[AT] For the steamer guys

[Ralph Goff]

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.