Field day will explore ways to improve combine settings for better small-grains harvest – June 27, in Grundy Center

Contacts:

Titan Machinery | (319) 404-4200 | misty.wells@titanmachinery.org | titanmachinery.com

Tamsyn Jones | Outreach & Publications Coordinator | Practical Farmers of Iowa | (515) 232-5661 | tamsyn@practicalfarmers.org

GRUNDY CENTER, Iowa — In theory, harvesting small grains standing in the field with a soybean combine head is possible. In practice, however, many farmers experience high grain loss when they try this harvest method.

The reason is most likely due to how the soybean combine head is set up. By making some key adjustments, it’s possible to significantly increase the amount of grain captured.

Titan Machinery will host a Practical Farmers of Iowa field day on combine settings for small grains harvest on Wednesday, June 27, from 10 a.m. – noon, in Grundy Center (23604 Diagonal Road, on the east edge of town).

The event – “Combine Clinic for Small Grains Harvesting” – is free to attend and includes a lunch following the program. RSVPs are requested for the meal to Debra Boekholder, debra@practicalfarmers.org or (515) 232-5661, by Friday, June 22.

This event is part of Practical Farmers’ main 2018 field day season, which includes 40 events across the state, and beyond, on topics spanning the agricultural spectrum.

In this clinic, guests will learn from Brandon Maxwell, Titan Machinery’s area product manager, and service technician David Freeseman, about how making adjustments in the gathering (head), threshing and cleaning areas can increase the ability of the combine to capture as much grain as possible, as cleanly as possible.

Wade Dooley, a Practical Farmers of Iowa member from Albion, will bring his combine to the field day, and attendees will get to watch as it is set up for harvesting Wade’s cereal rye later this summer. The group will also discuss maintenance issues and equipment used in small grains harvest.

Titan Machinery operates a network of full-service agriculture and construction equipment stores in the United States and Europe. Customers can buy or rent new and used construction and agriculture equipment; purchase parts; and get service support. Titan Machinery represents its manufacturing partner, the CNHi family of brands – including Case IH, Case Construction, New Holland Agriculture and New Holland Construction.

Directions from the junction of U.S. 20 and IA Hwy 14: Take IA Hwy 14 south toward Grundy Center. Once in Grundy Center, IA Hwy 14 becomes 4th Street and runs into a T-intersection with G Avenue / IA Hwy 175. Turn left (east) on G Avenue / IA Hwy 175; just outside of town this becomes Diagonal Avenue. Titan Machinery will be on the right (south) side of the road.

From Marshalltown: Take IA Hwy 14 north to IA Hwy 175 and turn right (east) onto IA Hwy 175 / IA Hwy 14. Continue on IA Hwy 175 east through Grundy Center. IA 175 becomes Diagonal Avenue; Titan Machinery will be on the right (south) side of the road.

Practical Farmers’ 2018 field days are supported by several sustaining and major sponsors, including: Albert Lea Seed; Applegate Natural & Organic Meats; Blue River Organic Seed; Cascadian Farms; Center for Rural Affairs; Farm Credit Services of America; Gandy Cover Crop Seeders; Grain Millers, Inc.; Green Cover Seed; Green Thumb Commodities; Iowa Agriculture Water Alliance; Iowa Beef Center; Iowa State University Department of Agronomy; Iowa Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE); ISU Extension and Outreach; La Crosse Forage and Turf Seed; MOSA Organic Certification; Natural Resources Defense Council; Organic Valley / Organic Prairie; PepsiCo; Pipeline Foods; Premier 1 Supplies; Sunrise Foods International; The DeLong Company; The Fertrell Company; The Scoular Company; Unilever; University of Iowa College of Public Health (I-CASH); USDA: Natural Resources Conservation Service; Wallace Chair for Sustainable Agriculture; and Welter Seed & Honey Co.

Practical Farmers of Iowa works to equip farmers to build resilient farms and communities. Our values include: welcoming everyone; farmers leading the exchange of experience and knowledge; curiosity, creativity, collaboration and community; resilient farms now and for future generations; and stewardship of land and resources. To learn more, visit http://practicalfarmers.org.