Harvest Loss Appraisal

Conducting a Harvest Loss:

Pick a random spot in the field (preferably behind the last round of the harvester)

Mark out: (22" Rows only)

4 Row Lifter - 4 rows wide X 15 foot length = 110 sq. feet
6 Row Lifter - 6 rows wide X 10 foot length = 110 sq. feet
8 Row Lifter - 8 rows wide X 7 ½ foot length = 110 sq. feet

Glean the area, picking up any small pieces which have been broken off of the beet due to the harvester or defoliator, down to the diameter of a dime. Dig down the rows looking for broken tails remaining in the ground, this is very important for adjusting depth, speed, pinch points, strut spacing, and row finder (Use Sugarbeet Slide Rule).

Note:

Beets which have been rolled out by the defoliator (no harvester adjustment)
Soil being returned to the field(Large piles-check Speed & Depth)
Tare % (High % - check Speed, Depth, Grabrolls and Scrub)

Weigh up the pieces (A pocket fish scales work as well as anything else).

Subtract the weight of the bucket from the weight of bucket and beets.

Then take the weight of the beets and divide it by 5 = Tons / Acre Loss

Example:

Get the weight of the bucket to be used before each harvest loss = 2 lbs.
Once you get your sample area gleaned the sample bucket weights = 5 lbs.

5 lbs. - 2 lbs. = 3 lbs. Beets
3 lbs. / 5 = 0.6 Tons / Acre of harvest loss

	Sample 1	Sample 2
Bucket & Sample -	________ lbs	________ lbs
Bucket -	________ lbs	________ lbs
Sample -	________ lbs	________ lbs
Sample lbs / 5	________ tpa loss	________ tpa loss

Acceptable Losses:

1 ton & Over = High
½ ton - 1 ton = Acceptable
0 ton - ½ ton = Low
(Over 1 ton of losses should be addressed immediately)

Economic Impact:

½ ton lost in field - $20.00/acre
Beet damage - $4.50/acre (if finding excessive chips)
½ % Tare - $16.90/acre
Harvester downtime - $228/hour
Piler downtime - $1,786/hour

Have a SAFE & productive harvest
American Crystal Sugar Company