Whether it’s corn, soybeans, wheat, rice, canola, or any other crops harvested with a combine, harvest optimization expert Marcel Kringe is urging farmers to focus on one of the most overlooked, yet most impactful, management practices: measuring harvest loss to fine-tune combine calibration.

BRANDON, MANITOBA - (July 8, 2025) - In today's high-cost, low-margin environment, grain and row crop farmers can't afford to leave yield and profit in the field. Whether it's corn, soybeans, wheat, rice, canola, or any other crops harvested with a combine, harvest optimization expert Marcel Kringe is urging farmers to focus on one of the most overlooked, yet most impactful, management practices: measuring harvest loss to fine-tune combine calibration.

"Combine grain loss is one of the biggest invisible threats to profitability," says Kringe, CEO of Bushel Plus. "Most farmers assume their machines are performing efficiently, but without measuring actual loss, they're often losing more than they realize."

Why Harvest Loss Happens

Combines are powerful and complex machines, but they're not set-it-and-forget-it systems. When key settings are not properly dialed in, grain can be damaged or lost. And, because that loss happens behind the machine, Kringe says it's easy to miss.

"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," explains Kringe. "It's all about balance, and even small calibration errors can lead to significant losses."

The Financial Impact of Harvest Loss

The numbers tell a powerful story.

For corn, a 3% harvest loss on a 200 bushel-per-acre yield at $4.05 per bushel equates to 6 bushels left in the field. That's a loss of $24.30. Multiply that across 1,000 acres, and that's $24,300 in lost revenue. At a 5% loss, the figure jumps to $40,500.

In soybeans, a 3% loss on a 70 bushel-per-acre crop at $10.05 per bushel means $21.11 per acre - or $21,110 over 1,000 acres. A 5% loss brings that total to over $35,000.

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

You Can't Manage What You Don't Measure

Many growers rely solely on factory combine presets or in-cab loss sensors, which Kringe says aren't enough.

"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 explains. "If you want accurate data, you need to get out behind the combine and measure actual loss in the field to calibrate those loss sensors properly. In other words, the loss sensor display needs a measured benchmark from what's going out the back to provide useful information to the operator."

That's where drop pans come in - a simple but powerful tool for capturing a real-time snapshot of what the combine is losing.

"Drop pans collect real data, not estimates," says Kringe. "Depending on your machine they tell you where loss is occurring - from the header, rotor, or cleaning shoe - and give you the confidence to make targeted adjustments that immediately protect yield and profit."

The Best Tool for the Job

To make harvest loss measurement faster, safer, and more precise, Bushel Plus developed the SmartPan System™, the most advanced remote drop pan solution on the market.

Using a remote, magnetic release, the SmartPan mounts within seconds underneath any combine and collects a grain loss sample during normal field operation. That sample is then processed using the Bushel Plus Air Separator, which removes chaff and debris to isolate clean grain. The grain is weighed with a digital scale, and the results are logged instantly using the SmartDrop™ mobile app, providing clear, actionable insights on loss within a couple of minutes.

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

Compatible with all major crops harvested by a combine like corn, soybeans, wheat, canola, barley, rice, and milo, the SmartPan System is endorsed and used by leading equipment manufacturers, including John Deere, Case IH, New Holland, CLAAS, and Fendt.

Kringe says growers using the SmartPan System have reduced losses from as high as 8% down to under 1%. "We hear it every season from customers: This tool paid for itself in the first field," he says. "There's no other piece of equipment on the farm that can deliver ROI like this."

Don't Let Profit Slip Away

Improving harvest profitability starts with knowing exactly how much grain you're losing - and why. In today's economic climate, every bushel counts. And in 2025, precision isn't a luxury - it's a necessity.

"You've already invested in seed, fertilizer, crop protection, fuel, and labor," says Kringe. "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 how to reduce harvest loss on your farm, visit www.bushelplus.ca
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About Bushel Plus Inc.
Bushel Plus Inc., a global leader in harvest optimization technology, specializes in solutions that help growers reduce grain loss and maximize yield potential at harvest. Trusted in more than 35 countries, Bushel Plus partners with dealers, agronomists, and equipment manufacturers to improve harvest outcomes for farmers. Guided by the belief that ‘you can only harvest once,' the company equips farmers with field-proven tools that turn invisible losses into visible profit.