Rice Harvesting 84

New Harvesting Concepts - 84
	Stripper harvester An experimental rice harvester was developed from 1970 to 1972 by the Department of Agricultural Engineering at UC Davis with the combined support of Deere and Company of Moline, Illinois and the Rice Research Board. The purpose was to develop a machine that would strip the grain from the standing field and leave most of the straw in place. The experimental harvester collected 80 percent less straw than the conventional -combine, with negligible damage to the kernels. Other advantages of the stripper harvester were a more simplified cleaning system, lower power requirements, and faster ground speed. However, field losses were about 10 percent. Although this problem probably could be solved, the interest of Deere and Company declined and the design engineers moved on to other work, so the project was discontinued. Field hulling Another new concept in rice harvesting was field hulling as an additional operation of the combine. A potential advaritage was elimination of rice hull disposal. Early studies proved the idea to be impractical. The green hulled grain had four times greater checked kernels, rancidity of hulled kernels increased, and the addition of a hulling component to the combine was a problem. This project also was discontinued.

New Harvesting Concepts - 84

Stripper harvester

An experimental rice harvester was developed from 1970 to 1972 by the Department of Agricultural Engineering at UC Davis with the combined support of Deere and Company of Moline, Illinois and the Rice Research Board. The purpose was to develop a machine that would strip the grain from the standing field and leave most of the straw in place. The experimental harvester collected 80 percent less straw than the conventional -combine, with negligible damage to the kernels. Other advantages of the stripper harvester were a more simplified cleaning system, lower power requirements, and faster ground speed. However, field losses were about 10 percent. Although this problem probably could be solved, the interest of Deere and Company declined and the design engineers moved on to other work, so the project was discontinued.

Field hulling

Another new concept in rice harvesting was field hulling as an additional operation of the combine. A potential advaritage was elimination of rice hull disposal. Early studies proved the idea to be impractical. The green hulled grain had four times greater checked kernels, rancidity of hulled kernels increased, and the addition of a hulling component to the combine was a problem. This project also was discontinued.