Recognizing the enormous value of getting stalks, straw and chaff across the full width of the combine header, we asked readers in the No-Till Farmer email discussion group — how are you getting the job done with today’s extra-wide 40 to 60-foot headers? Check out some of the top responses below.

“Uniform distribution of residue across the header width is very important, especially in no-till for uniform soil warming and crop emergence. Most new combines struggle spreading residue wider than around 35-40’, and if they are cutting into a strong head wind, or the residue is tough, it’s often 30’ or less.

“With 50-60’ heads now on the market, combine manufacturers need to improve their residue spreading technologies if growers want uniform crop emergence. The other option is growers sticking with header widths no wider than the spread width of the combine, so if the combine spreads 40’, stay with a 40’ head!”

• Phil Needham, Calhoun, Ky.

"Went to smaller heads on combines in North Dakota. Running 32’ Shelbourne Reynolds stripper heads now on as much as we can. Still have 40’ flex heads but they are too big to evenly spread straw. Running Lexions with the powered tailboard on chopper. Chaff spreads pretty well but chopper does not at 40’. 30’ heads really work nice and spread very well. But they are getting hard to find as everyone seems to be buying the largest heads made."

• Kelly Lozensky, South Prairie, N.D.

"In the south we have seen the best spreading ability out of straw choppers versus just a spinner, however, as heads continue to get bigger there may be an aftermarket fan what would need to be added to increase spread width. This is something that I am not sure our equipment manufacturers understand that without tillage, residue management is vital to cover crop and cash crop uniformity."

• Keith Scoggins, Little Rock, Ark.

"I have a 40-foot John Deere draper, and until I had Phil Needham at a workshop I hosted, I could not spread evenly on a 40-foot basis my residue. 37 feet was all I could get out of a power cast spreader. Phil mentioned to me that in order to spread 40 feet, John Deere has a European Power cast speaker that would solve the issue I had. I've had that spreader for 5 years now with no issues in covering the full 40 feet. If you order a new combine you have to specify that spreader, otherwise you will have the standard powercast spreader that doesn't cover the full 40 feet like I wanted. There are a few used combines out there that have that option and it's sure worth the extra cost. Thanks Phil for the recommendation!"

• Mike Starkey, Brownsburg, Ind.

"As far as corn, I only have a 22-foot, 12-row 22-inch non-chopping head. I have the Calmer stalk rolls installed. It leaves about 18 inches of stalk standing, and as the upper stalk goes through the rolls, the intercrossing knives kink and cut the stalk into pieces, pushing it down into the stalk that is left standing. The stalk left standing is brittle and bends easily, not like short tree stumps. The residue is kept in place from wind with the standing stalks. I have no-tilled soybeans into this the last two years. I believe the size of the head would not make any difference. I have tried spraying a residue recycler on my stalks after harvest to aid in breakdown and have seen some decent results. Results are variable, I think it depends on moisture and conditions throughout the winter.

"As far as small grain and soybeans, I have a 40-foot John Deere draper head. It is a huge improvement over the 35-foot auger head we had previously. The grain feeds into the combine at a consistent rate, no bunching, so the straw is spread more evenly behind the combine. I no-till cover crop into the grain stubble and then no-till soybeans into the standing rye the next spring. The soybean straw is left and minimum tilled in the spring to incorporate fertilizer for the corn."

• Jim Guy, Rosholt, S.D.

"We use a custom operator who has both a 35’ and 40’ head on Lexion units. As long as wheat is standing well, straw/chaff spread is not an issue. This year we had more down wheat than we’ve seen in years and while the spread was still reasonable, we do have more straw in places than I like. Planting a summer cover crop into it required setting the wavy coulters a bit deeper. So far, we have not had major issues in soybean chaff spread. No-tilling wheat into it has not presented an issue."

• Alan Lyons, Mulmur, Ont.

"I still remember that image Phil had from the back of the John Deere 50 series combine catalog showing a 35-foot head and 25-foot spreading. its amazing how 20 years later we are still addressing the issue. This is the one thing I don't seem to have problems with, Dad's corn here in NZ is harvested with a 8 row folding/chopping head on a new John Deere harvester. We are lucky the guy who buys out grain and harvests it has a good kit."

• Matthew Gray, Rotorua, New Zealand.

"I run a 40-foot head. I personally would focus first on the quality of the chop, second the quality of the spread pattern and third would be am I making it full width or not. For me, it is soybean residue and there will be so little of it there by springtime that it's a non-issue. The corn head I always thought that I needed as much material standing up on the stalk and as little on the ground as possible. It worked good row unit to put seed in the ground. But them tall stalks manage to snag any wire or hydraulic hole that they can and get into the chains. Went to the lawn mower style chopping corn head with three blades. Now the stock pieces are about an inch and a half long, all other material is almost dust. Come planting time, most of that residue mat is gone. The worms have cleaned that up. Before the chopping head I would give the row cleaners a good workout. After the chopping head I can carry the row cleaners and put beans down."

• Jon Stevens, Rock Creek, Minn.

"We run 40' and 45’ drapers on John Deere combines with power cast tail boards. If we feel we have excess straw or not spread well, we run a Salford VT with just wavy coulters to size and spread residue ahead of strip tilling with a Soil Warrior triple coulter rig."

• Brian Ryberg, Buffalo Lake, Minn.

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