Straight cutting tips for leaning and lodged crop

Light lodging can actually help straight combining as it can “knit” the crop and reduce whipping in the wind.

Crop with a heavy lean may require some trial and error to test the best angle of attack. Some operators will prefer going perpendicular to the lean; some will prefer going into the lean. With straight cutting, you can go whatever direction works best for crop flow.

Perhaps a bigger issue in lodged crop will be performance of crop dividers. Again, if divider performance is below expectations, try coming at the crop from a different angle.

Further reading:

Swath timing and lodging
Combine performance expectations for naturally-ripened canola