Logistics modelling of combine and grain cart harvest systems was undertaken to better understand opportunities for improving capacities of current equipment complements and answer "what if" questions concerning the impact of new technologies. Results from this modelling work indicate that for traditional North American harvest equipment complements the limiting factor in harvest capacity are the periods of time when the combine traverses headlands between passes. Less obvious is the minor influence of grain cart capacity on overall harvest capacity and field efficiency. The model revealed that for currently available grain carts, the overall impact on harvest capacity is less than 5.0%. However, existing 54.4 metric tons (MT) grain carts should easily accommodate the trend towards larger capacity combines for the near future.
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