Learn how to calibrate your yield monitor

Dennis Pennington<pennin34@msu.edu>, Michigan State University Extension - July 12, 2019

Ag Innovation Day Session to focus on the importance of and methods to calibrate combine yield monitors.

Example of a yield monitor screen showing the calibration functions on a combine.

Yield monitor data is increasingly being used on farms throughout the United States. Today’s farms are using data to assist in developing precise applications of fertilizer, spraying and variable rate planting. The data collected from a yield monitor can be very informative when determining management operations on each field. However, in order to make good decisions, you need to have good data to work with.

Participants will learn about making good data-based decisions during the “Yield Monitor Data and Proper Calibration” session at this year’s MSU Agriculture Innovation Day: Focus on Precision Technology on July 26 in Lansing, Michigan.

There are six important steps in properly calibrating a yield monitor. During the educational session at Ag Innovation Day, participants will learn what each component does and how it contributes to an accurate measurement of yield.

Mass flow sensor
Moisture sensor
Lag time setting
Header position setting
Distance traveled measurement
Header cut width setting

To complete these basic steps properly, farms should consult always consult their equipment operator manual for exact directions on how to accomplish each step.

MSU Agriculture Innovation Day is an annual event focusing on in-depth education on critical topics. The event rotates to various locations throughout the state to give farmers access to experts who can help them improve their businesses while maintaining environmentally sound practices on their farms.

MSU Agriculture Innovation Day: Focus on Precision Technology That Pays takes place from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. July 26 at MSU Farms, 3750 N. College Rd., Lansing, MI 48910. The event features how implementing technology that aids in decision-making can improve yields, increase profit margins and reduce environmental impacts on today’s farms. The event has been approved for Restricted Use Pesticide credits (8 credits) and approved Certified Crop Advisor continuing education units in nutrient management (1), soil and water management (0.5), crop management (1) and precision ag (2) are also available. For detailed session descriptions, visit http://www.canr.msu.edu/msu_agriculture_innovation_day/ or contact Ron Bates at batesr@msu.edu. Registration is available at https://events.anr.msu.edu/msuaginnovationday/.

This article was published by Michigan State University Extension. For more information, visit https://extension.msu.edu. To have a digest of information delivered straight to your email inbox, visit https://extension.msu.edu/newsletters. To contact an expert in your area, visit https://extension.msu.edu/experts, or call 888-MSUE4MI (888-678-3464).