Fine-Tuning for Harvest Success

Oct 15,2025 Events, 2025, Events,

By Simon Kruger, WMG Project Communications Officer

Around 60 growers came together at Velyere Farm, Dandaragan for a GRDC Harvester Set-Up Workshop hosted by Facey Group and supported by the West Midlands Group (WMG). The event formed part of a statewide GRDC series designed to help growers prepare for the 2025 harvest season through practical demonstrations and discussion.

An excellent turnout for the Dandaragan GRDC Harvester Set-up Workshop at Velyere Farm

The workshop focused on three key areas: measuring harvest losses, harvest weed seed control, and fire prevention and machinery maintenance. Speakers included Ben White (Kondinin Group), Brett Asphar (Independent), Kassie van der Westerhuizen (Planfarm), Murray Skayman (Harvest Specialist), Peter Newman (Planfarm), and Peter Broley (Primary Sales Australia).

The New Holland CR10.90 supplied by local grower Nigel Wilson

Growers were encouraged to see harvest set-up as both a way to improve profitability and to better understand their machine’s true capacity. Demonstrations using drop trays showed how to quantify grain losses in kilograms and dollars per hectare, helping operators identify whether losses stem from the front or the machine itself. While some attendees voiced concern about “losing harvest time” to repeated checks, presenters noted that a couple of tray drops a day, morning and midday, is usually enough to stay on top of losses without slowing progress.

Presenters highlighted that modern automation systems can deliver excellent performance when calibrated correctly, though misconceptions persist that they “don’t work”. Calibration, familiarity, and understanding system limits were stressed as key to getting the most from these technologies.

Presenter Brett Asphar getting into the Case 9250 session

The hands-on sessions also covered mechanical fine-tuning, particularly for the John Deere S790, Case 9250, New Holland CR10.90, and D140 MacDon front, exploring concave configuration, dense-pack performance, and front-end loss points. Growers shared experiences with modifying concave elements to reduce fuel use, noise, and grain losses under variable moisture conditions. The key takeaway: machines built for international crops often need small local adjustments to perform at their best in Australian cereals and seeds.

Participants were encouraged to ‘climb in’ and have a good look during the hands on sessions

Fire prevention, rodent control, and pre-harvest maintenance were also covered. Keeping machines clean, avoiding over-tight stop bolts, maintaining correct sieve clearance, and managing crop residue build-up were highlighted as simple ways to reduce fire risk and mechanical strain during long harvest days.

Presenter Ben White led the session on header fronts and front end losses

A Successful Day for the Region

It has been some time since a Harvester Set-Up Workshop was held in the West Midlands, and the strong turnout and enthusiasm showed how valuable these events remain for local growers.

WMG extends sincere thanks to:

Peter Rathjen and the Velyere team for hosting the event on their outstanding property and providing the green header and front.
John Scotney for bringing the red header and front.
Nigel Wilson for supplying the yellow header.
Jen from Jenovation for providing a wonderful morning tea and lunch.
The Facey Group team, the GRDC presenters, and contributors from Primary Sales Australia, Kondinin Group, and Planfarm for delivering such a practical and insightful day.
And to GRDC for supporting this important workshop in our region.