Combine Harvesters: Reforming Agriculture in Future

 

Combine Harvesters

The Combine Harvester, also simply known as a combine, is one of the most important inventions in modern agriculture. By consolidating the jobs of reaping, threshing and winnowing into a single machine, the Combine Harvester has allowed farmers to harvest crops much more quickly and efficiently than was previously possible. 

Early Development

The earliest prototypes of machines that combined reaping and threshing began to appear in the mid-19th century. Some of the earliest pioneers include Hiram Moore who invented a combined reaper and thresher in 1834. In 1835, the Obed Hussey developed a reaper that cut and gathered grain but did not yet have a mechanism for threshing. It was not until the invention of the grain separator by John H. Manny and Lester A.A. Pelton in the 1870s that combined reaping, threshing and winnowing became possible in one operation.

However, it was the invention of the Combine Harvester by Hiram Moore in 1837 and its improvements by other inventors like John Deere that led to the development of useful models that could see real adoption by farmers. Early models were pulled by horses or mules. Over several decades of refinement, early combines were made more powerful and efficient through the addition of engines to provide power to the threshing drum and other components. This allowed for mechanized harvesting.

How a Combine Harvester Works

At its simplest, a Combine Harvester utilizes five basic mechanisms to consolidate reaping, threshing and winnowing:

- Reel or platform – The cutter bar and reel cut and guide standing crops into the machine.

- Threshing/separating mechanism – Teeth or rolls on a rotating cylinder separates the grain from the stalks and straw.

- Grain pan or sieve – Separates and sorts the grain from debris.

- Cleaning shoe – Removes lighter chaff and straw from the sieves to further clean the grain.

- Grain tank or box – Collects and stores the clean grain before unloading.

Modern Combine Harvesters are highly complex machines. The cutting platform can adjust its height, tilt and speed. Electronically controlled threshing, sieving and cleaning systems maximize efficiency. Grain tanks have capacities of several tons. GPS and engines provide autonomous steering and operation.

Impact on Agriculture

The development and widespread adoption of Combine Harvesters revolutionized global agriculture in the 20th century. By consolidating multiple harvesting jobs, it increased productivity tremendously. One machine could do the work that an entire farm crew accomplished previously. This allowed for greater crop yields from the same amount of land.

No longer limited by seasonal harvest labor shortages, farmers could now harvest much larger acreages in shorter periods of time. This paved the way for large-scale mechanized agriculture essential to feed growing populations worldwide. Specialized wheat and corn monocropping became viable on vast tracts of leased or purchased lands. Combine harvesting also enabled switching to new higher-yielding crop varieties without being constrained by traditional hand-harvesting methods.

Overall, combines were a key innovation enabling agriculture to transition from small family farms to the industrialized agribusinesses that dominate global commodity production today. They drove agricultural consolidation, geographic specialization, and the application of mechanization throughout farming operations. While controversial impacts on communities and environments resulted, the sheer increase in food output the combine made possible was crucial for society.

Latest Advancements

Ongoing innovation continues improving Combine Harvester efficiency, functionality, and integration with precision farming technologies. New models feature:

- Larger capacities and widths to cover more ground in fewer passes and reduce input costs per bushel or ton harvested.

- EnhancedThreshing and separation systems for higher grain savings and throughput in different crops and conditions.

- Advanced electronics and sensors for automated functions like header height control, grain loss monitoring, and yield mapping.

- Hydraulic/computerization upgrades like track/wheel steering, header/tank extension controls from the cab.

- Connectivity options for remote troubleshooting, seasonal maintenance/calibration, and integration with drone/satellite supported precision agriculture systems.

Driverless combine prototypes are also emerging using computer vision, GPS navigation, moisture sensors and other advanced autonomous technologies to harvest without an operator on board. If commercially viable, this could further expand harvesting productivity and address shortages of farm labor in many regions.

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