Most efficient way to run 2 combines in the same field?

[Pilatus]

As above.
If you do use 2 or more combines in the same field do you dedicate grain trailers to certain combines.
I ask as we will be using 2 combines in the same field for the first time this season.

 

[Punch]

Depends on some variables as best efficiency with combines doesn’t alway equal efficiency with grain haulage.
Unloading on the move 1st combine empties tank into trailer and then 2nd combine fills load and it’s on and gone.
Trailer is only in field for time it takes to fill move to other combine & fill again.
Needs everyone to know which is 1 & 2 and for both drivers to communicate and not be far apart but not be in each others way or dust cloud!
When we’ve had demo’s in the past and had capacity to keep our combine going you can certainly harvest some grain quick.
Think where we could manage with 2 trailers carting we only needed an extra tractor and trailer to keep up.

 

[David.]

Most efficient way is probably servicing them both with a shuttle-cart.
This may not be the same as the cheapest way.

 

[Spud]

The big efficiency dictator is field size.
In big fields (40ac+) Then running both together, with trailers getting a tip from each combine on the move I would think works really well. If fields are small its probably more efficient for them to be in their own fields to reduce the combine downtime of two header swaps per field if you see what I mean. in which case each combine would have its own carts.

We run a 20' CX760, and one 14t trailer keeps it going on its own on all but the furthest fields. Door open, tip and go in the yard, no waiting. Only need an extra on the far stuff. If we upgraded to a 25' 6 walker (or some such) then we'd need two carts all the time and a third occasionally. That creates more problems than cutting a bit slower tbh, because invariably the dryer man or baler operator has to jump on a cart because those elusive casuals that want 3 random days or whatever don't exist, so other work has to wait. The cost of the extra capacity would create too much inefficency. As it is, the CX is only cutting about 600acres, it'd manage 1000 with the same spread of crops and there's plenty of life in it it yet, so I don't see need to change on the horizon.

 

[Wigeon]

I've no idea, but a few yrs ago I was in the grainstore receiving trailers from 2x lexion 780s in the same field, both doing 60tph, unloading on the move, 5 min cart back to farm. It was quite busy...

 

[Exfarmer]

do as one guy did with one of my supersize silage trailers ( they had an extra panel all round to accommodate parsley). boasted of hauling over 20 tonne a time. I was most definitely unaware of what he was doing with them till they came back

 

[Pan mixer]

Did this for many years. Logistics are interesting but much easier nowadays with phones.

Ideally trailers should hold 2 running tanks, one from each or take what is in combine 2 as soon as the trailer can get there after emptying combine 1.

(Always empty combine 1 first unless he is broken down otherwise it will be idle whilst you empty number 2)

Straight back to the shed then.

Distance may dictate 1,2 or even 3 trailers required but no point trailers standing idle in the field or at the store waiting to tip or come to that, meeting each other in the narrow roads between field and store.

PX farms runs a chaser with each of his combines but he is running 4 at once, sometimes in the same field but the chasers are emptying into bulkers on the headland so the store end is not a problem nor is queueing to unload. His system is very efficient but would cost several million to set up I suspect

 

[Spud]

Did this for many years. Logistics are interesting but much easier nowadays with phones.

Ideally trailers should hold 2 running tanks, one from each or take what is in combine 2 as soon as the trailer can get there after emptying combine 1.

(Always empty combine 1 first unless he is broken down otherwise it will be idle whilst you empty number 2)

Straight back to the shed then.

Distance may dictate 1,2 or even 3 trailers required but no point trailers standing idle in the field or at the store waiting to tip or come to that, meeting each other in the narrow roads between field and store.

PX farms runs a chaser with each of his combines but he is running 4 at once, sometimes in the same field but the chasers are emptying into bulkers on the headland so the store end is not a problem nor is queueing to unload. His system is very efficient but would cost several million to set up I suspect

It undoubtedly helps that some of his fields are 300acres +
My average is about 11acres here!

 

[Brisel]

Are both combines the same models and header widths? Even if they are, they will rarely be operating at the same output. Differing yields, operator skills, short work, trailer size vs tank size, 70% sensor setting etc. So many variables in play here.

The simplest way is to send the trailer to the one with its light on first then across to the other one, returning to the first to top off if the next trailer isn't back by then and there is still room. The store operator will prefer a steady flow of trailers, not 2 at once then a long gap.

Run both combines as a pair if you like but you will need good communication for setup etc. if you want them together.

I used to tell the trailer drivers to not leave the field until the next one was back so they didn't meet in a narrow lane.

One way systems can help where logistics allow.

Just keep everyone communicating and you'll be fine.

 

[Spud]

Are both combines the same models and header widths? Even if they are, they will rarely be operating at the same output. Differing yields, operator skills, short work, trailer size vs tank size, 70% sensor setting etc. So many variables in play here.

The simplest way is to send the trailer to the one with its light on first then across to the other one, returning to the first to top off if the next trailer isn't back by then and there is still room. The store operator will prefer a steady flow of trailers, not 2 at once then a long gap.

Run both combines as a pair if you like but you will need good communication for setup etc. if you want them together.

I used to tell the trailer drivers to not leave the field until the next one was back so they didn't meet in a narrow lane.

One way systems can help where logistics allow.

Just keep everyone communicating and you'll be fine.

We have a policy or empty gives way to loaded, particularly on spuds. Wheels need to be turning

 

[Luke Cropwalker]

Make communications between everyone as easy as possible, with either CB radios or dedicated 2 way radios if your pockets are deep enough.

 

[Pilatus]

Are both combines the same models and header widths? Even if they are, they will rarely be operating at the same output. Differing yields, operator skills, short work, trailer size vs tank size, 70% sensor setting etc. So many variables in play here.

The simplest way is to send the trailer to the one with its light on first then across to the other one, returning to the first to top off if the next trailer isn't back by then and there is still room. The store operator will prefer a steady flow of trailers, not 2 at once then a long gap.

Run both combines as a pair if you like but you will need good communication for setup etc. if you want them together.

I used to tell the trailer drivers to not leave the field until the next one was back so they didn't meet in a narrow lane.

One way systems can help where logistics allow.

Just keep everyone communicating and you'll be fine.

The fly in the ointment these days is that most farmers/managers like grain trailers to keep to tramlines as much as possible,
so it’s not appropriate to cross swaths to get to the other combine which may be well down the field on the opposite side to where the grain trailer has just unloaded , so grain trailer has to go down the nearest tramline to the end of the field then back down the tramline nearest the other combine ,all time consuming.

 

[Brisel]

The fly in the ointment these days is that most farmers/managers like grain trailers to keep to tramlines as much as possible,
so it’s not appropriate to cross swaths to get to the other combine which may be well down the field on the opposite side to where the grain trailer has just unloaded , so grain trailer has to go down the nearest tramline to the end of the field then back down the tramline nearest the other combine ,all time consuming.

True. The trailers would have to do that if you're swathing straw anyway. Only a big issue in very long fields.

 

[glasshouse]

Running combines together is like herding cats.

 

[Farmer Roy]

Well, we always run 2 headers ( combines ) together. Contractors. 12 m fronts.

the most efficient way is for both machines to be working together ( not necessarily following each other), with a 25 - 30 tonne chaser bin ( & a 240 - 300 hp tractor ) servicing both machines, then running back to a large mother bin ( 80 + t ) parked on the headland / roadside, with B Doubles or Road Trains carting from it.
Generally, the headers ( combines ) have absolutely no reason to stop at all through the day ( apart from breakdowns or toilet breaks ), as long as the trucks can keep it away.
On high yielding crops ( say 8 t / ha or above ) combined with long runs ( say anything over 1km ), then 2 chaser bins might be needed to keep the wheels rolling . . .


very different scenario here to the UK I know, but the priority wherever you are is to keep the combines moving & to keep the grain away. I don’t think having trailers dedicated to a specific combine is the best way, an empty trailer going to a nearly full combine is surely the most efficient.

Also - good communication between header ( combine ) drivers, chaser bin ( in your case trailer ) drivers & truck drivers ( if using trucks to cart from the paddock ) is absolutely vital, to get the most efficiency out of the job.
UHF 2 way radio in every machine is crucial to this

just my 2 cents worth . . .

 

[Farmer Roy]

PS - I was making the assumption that they were always unloading on the move.
That is the first step to efficiency. . .

 

[Spud]

Well, we always run 2 headers ( combines ) together. Contractors. 12 m fronts.

the most efficient way is for both machines to be working together ( not necessarily following each other), with a 25 - 30 tonne chaser bin ( & a 240 - 300 hp tractor ) servicing both machines, then running back to a large mother bin ( 80 + t ) parked on the headland / roadside, with B Doubles or Road Trains carting from it.
Generally, the headers ( combines ) have absolutely no reason to stop at all through the day ( apart from breakdowns or toilet breaks ), as long as the trucks can keep it away.
On high yielding crops ( say 8 t / ha or above ) combined with long runs ( say anything over 1km ), then 2 chaser bins might be needed to keep the wheels rolling . . .


very different scenario here to the UK I know, but the priority wherever you are is to keep the combines moving & to keep the grain away. I don’t think having trailers dedicated to a specific combine is the best way, an empty trailer going to a nearly full combine is surely the most efficient.

Also - good communication between header ( combine ) drivers, chaser bin ( in your case trailer ) drivers & truck drivers ( if using trucks to cart from the paddock ) is absolutely vital, to get the most efficiency out of the job.
UHF 2 way radio in every machine is crucial to this

just my 2 cents worth . . .

What do you do when a field is finished to retain efficiency Roy? You'll be shovelling up the acres pretty quick I guess

 

[Flat 10]

Did this for many years. Logistics are interesting but much easier nowadays with phones.

Ideally trailers should hold 2 running tanks, one from each or take what is in combine 2 as soon as the trailer can get there after emptying combine 1.

(Always empty combine 1 first unless he is broken down otherwise it will be idle whilst you empty number 2)

Straight back to the shed then.

Distance may dictate 1,2 or even 3 trailers required but no point trailers standing idle in the field or at the store waiting to tip or come to that, meeting each other in the narrow roads between field and store.

PX farms runs a chaser with each of his combines but he is running 4 at once, sometimes in the same field but the chasers are emptying into bulkers on the headland so the store end is not a problem nor is queueing to unload. His system is very efficient but would cost several million to set up I suspect

I think the bulkers are normally the issue in this instance. Pesky lorry drivers and their tacho breaks

 

[Tractorstant]

basic telematics..... make sure all the operators/trailers are using 'Find my" on iPhone ( I am sure other apps are available ) then they can see where each other is especially if the combines are not in the line of sight. Over and above that a dedicated WA group, where the combined drivers again send a text a 75% if the trailers can't see the lights.

 

[Suffolk Serf]

Or do what one place that I worked for years ago did, running four combines of different sizes together. Give up and have the tractors and trailers parked along the headland, with the drivers with their feet up. Not too efficient.