When it’s time to harvest your grass crop, your combine settings can significantly influence the quality and success of your final result. Grass seeds are lightweight and fragile, so careful handling is crucial to minimize damage and maintain seed integrity throughout the process. Both conventional and rotary combines are suitable for harvesting grass seed, though conventional systems typically leave behind better-quality straw for baling.
Starting Settings for Timothy, ARG, PRG, and Tall Fescue
For crops such as timothy, annual ryegrass (ARG), perennial ryegrass (PRG), and tall fescue, we recommend beginning with the following baseline settings:
- Fan speed: 400–600 rpm
- Concave clearance: Backed off to a setting similar to canola
- Cylinder/rotor speed: Around 600 rpm
- Clean sieve: Slightly open to reduce the amount of material sent back for re-threshing
These are starting points. Once you begin combining and have a steady seed flow into the grain tank, stop and inspect your sample.
Evaluating and Adjusting Your Sample
Expect your sample to appear dirtier than that of a typical cereal grain crop—that’s normal. If your grain tank sample looks unusually clean, check behind the combine for signs of seed throw-over. Then, assess the seed in your grain tank for any cracking or visible damage to seed coats.
Based on what you observe, make adjustments to your settings as needed. This fine-tuning process is critical and should continue until your machine is dialed in for optimal performance.
Seed moisture content can also influence your results. If moisture is 14% or higher, it may lead to poor separation or sample quality. Ideally, aim for 12% moisture—this is considered dry for grass crops and will ensure good storage and viability. If moisture is slightly high, the crop will often continue to dry down throughout the day.
Not sure if your combine is set up just right for your grass seed crop? Connect with your local BrettYoung Seed Production Specialist—they’ll walk you through adjustments and help set you up for a successful harvest.
FAQ
What combine settings should I start with?
A good starting point for timothy, annual ryegrass, perennial ryegrass, and tall fescue is a fan speed of 400–600 rpm, a concave clearance similar to canola, a cylinder or rotor speed of around 600 rpm, and a slightly open clean sieve. Fine-tune these settings based on crop conditions and your grain tank sample.
Why does my grass seed sample look dirtier than cereal grain?
This is completely normal. Grass seed samples naturally contain more chaff and material than cereal crops. If your sample looks unusually clean, check behind the combine to ensure seed isn’t being blown out the back.
What seed moisture should I harvest at?
Aim for a seed moisture content of around 12% for the best separation, storage, and seed quality. Moisture levels above 14% can reduce sample quality and make threshing more difficult.
How do I know if my combine is set up correctly?
After you have a steady flow of seed into the grain tank, stop and inspect your sample. Look for cracked seed, damaged seed coats, or excessive seed loss behind the combine. Make small adjustments until you’re producing a clean sample with minimal seed damage.
