Dual narrow pan measures grain loss

BranValt, formerly Bushel Plus, introduces the Dual Narrow Pan, a new field-ready SmartPan system add-on that helps accurately and safely measure combine harvester’s grain loss.

The SmartPan system uses patented magnetic drop-pan technology and the SmartDrop App to measure actual grain loss directly behind a combine. The Dual Narrow Pan expands the system’s performance in challenging harvest conditions by providing a more stable collection option in heavy residue conditions.

Built for corn, sunflower, rapeseed, and tall canola, as well as crops harvested with a stripper header, the Dual Narrow Pan remains balanced as it releases from the combine and lands in tall, dense, or uneven stubble. This stability helps prevent tipping and shifting so users can collect a more representative sample.

“Reliable grain loss measurement starts with a pan that drops properly and collects material evenly,” says Marcel Kringe, CEO and founder of BranValt. “While our wide pan is suitable for most crops, the Dual Narrow Pan helps obtain a dependable sample in crop conditions where tall or uneven stubble can make measurement difficult. Corn accounts for significant acreage across North America, the majority of it in the US, and requires ground-truth measurement just like any other crop.”

Mounted side by side

BranValt’s Dual Narrow Pan features two narrow collection pans mounted side by side on a reinforced frame. Centered over the SmartPan carrier’s electromagnets, the connected pans release simultaneously, creating a wider, more stable footprint when landing between tall stalks or dense stubble.

Compatible with most combine configurations, the Dual Narrow Pan is available for BranValt’s 40-inch SmartPan System. It replaces the standard wide collection pan while using the existing SmartPan carrier and the same remote-release and grain-loss measurement process, requiring no modifications to the carrier or other system components.

Why measuring harvest loss matters

Combine grain loss is one of the biggest unseen threats to harvest profitability. Even when a combine harvester appears to be performing efficiently, farmers cannot know how much grain is being left in the field without measuring the actual loss.

According to Kringe, factory combine settings provide a starting point, while in-cab loss sensors help operators monitor changes during harvest. However, those sensors must be calibrated against a measured field sample to accurately indicate the amount of grain leaving the combine.  “Remote drop pans collect real data, not estimates,” says Kringe. “Within minutes, operators can measure the grain left behind, evaluate combine performance, and make targeted adjustments to protect yield and profit.”

Compatible with all major combine-harvested crops, the SmartPan System is endorsed and used by major equipment manufacturers, including John Deere, Case IH, New Holland, Claas and Fendt.

Kringe says most uncalibrated combines leave two to five bushels per acre in the field. “We hear it every season from customers: This tool paid for itself in the first field,” he says. “When every bushel matters, measuring harvest loss is a direct way to put more grain in the tank and protect the investment already made in the crop.”