Measuring Harvest Loss Could Be the Key to Higher Farm Profits

As grain prices fluctuate and input costs rise, maximizing every bushel harvested is critical to farm profitability. That’s why Marcel Kringe, CEO of Bushel Plus and an expert in harvest optimization, is calling on farmers to adopt one of the most overlooked management tools: measuring actual harvest loss.

“Combine grain loss is one of the biggest invisible threats to profitability,” said Kringe. “Most farmers assume their machines are performing efficiently, but without measuring actual loss, they’re often losing more than they realize.”

Combines are powerful but sensitive machines. Improper calibration of key settings like rotor or fan speed can result in significant grain loss. Because this loss typically occurs behind the combine and out of sight, it’s easy to overlook.

“If the rotor is spinning too fast, it can damage kernels or push material through too aggressively. If fan speed is off, it will influence the separation and retention of the grain,” Kringe explained. “It’s all about balance, and even small calibration errors can lead to significant losses.”

Even small percentage losses can translate into thousands of dollars in lost revenue. For example, a 3% corn loss on a 200-bushel-per-acre yield at $4.05 per bushel results in $24.30 per acre, or $24,300 over 1,000 acres. At a 5% loss, that figure jumps to $40,500.

In soybeans, a 3% loss on a 70-bushel crop at $10.05 per bushel equals $21.11 per acre, or over $35,000 at a 5% loss over 1,000 acres.

“These aren’t theoretical numbers,” Kringe said. “They’re real dollars that could be in your pocket, but only if you measure what’s being left behind.”

Many farmers rely on factory combine settings or in-cab loss sensors, which Kringe says can be unreliable. “Factory settings are a starting point, not a precision solution. And built-in sensors often can’t account for key variables like terrain, machine wear or crop type,” he said.

That’s why he advocates for using drop pans to capture a real-time snapshot of grain loss during harvest. These devices help identify whether grain is being lost from the header, rotor or cleaning shoe.

“Drop pans collect real data, not estimates,” said Kringe. “They give you the confidence to make targeted adjustments that immediately protect yield and profit.”

To make the process easier, Bushel Plus developed the SmartPan System, a remote-operated drop pan solution. It mounts underneath any combine and collects loss data during regular operation. The system includes the Bushel Plus Air Separator to clean grain samples and a digital scale for accurate readings. Results are logged using the SmartDrop mobile app for quick, field-ready insights.

“This system gives growers everything they need to take quick, corrective action,” Kringe said. “In just a few minutes, you go from guessing — to knowing — and from losing money to saving it.”

The SmartPan System is compatible with corn, soybeans, wheat, canola, barley, rice and milo, and is endorsed by major equipment manufacturers including John Deere, Case IH, New Holland, CLAAS and Fendt.

According to Kringe, some farmers using the system have reduced harvest loss from over 8% to under 1%. “We hear it every season from customers: This tool paid for itself in the first field,” he said.

Kringe believes measuring harvest loss should be part of every farmer’s routine. “You’ve already invested in seed, fertilizer, crop protection, fuel and labor,” he said. “Don’t let all that effort and expense go to waste because of outdated combine settings. With the right tool and just a few quick checks, you can turn lost yield into recovered revenue and real profit.”

To learn more about the SmartPan System and reducing harvest loss, visit www.bushelplus.ca.