Different Types of Combine Headers and Their Uses

Combined headers are important farm equipment needed to cut and collect the harvest. Being attached to the front of the harvester machine and performing the function of grain collecting, They function a bit different from harvesters.

Headers harvesters are available for all types of crops. They work great to increase farm production. Hence selection of combined headers must be done with great care.

If you are here to know what header farming is and what different types of combined headers are used in farming, we have got you covered.

What is Header Farming?

Combine headers are part of combined harvesting. The main job of combining headers is to cut and collect the grains and other crops. It is attached to the front end of the machinery. You may find combined headers of varied shapes and sizes in the market. And it depends on the type of crop, your production scale, and what type of combined headers you need for your farms. A wrong choice of the combined header may down both the quality and quantity of grain yield. Thus, it is very important to understand the different types of combined headers and when to use them. We have broadly divided combined headers into 6 major types.

Combine Headers Types:

1. Grain Headers:

Grain headers are meant for cutting crops and collecting grains. After gathering crops, these combine cuts them at the base and a canvas-style rolling platform belt then carries the crop from the sickle bar. Then it moves to combine for further cleaning and separating grains from waste.

These headers are useful for cereal crops with small grains like oats, peas, beans, wheat, and all types of grains.

2. Corn Headers:

Next are corn headers. These headers have a spike structure attached to the front side of the machine. To cut the crops, there is a pull chain attached with the spikes. Each time when the stalks hit the ground, only raw crops like corn, soybean, and other crops were fed into the stalk backs and collected in the feeder house.

Used for collecting the ears only, while chopping the stalks.

3. Sunflower Headers:

These headers are specifically designed to ensure the continued harvesting of Sunflower using trays that are fitted to the cutting bars at the front. To make it fast and efficient, head snatchers can be helpful. It also aids in optimizing the grain samples for optimum productivity.

Used for cutting stalks beneath the flower head.

4. Pick Up Headers:

The name says it all. They cut and pick the crops by the windrower. Tines, which are long rakes attached to the header, are responsible for collecting the crops. Then the crops go to the belts to feed the auger.

Also known as rake-up headers, they are suitable for lentils, beans, canola, and grass seeds.

5. Flex Platform Headers:

This header works as per its name. There are knives and guards attached to the header to cut the crops from uneven areas. The technique used by this header is so amazing that rocks and other ground materials will not be picked up and collected. To reap even better results, some farmers make the combo of flex and draper headers.

It is suitable for all types of crops including rice, especially on rough and rocky ground.

6. Draper Header:

Draper headers have a belt. When the machine is turned on, the crop is conveyed on the belt from both ends of the header towards the centre, where a third draper pushes it into the feeder house.

Draper headers are similar to conventional headers but there is a little difference. Where the Conventional header consists of the auger to directly feed the crops to the centre, they have a conveyor belt to fetch the grains.

Used for crops like wheat, barley, oats, rye, triticale, rice, and soybeans.

Conclusion:

As you have read above, these were the major combined header types for the majority of crop production. These headers are available in the market in different sizes so that you may make a choice as per your requirements. Apart from that, there are multiple online platforms that offer both used and new headers for sale, we would recommend you to pick the one that offers the best price without letting down the quality.