One harvest season ends, and planning for the next one begins. How did your equipment hold up during harvest this fall? Is it still in good shape? Or could it use some updating? Is there new technology available that might help you harvest more efficiently and effectively the next time around?

Grain prices may be low, but someone forgot to tell companies that make everything from combines to grain carts about it. Their engineers continue tweaking designs. Once they believe they have a better mousetrap, it is field-tested. And once it passes the test, it comes on market, whether grain is fetching a good price or not.

Several companies displayed new products related to harvesting and hauling grain at recent farm shows. In some cases, it’s an updated model with more features compared to the previous model. In other cases, it’s an addition to the company’s line-up. And sometimes it’s a product with features that no one else in the industry has offered to date.

Once in a while, a company even brings a prototype that isn’t ready to sell. Many say the goal is to gauge customer reaction, and that a farm show attended by tens of thousands of farmers is the best place to both get exposure for a new idea and get feedback from farmers on what they think of the new product — and if they might suggest any changes before it actually becomes goes commercial.

The Farm Progress team of editors who combed shows for new products includes Tom J. Bechman, Indiana Prairie Farmer; Lon Tonneson, Dakota Farmer; Mindy Ward, Missouri Ruralist; and Curt Arens, Nebraska Farmer. It wasn’t possible to include every new product displayed at shows in one article. Watch for other articles on grain handling and storage equipment coming soon.  

Check out the following pages to see a selection of grain equipment.

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New Brandt grain carts
Brandt Agricultural Products Ltd. has added three new products to its grain cart equipment lineup — the 820XR, 1122DXR and 1522DXR. With a capacity of 1,500 bushels, the 1522DXR can fill an entire Super B in two minutes, and with the optional auto-unload, the auger automatically stops discharging at a preset value, eliminating the risk of overweight trailers. For more information, contact Brandt Agriculture Products at 866-427-2638 or see brandt.ca.

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New Drago GT corn head with QuadSuspension
Reduce corn harvest losses with Drago’s new corn head, the Drago GT with QuadSuspension. It has a suspension system under the deck plates that absorb the energy of the ears as they are pulled down by the knife rollers. For more information, contact your Drago dealer or see dragotec.com.

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Remove the trash
Remove harvest trash in dry conditions with the Corn Reel from Patriot Equipment. These self-cleaning fingers work in standing corn. They are easy to mount and come in widths up to 12 rows. Driven by 50 chain and sprockets, the drive motor allows for variable speed of the pickup fingers. They can adjust forward, backward, up and down. They are available for most combine makes and models. Contact Patriot Equipment, Minden, Neb., at 800-264-6587or visit patriotequip.com for more information.

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Get under down corn
The Crop Sweeper allows farmers to get under that severely downed corn. The reel with extra-long paddles allows farmers to make passes through the worst downed corn. Every Patriot Crop Sweeper includes all of the hydraulic hoses, electronic controls and necessary hardware needed to ensure complete installation to begin harvesting downed corn. They can be custom-fit for any spacing from four to 24 rows. The Crop Sweeper is available in steel or aluminum. Contact Patriot Equipment, Minden, Neb., 800-264-6587or visit patriotequip.com for more information.

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Safe unloading
Now you can control the box hoist and rear slide gate on farm bodies with ShurCo’s exclusive Smart1+ remote. With the introduction of ShurCo’s Smart mini-modules, you have the ability to control any 12-volt accessory on your truck or trailer. The combination of the mini-module and an electric actuator gives you full control over the rear slide gate. A second mini-module with our electric-over-air solenoid valve gives you control of your hoist. No more climbing up and down bins to adjust flow from the truck into your auger. It comes with easy plug-and-play installation. For more information, contact ShurCo, Yankton, S.D., at 800-474-8756 or visit shurco.com.

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Softer sunflower, milo head
Fantini is offering farmers a gentler head for sunflower and milo harvest. The new belt system is easier on the plant. The gathering assembly uses a belt system to hold the plant gently but firmly as it is transported to the auger. Company representatives say the system has less loss. Available in models from four to 18 rows, the Fantini G03 Sunflower head fits any combine. For more information, contact Fantini, Le Center, Minn., at 507-357-2341 or visit fantini-na.com.

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New belt conveyors perfect for field loading
The new WCX 1500 series belt conveyor field loaders from Westfield and AGI offer an extended low-profile hopper and unique collapse design for easy grain loading. The field loaders have a 10-inch-diameter, 14-gauge tube and 15-inch belt for a capacity of 6,000 bushels per hour. They come in 35- and 45-foot lengths with a pinch top drive that is hydraulic or electric. The 1545 model is also available in pinch S-drive or gas, with a heavy-duty mover kit. Get more information at grainaugers.com.

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Low-profile grain transfer hopper
The WCS 1515 LP low-profile grain transfer hopper from Westfield and AGI offers hopper clearance of just 7.5 inches, with a 9-inch clearance at transition. With a discharge height of 28 inches, the unit has a 30-by-75-inch collapsible hopper. You can get the units in hydraulic, electric or gas options. List price is $6,000. Learn more by going to grainaugers.com.

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Transfer harvest data with harvest app
The new Digi-Star GT 560 Harvest Tracker app is set up for functionality and easy view and control of the GT 560 scale indicator from an Android and iOS phone or tablet. Producers can view weights, initiate a check combine function and edit field names from the combine. The app is available free from the Play Store or App Store with the purchase of the Digi-Star ERM-WiFi. You can learn more at digi-star.com.

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Draper head has rough terrain covered
The new Geringhoff TruFlex Razor Draper head cuts closer to the ground with its exclusive flexible frame and cutter bar. With three sections of reel, the head offers exceptional feeding and flow of the crop. The flexible cutting bar allows the head to hug the terrain and put more grain in the combine tank. Center knife drive minimizes vibration of the cutting bar for smoother feeding. You can order an optional airflow system that delivers every bean to the machine. Learn more at geringhoff.com.

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New corn head inhales twin rows
The new Geringhoff Patriot Corn Head, including the Stine Edition developed with Stine Seeds, was developed specifically for twin-row planting configurations and has been tested on thousands of acres of twin-row cornfields. The double-sprocket gathering chains guide the crop into the row units, eliminating whipping and cob loss. Extra-hard surfacing extends the life of the snapping roll supports and deck plates. The unit also works well in downed corn situations. You can learn more at geringhoff.com.

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Unique design retrieves down corn
You aren’t seeing things. There’s a gathering chain running down the center of the snout on this Maya corn head.  Relatively new to the Midwest, Maya Cornquest corn heads from MayaAmerica offer an optional chain that runs over the snout to gather down corn. Side-snout chains are also available. This option only works on Maya corn heads and lists at $1,350 per row. Contact MayaAmerica, Emmetsburg, Iowa, at 712-480-9080 or visit maya-america.com.