{{Short description|Machine used to harvest corn}} [[File:Berač kukuruza u polju.jpg|thumb|250px|A kind of corn harvester used in Croatia]] A '''corn harvester''' is a machine used on farms to harvest corn, stripping the stalks about one foot from the ground shooting the stalks through the header to the ground. The corn is stripped from its stalk and then moves through the header to the intake conveyor belt. From there it goes up the conveying system through a fan system, separating the remaining stalks from the ears. The stalks blow out the fan duct into the field while the ears ride an elevator to a hopper trailer.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Eskin |first=Michael |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Quality_and_Preservation_of_Vegetables/epsIEQAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=%22corn+harvester%22+%22strip%22&pg=PA133&printsec=frontcover |title=Quality and Preservation of Vegetables |date=2021-05-30 |publisher=CRC Press |isbn=978-1-000-44339-4 |pages=133 |language=en}}</ref>
This method is done with both fresh corn and seed corn.
== History == thumb|Made by Massey-Harris in 1930 this horse-drawn machine cut the corn and bound it into sheaves. Corn was initially harvested by hand picking. This labor intensive process commonly included the work of family members.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Kutz |first=Myer |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Handbook_of_Farm_Dairy_and_Food_Machiner/WDkXF_9aJjoC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=before+mechanical+harvesting+corn+gathered+by+hand&pg=PA104&printsec=frontcover |title=Handbook of Farm, Dairy and Food Machinery Engineering |date=2013-06-10 |publisher=Academic Press |isbn=978-0-12-385882-5 |pages=104 |language=en}}</ref> Developed in the 1870s, the horse-drawn corn binder cut corn stalks and tied them in bundles. Small farmers continued to use the corn knife.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Hardeman |first=Nicholas P. |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Shucks_Shocks_and_Hominy_Blocks/Id-v7bxSFeMC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=corn+binder+horse+century&pg=PA110&printsec=frontcover |title=Shucks, Shocks, and Hominy Blocks: Corn as a Way of Life in Pioneer America |date=1999-03-01 |publisher=LSU Press |isbn=978-0-8071-2424-6 |pages=110 |language=en}}</ref> A good picker could harvest up to an acre a day.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Strickler |first=Dale |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Managing_Pasture/sQGGDwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=%22corn%22+modern+combines+acres+per+hour&pg=PA205&printsec=frontcover |title=Managing Pasture: A Complete Guide to Building Healthy Pasture for Grass-Based Meat & Dairy Animals |date=2019-04-30 |publisher=Storey Publishing |isbn=978-1-63586-070-2 |pages=205 |language=en}}</ref>
The first mechanical corn harvester was developed in 1930 by Gleaner Harvester Combine Corporation of Independence, Missouri. The unit was pulled by a tractor with the unit on the left side.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=uOQDAAAAMBAJ&dq=popular+mechanics+1930+aircraft&pg=PA762 "Harvester Cuts Corn, Shells It, Cleans It and Bins It"] ''Popular Mechanics'', November 1930.</ref> Field shelling increased in the 1950s with attachments for mechanical pickers.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Csorba |first=Julius Joseph |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Harvesting_of_Corn_Small_Grains_and_Rela/zKByrJdkP9EC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=corn+field+shelling+attachments+mechanical+pickers+1950s&pg=PP2&printsec=frontcover |title=Harvesting of Corn, Small Grains, and Related Crops: Data on Practices |date=1964 |publisher=U.S. Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service, Statistical Reporting Service |language=en}}</ref> With agricultural mechanization expanding processing capacity, farmers with large acreages were the first to purchase combines.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Reid |first=Debra A. |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Interpreting_Agriculture_at_Museums_and/U_h3EQAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=corn+1950s+self-propelled+combine&pg=PA130&printsec=frontcover |title=Interpreting Agriculture at Museums and Historic Sites |date=2017-01-23 |publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing USA |isbn=979-8-216-28464-2 |pages=130 |language=en}}</ref>
By the 1990s, a self-propelled combine could harvest 50 acres of corn a day.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Dickenson |first=James R. |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Home_on_the_Range/XIZ-J3WQxmQC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=modern+combines+20+acres+%22corn%22+per+hour&pg=PA219&printsec=frontcover |title=Home on the Range: A Century on the High Plains |date=March 1996 |publisher=University Press of Kansas |isbn=978-0-7006-0758-7 |pages=219 |language=en}}</ref> Manufacturers consolidated into a few large firms such as John Deere and CNH Industrial.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Niederle |first=Paulo André |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Agrifood_System_Transitions_in_Brazil/Zxb8DwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=harvester+industry+consolidation+John+Deere+Case+IH&pg=PT63&printsec=frontcover |title=Agrifood System Transitions in Brazil: New Food Orders |last2=Junior |first2=Valdemar João Wesz |date=2020-10-29 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-000-21764-3 |pages= |language=en}}</ref> The integration of GPS into combine harvesters in the early 2000s enabled precision agriculture.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Lal |first=Priyanka |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Transforming_Agriculture_through_Artific/5ttdEQAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=GPS+combine+harvesters+2000s&pg=PA34&printsec=frontcover |title=Transforming Agriculture through Artificial Intelligence for Sustainable Food Systems |last2=Mishra |first2=Pradeep |date=2025-05-14 |publisher=Springer Nature |isbn=978-981-96-4795-8 |pages=34 |language=en}}</ref>
== Types == thumb|Kubota corn harvester (Japan), in the Toyota Automobile Museum '''Pull-type harvesters''' are designed for integration with tractors through power take-off.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Harvester_World/_YZaAAAAYAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=corn+pull+%22harvester%22+%22tractor%22+power+take-off&pg=RA25-PT145&printsec=frontcover |title=The Harvester World |date=1928 |publisher=International Harvester Company |language=en}}</ref> The PTO shaft typically operates at 540 or 1000 RPM speeds.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Updike |first=Kenneth Updike Ken |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/International_Harvester_Tractors_1955_19/Rf6Ar3CGkXAC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=%22harvester%22+%22PTO%22+540+1000+RPM&pg=PA42&printsec=frontcover |title=International Harvester Tractors, 1955-1985 |date=2000 |publisher=Voyageur Press |isbn=978-1-61060-416-1 |pages=42 |language=en}}</ref>
'''Self-propelled harvesters''' have their own independent engines.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Wendel |first=C. H. |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Encyclopedia_of_American_Farm_Implements/yCRjDwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=%22harvester%22+%22self-propelled%22+independent+engine&pg=PT33&printsec=frontcover |title=Encyclopedia of American Farm Implements & Antiques |date=2004-04-06 |publisher=Penguin |isbn=978-1-4402-2533-8 |language=en}}</ref> They combine all technological operations including cutting, separating, cleaning, and collecting. This allows for rapid harvesting of crops.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Miu |first=Petre |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Combine_Harvesters/DMKNEQAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=corn+%22self-propelled%22+harvesters+cutting+one+unit&pg=PP19&printsec=frontcover |title=Combine Harvesters: Theory, Modeling, and Design |date=2015-08-18 |publisher=CRC Press |isbn=978-1-040-06731-4 |language=en}}</ref>
== Modern technology == Modern combine harvester machines use GPS and AI for autonomous operation and enhancing productivity. Machine vision can detect obstacles and reduce human intervention.<ref>{{Cite book |last=George |first=Thandekkattu, Salu |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Designing_Sustainable_Internet_of_Things/iOghEQAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=modern+combine+harvester+GPS+AI&pg=PA121&printsec=frontcover |title=Designing Sustainable Internet of Things Solutions for Smart Industries |last2=Rao |first2=Vajjhala, Narasimha |date=2024-09-16 |publisher=IGI Global |isbn=979-8-3693-5500-8 |pages=121 |language=en}}</ref>
In precision agriculture, sensors allow collection of real-time data and creation of detailed maps on the spatial variability of measured variables.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Visvizi |first=Anna |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Smart_Villages_in_the_EU_and_Beyond/36adDwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=corn+harvester+%22real-time%22+data+strategy&pg=PT104&printsec=frontcover |title=Smart Villages in the EU and Beyond |last2=Lytras |first2=Miltiades D. |last3=Mudri |first3=György |date=2019-06-04 |publisher=Emerald Group Publishing |isbn=978-1-78769-847-5 |language=en}}</ref> With fertilizer runoff causing dead zones,<ref>{{Cite book |last=Hand |first=Carol |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Dead_Zones/3kqMCwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=fertilizer%20runoff%20dead%20zone&pg=PA5&printsec=frontcover |title=Dead Zones: Why Earth's Waters Are Losing Oxygen |date=2016-01-01 |publisher=Twenty-First Century Books |isbn=978-1-4677-9575-3 |pages=5 |language=en}}</ref> variable rate fertilizer can reduce environmental effects.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Hussain |first=Abid |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/IoT_and_AI_Technologies_for_Sustainable/7BGHEAAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=corn+harvester+environmental&pg=PT59&printsec=frontcover |title=IoT and AI Technologies for Sustainable Living: A Practical Handbook |last2=Tyagi |first2=Garima |last3=Peng |first3=Sheng-Lung |date=2022-10-18 |publisher=CRC Press |isbn=978-1-000-75534-3 |language=en}}</ref>
In 2025, John Deere released new combine headers, featuring an 18-row corn head intended to enhance productivity.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Michigan Farm News |url=https://www.michiganfarmnews.com/john-deere-s-model-year-2026-combines-includes-advanced-automation |access-date=2026-05-31 |website=www.michiganfarmnews.com}}</ref>
Repair costs are high with extreme variation.<ref>{{Cite book |last=McNulty |first=Paul |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Agricultural_Mechanization_and_Automatio/G-GvCwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=harvester+repair&pg=PA102&printsec=frontcover |title=Agricultural Mechanization and Automation - Volume I |last2=Grace |first2=Patrick M. |date=2009-07-28 |publisher=EOLSS Publications |isbn=978-1-84826-096-2 |pages=102 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Hunt |first=Donnell |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Farm_Power_and_Machinery_Management/N3WuCgAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=harvester+right+to+repair&pg=PA81&printsec=frontcover |title=Farm Power and Machinery Management: Eleventh Edition |last2=Wilson |first2=David |date=2015-10-01 |publisher=Waveland Press |isbn=978-1-4786-3177-4 |pages=81 |language=en}}</ref> Protests about repair monopolies show demand for right to repair legislation.<ref>{{Cite book |last=McMillan |first=Charles J. |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Precision_Agriculture_and_Food_Productio/lVGqEAAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=harvester+%22right+to+repair%22&pg=PA121&printsec=frontcover |title=Precision Agriculture and Food Production: From Whence It Came and Where Is It Going? |date=2023-01-03 |publisher=Cambridge Scholars Publishing |isbn=978-1-5275-8651-2 |pages=121 |language=en}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}} {{NSRW Poster|Corn-Harvester}}
Category:Harvesters Category:Maize production Category:Agricultural machinery
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