at lists.antique-tractor.com>
Sent: Saturday, February 17, 2007 1:40 AM
Subject: Re: [AT] For the steamer guys


> John Hall wrote:
>> Mine has a John Deere engine---quite powerful to say the least. Glad to 
>> know its not the same as the 4020's--I've been wondering that for some 
>> time.
>>
>> Somebody has got to explain why windrow harvesting takes less horsepower 
>> or is it that there is just that little crop matter in that type of 
>> farming. We try to harvest grain at around 12-15%. Sometimes the straw is 
>> still tough and that really slows you down. Used to bale a lot for straw 
>> so we cut low but now I run the header up a bit and have added a chopper 
>> (Thanks Bill!!!!).
>
> John, in fact its just the opposite. Picking up a swath will almost always 
> take more power and slower harvesting than straight cutting a standing 
> crop. To make a decent swath we have to cut longer length of straw so 
> there is just more material to push through the concave. Straight cutting 
> a cereal crop, especially a tall one, will go faster because we only have 
> to cut enough straw to get all the heads. Thats one reason why straight 
> cutting has become more popular because it saves time and fuel.
> Now your probably wondering why we would ever want to swath a crop if it 
> takes more fuel and horsepower and time to do it. Swathing is mainly done 
> to hurry up and even out the ripening of a crop. We can cut grain pretty 
> high moisture and green and let it dry down in the swath, much like hay, 
> and if we are lucky and no big downpours before we pick up the swath we 
> will get some nice, dry, high grade grain out of it. But get a heavy rain 
> or a long spell of damp weather and those swaths can mould and sprout 
> before they dry out leaving us with low grade, partially sprouted grain.
> Lately, desiccating is becoming popular as a replacement for swathing.
> I was lucky with weather the past year and was able to straight cut most 
> of my cereal grain dry and in good condition, no swathing or desiccating 
> required.
>
> Ralph in Sask.
>