SUMMARY 



Growers of grass and small-seeded legumes for 

 seed have been losing 50 percent or more of their 

 crop before and during harvest. The Agricultural 

 Research Service, in cooperation with State agricultural 

 experiment stations in many parts of the United States, 

 has been studying these losses and devising \vays of 

 reducing or eliminating them. The research is con- 

 tinuing. 



Studies so far have been concerned with cultural 

 practices, time of harvest, methods of harvest, com- 

 bines, combine components and operation, and their 

 individual and aggregate effect on yield and quality of 

 seeds. In addition, new harvesting techniques have been 

 evaluated and a machine to reclaim shattered seed 

 has been designed, tested, and found effective. 



This report discusses these and other aspects of 

 seed harvesting. 



Information in this report was provided by the Agricultural Engineering 

 Research Division, Agricultural Research Service 



