Proper Combine Header Selection for Midwest Crops

Harvest is more than just a season–it’s the result of months of planning and hard work. To get the most out of your harvest, you need efficient tools. That means matching the best combine header with your specific crops to ensure maximum yields. For Midwest staple crops like corn, wheat, and soybeans, the right combine header makes all the difference in minimizing loss and maintaining crop quality. Now, let’s break down the importance of header selection for your Midwestern harvest. 

Corn: Row Crop Header

Farmers in the Midwest–especially Indiana and Ohio–are no strangers to corn harvesting. A corn head, or a row crop header, is designed specifically to strip ears from stalks and effectively manage residue. 

Recommendations

• John Deere Corn Heads are designed to maximize yield and reduce transport time between fields. Browse all corn heads for desired residue control, profile, stalk deflectors, and more. 
• Look for key features like row spacing compatibility, hydraulic deck plate adjustments for varying stalk sizes, and stalk roll options based on desired residue. 

Soybeans: Flexible Draper or Auger Header

Soybeans grow close to the ground, and losses from missed pods can add up quickly. That means the ideal header should neatly hug the terrain for minimal crop loss.

Recommendations

• John Deere’s RDF HydraFlex drapers are designed to harvest crops as close to the ground as possible, minimizing unnecessary loss. 
• For smaller operations and flatter fields, consider a flex cutting auger platform. Where terrain is simple, opting for a flex auger header can help to cut down on cost.

Wheat: Draper Header

Wheat can be a fragile crop, especially in high-yield operations. For straight cutting taller crops like wheat, a draper header is an excellent choice, ensuring even feeding to maintain throughput and reduce product loss. 

Recommendations

• On flatter fields, opting for a rigid draper platform will result in a faster, more efficient harvest. On heavily varied terrain, a flexible draper platform will work slower but maximize yields.
• Leverage Active Header Height Control with your X Series or S Series Combine to minimize crop damage. 

Tips for Combine Header Selection

• Always ensure your header is compatible with your combine’s capacity and feeding system. 
• Consider flexibility needs and residue goals–especially in no-till and cover crop operations. 
• Don’t risk it with under- or oversized headers: too small slows down harvest, and too large causes feeding issues and inefficiency. 
• Use technology to your advantage: features like HydraFlex, active height control, and active feeding systems are designed to improve your productivity and yields while minimizing operator fatigue.