Yes I would say that quite a bit of trash or stalks are going in the combine,in this area the corn is always a little wet from long season corn and short growing season.I plant mostly pioneer and NK and the pioneer is worse for broken stalks but generally yields a little better.Mostly its just the top of the stalk that breaks off,it then goes through the walkers and the augers seem to line the stalks up straight so that when they fall off the bottom troughs they fall straight down into the screens.I say I have tried the maize guard.A piece of metal that bolts on the thistle screen,and it does work but lowers capacity way to much,if I close the screen,then over load tailings.This has always been a problem with this machine and neighbors the same way.If you get just the right weather ,where its damp enough to keep stalks from breaking its not bad.Never had this trouble with my Massey and see that the new Deeres have a shaker pan like they had,anything to get stalks so they don't fall straight down.As far as the cor head goes I think it is set about as good as I can get it for even feeding and still get the corn,field loses are nill,head works good and was rebuilt a couple of years ago,didn't help at all.Have tried changing head speed and other things but can't seem to figure it out.I have never been docked for foriegn matter but don't like all those pieces of six to twelve inch long stalks. Any help would be appreciated Thanks