UW-River Falls agricultural engineering and agricultural engineering technology students are researching ways to make older combines more efficient and improve profitability for smaller farmers.
The research is part of a $150,000 USDA grant led by Sierra Howry, associate professor of agricultural economics, and Matt Digman, former assistant professor of agricultural engineering.
Using a 1960s Oliver combine, agricultural engineering senior Alex Pierson, of Minnesota, along with junior Kyle Leis, of Wilton, and Rames Frisch, a first-year student of Wausau, both agricultural engineering technology majors, developed two methods to potentially make the combine more efficient in harvesting with a new header configuration.
One method used a series of small brushes bolted to the head auger to help push the wheat grains toward the middle of the auger and hence being better transported to the feeder house. The other used a 5/16th piece of plastic sheeting to help fill the space underneath the auger and prevent loss of grains.
The students worked with Bob Zeng, assistant professor of agricultural engineering, and Youngmi Kim, associate professor in agricultural engineering.
“The students are redesigning old equipment to improve the productivity, efficiency, profitability and sustainability of small farms in support of local farming movement toward low carbon footprint circular food production systems,” Zeng says.
Smaller farmers — those with five to 50 acres — may not be able to afford new combines and could potentially increase productivity with a low-cost redesign.
“It is more affordable for small-scale farmers to be more efficient rather than buying new equipment,” Pierson says.
Initial data suggests the shim created high 90 percent efficiency and the brushes in the upper 80 percent efficiency, compared to 80 percent efficiency with no modifications. However, the students will analyze the data further. They will eventually share their findings with stakeholders including local farmers.
Being a part of the research as a first-year student created a hands-on learning environment, Frisch says.
“It definitely teaches you a lot just coming into a project,” he adds.
Leis agrees: “I like to work with my hands slinging wrenches.”
He notes an important part of the project to him was making sure farmers would have the skillset to redesign their equipment cost-effectively.
Kim says the project allows students from different majors to work collaboratively.
“It is beneficial in the real world. They are getting the experience of working as a team. It challenges students. Students must understand the problems,” she continues. “They must think of alternative solutions, compare them and choose the best one to solve the problems. They gain project management skills. They will present their work to the Industry Advisory Board members in May.”
Pierson, who graduates in May, said being part of a design and research project is a tremendous addition to her resume.
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