Sunflower Harvesting: How to Minimize Losses and Prepare Your Equipment

Sunflower is one of the most profitable crops in Ukraine - but also one of the most demanding when it comes to harvesting quality. Unlike wheat, sunflower has a heavy head prone to breaking off, and seeds shed easily if the header or combine is incorrectly set. Losses of 2-3 percent are common on farms with poorly prepared equipment. At a yield of 2.5 tonnes per hectare that is 50-75 kilograms of seed left in the field on every single hectare. In this article we break down how to prepare your equipment correctly and bring those losses down.

Choosing the Right Sunflower Header - the First and Most Important Step

A standard grain header cannot be used for sunflower harvesting. Its design is not built for large heavy sunflower heads - they jam between the cutter bar fingers and increase losses significantly. Quality sunflower harvesting requires a dedicated sunflower header with paddle deflectors and row dividers specifically designed for the crop.

Key selection criteria:

Working width. For farms with 300 or more hectares of sunflower, the optimal width is 6 to 9 metres. A narrower header reduces productivity - a wider one requires a more powerful combine.

Combine compatibility. Headers are manufactured with adapters for specific brands - Claas, John Deere, Case IH, New Holland. Always confirm compatibility before purchasing.

Condition of dividers and paddles. Deformed or worn dividers increase head losses - inspect them before every season and replace worn parts before work begins.

Combine Settings for Sunflower Harvesting

Drum speed. For sunflower, drum speed is set significantly lower than for wheat - typically 350-500 RPM. High drum speed breaks the seeds and reduces their quality and oil content price at the crushing plant.

Concave clearance. Inlet 30-40 mm, outlet 15-20 mm. The wider clearance is necessary due to the size of the head and core. Too narrow a clearance breaks seeds and blocks the threshing unit.

Fan and sieves. Sunflower requires stronger airflow than grain crops - 600-750 RPM. The upper sieve is opened to 18-22 mm and the lower sieve to 10-14 mm. After the first passes, check the grain quality in the tank and adjust settings accordingly.

The Role of the Front Loader During Sunflower Harvest

While the combine works in the field, a tractor with a front loader handles the logistics of the entire operation. Moving grain from the combine to the grain store, transporting fertiliser big bags, loading and unloading bulk materials - all of these are tasks for the loader.

The NT series from Agris Group covers models from 500 to 2300 kg capacity - for tractors from 30 to 150+ hp. All models are EURO compatible and support the full range of attachments.

Pre-Season Equipment Preparation - What to Check

Two to three weeks before harvesting begins, carry out a full inspection of the header and combine. Check the condition of the header dividers and paddles - replace worn parts before work begins. Check the drive shaft bearings on the header - they wear faster than when working with grain crops. Flush and clean the threshing unit from last season's residue. Inspect the sieves - deformed louvres do not provide even separation even with correct settings.

If you need spare parts for your header or loader - Agris Group stocks them in Ternopil and ships the same day across all of Ukraine.

Quality sunflower harvesting comes down to three things: the right header, a correctly set combine, and well-prepared equipment. Losses of 0.5-1 percent are fully achievable when all three conditions are met. Contact Agris Group at +38 (050) 74 57 555 - we will help you select the right header and loader for your combine and tractor. All equipment qualifies for the 25% state compensation programme.