Development of an electronic cane loss monitor for harvesters

The amount of cane lost through a harvester's extractor system is dependent on varietal characteristics and design of the harvester's cleaning system. Losses tend to be higher in older model harvesters which have small diameter, high air velocity extractor systems. There is considerable scope for reduction in losses by modification of the big fleet of older model harvesters, refinement of newer models, and modifying operational techniques. Important points include adjusting harvester speed to suit field conditions, as well as adjusting the air velocity within the cleaning chamber, and improved design and positioning of the deflector plate to suit varietal characteristics or crop condition. The potential savings to the industry through reduced cane losses are very substantial - a 1% overall reduction in cane loss would add approximately $10 million to revenue annually.