Combine Buying Guide

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The right combine makes a world of difference when harvest time arrives. These impressive pieces of agricultural equipment are able to efficiently, easily, and quickly tackle even the largest harvests. They are an invaluable asset to a farmer's fleet, but it's crucial to pick the correct model for your needs. Otherwise, you could face issues such as paying more than you needed to or being held back by a low-performing piece of agricultural equipment.

Here at High Plains Equipment, we strive to make your life easier. We gathered up the following combine buying tips to help aid your shopping process. If you want personalized assistance, our staff members are happy to help! We can go over our various combines for sale and help you determine the best fit. Reach out online, give us a call, or stop by our dealerships in Devils Lake and Harvey, North Dakota. We are also proud to serve those in Minot and Grand Forks, North Dakota.

Understand The Class System Of Combines

Combines are broken down into various classes. An easy way to narrow your search is to pick your ideal combine class, then only shop models within that category.

In general, a higher combine class indicates a higher power capability. But know that the classes sometimes do change alongside the constant innovation of agricultural equipment. There is also a lack of consistency between manufacturers in how they classify combines. Always look at the specifics of the combine to make sure it's offering what you are seeking in that given class.

Get The Right Grain Header

It's important to pick a combine with a harvester capacity that won't exceed what the grain header can handle. Here, the goal is to focus on a grain header that will reduce crop loss and help you maximize your harvest.

The grain header is part of the gathering system and is located at the front of the machine. There are many different grain header options such as windrowers, augers, drapers, and even specialized models for certain crops. Make sure you pick the right grain header options for your specific crop (or crops) need.

Choose The Right Processor

When it comes to combine processors, the key is focusing on the crops that you will be harvesting. When the processor is ill-suited and breaks a lot of grain, this adds a heavier load to the cleaning shoe. This can easily result in shoe losses. In general, the faster the speed and the smaller the concave clearance, the higher chance you have of facing damage.

Make sure the combine either comes with the ideal default settings or can be adjusted to have the right processor settings. Most new combines will allow in-cab adjustments for settings such as concave clearance and shoe openings, allowing you to easily modify it to match the crop. Remember that an overly aggressive processor for a given crop will likely result in damaged grains.

Decide Your Ideal Residue Management Approach

Combines can come with crop residue management features, which makes this process much easier. Common features include more fine chopping, wider spreading, and increased soil contact. These can help promote a better crop yield, making these features worthwhile to seek out. The latest and greatest combines often allow operators to switch between modes from their cab!

Don't Forget About The Combine's Cab

It's easy to underestimate the importance of the combine cab. But the longer your time spent on the combine, the more important cab features become! Long hours can become almost unbearable in a poorly designed cab. Remember that operator comfort does affect focus and productivity, so it's wise to invest accordingly.

Common combine cab features include:

Ergonomic design to make sitting easier on the body.
Heated and cooled cabs to keep you comfortable despite outside weather.
Connectivity options to harness the power of technology.
Storage space for cargo.
Entertainment features to help the work day go by faster.

These are just a few examples. Think about what perks will best boost your work day, then seek out combines with these perks.

Ready to shop combines for sale? Check out the selection at High Plains Equipment. We carry a variety of models and our friendly staff can help you pick the perfect match. Explore our inventory online or stop by our dealerships in Devils Lake and Harvey, North Dakota. We also serve those in Minot and Grand Forks, North Dakota.