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

With 50-60 foot heads now on the market, combine manufacturers need to improve their residue spreading technologies. The other option is sticking with header widths no wider than the spread width of the combine, so if the combine spreads 40 feet, stay with a 40-foot head.

– Phil Needham, Calhoun, Ky. 

We went to smaller heads on combines in North Dakota and are now running 32-foot Shelbourne Reynolds stripper heads on as much as we can. Still have 40-foot flex heads but they are too big to evenly spread straw. We are running Lexions with the powered tailboard on a chopper. The chaff spreads pretty well but the chopper does not at 40 feet. 30-foot heads really work nicely 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, but, as heads continue to get bigger there may be an aftermarket fan that would need to be added to increase spread width. This is something I’m not sure our equipment manufacturers understand. Without tillage, residue…