Tools and tech for harvest

The grain bag has become a popular tool for temporary storage. Farmers find the idea of having these horizontal tubes of grain an efficient way to manage at harvest. And when it’s time to empty, you need a grain bag unloader. The Akron EXG 400 is ready to do the job. This machine has a bottom angular gearbox and grain pusher for optimized grain management; hydrostatic movement — the machine moves as the bag rolls up; and a 16.3-foot-wide roll system. It can move 280 tons per hour. Suggested list price is $5,600. Learn more at buschequipment.com.

The new Perten Aquamatic 5800 is a portable grain moisture meter that uses the same tech as desk-bound units — only this one weighs 8 pounds and can be taken to the field. In the field, you just load grain into the hopper, and pull the handle to start analysis. The unit offers repeatability for reliable sample measurement. The onboard touch screen even works with gloved hands. Suggested list price is $2,450. Learn more at moisturetesters.com.

The Bushel Plus system mounts to any combine and includes a drop pan that you can release in the field to gather chaff as the combine moves on. The system comes with a battery-operated separator, so you can get a sample of just how much grain you’re leaving behind with your combine setup. This system allows you to fine-tune the combine quickly. Suggested list price is $2,599. Learn more at thunderstruckag.com.

The Portable Prairie Grain Analyzer requires no preweighting, temperature measurement or chart reading. The unit has a built-in scale thermometer, charts, color touch screen and printer. A USB port allows for data storage, and you can update the machine over Wi-Fi. USDA chart updates and calibrations are available over the web for easy updating. Suggested list price is $1,999. Learn more at thunderstruckag.com.

Terrahawk is a new radar height-control system from Headsight Harvesting Solutions. The new system is a noncontact radar height sensor for grain headers that interfaces with the company’s Horizon controller. The unit can sense the ground through the crop: It has no moving parts, there’s a large sensing area, and it uses noncontacting radar sensors. The unit will be available only in limited release for the 2018 harvest season. Suggested list price is about $12,000. If you’re interested, visit headsight.com.

Steps Grain Management Services offers a new Smart Switch that can automate fan and air management on any grain bin, and allow you control from your smartphone. The system can run bin fans on manual mode (without you walking or driving to the bin to turn things on) or automatic mode, where the unit will run the fans based on humidity and temperature to maintain grain quality. The system can save time and energy. Price for a unit where you have Wi-Fi access to the bin is $395 per controller. Learn more at stepsgms.com.

Shred Select offers a unique new stalk-shredding system that is customizable to your corn head based on your farm’s needs. The system uses an asymmetric design — note that one roll is not as big as the other, in order to shred stalks without the need for a stalk chopper add-on to the head. The company will be marketing limited quantities of the unit for the 2018 harvest season. Cost, depending on your needs, ranges from $895 to $1,926 per row. Learn more at shredselect.com.

Mud Hog has long been known for its powered rear-axle, after-market system that gives combines improved traction. The company is upping the ante with a system that allows you to boost rear power and add tracks, too. The Mud Hog CTS system is an enhancement on the popular Mud Hog rear-axle system. The system can accommodate a rear-track setup, and the company is also offering a front-track system. Cost for a pair of rear tracks for a combine is about $58,000. Learn more about your options by visiting mudhog.com.