Chaff Spreader on a combine

[will_mck]

This probably sounds stupid but what is the primary purpose of having a chaff Spreader? I know it's obviously to spread the chaff coming from the sieves but I don't really see a purpose for this. Does it mean you can direct drill into the soil more easily without a build up of trash or does it keep the straw swaths drier? I've got a newer combine with one on and don't no whether to bother with it. We bale everything and plough everything. I can see how it would broadcast weeds really well

 

[snarling bee]

If you plough everything then there is probably no need for a chaff spreader, for min till or DD then it would be very important.
Do you want your weed seeds in rows or spread??

 

[Steevo]

One handy thing about spreading chaff - you can more easily tell the difference between sieve and walker losses....both on the day of combining, and what germinates later!

 

[will_mck]

I suppose it would be good when harvesting Oats which has alot of chaff, we sometimes have trouble getting the swaths of straw dry enough to bale because of the amount of chaff in it

 

[goodevans]

I would say in oats it is important because of frit fly as well