Combines Sunflower Harvest

There is a company in Hutchinson, Kansas that makes sunflower gaurds for a standard grain head. I've never seen them used but I've been told they work good. They are easy to put on and take off and about half the price of a worn out row head. My local combine dealer sells them. His number is 800-658-1714. This same company makes the plastic milo gaurds and if the sunflower gaurds work as well as the milo gaurds work, they would sure be the thing to buy.

Thanks guys, you have been very helpful!

We use a JD all crop head works great only way to go. we use to put sunflower pans on but that is a lot of work unless you have a spare header that you can just leave them on.

Same experience I have had. They always want to know what brand combine I have 'cause they're the cleanest flowers coming in. Kinda nice to get compliments once in awhile. Here in MO we had excellent crop until 80 mph wind hit in late July. Ran rowcrop head on the ground and took in the whole plant. lots of MOG through machine, very little in bin. Only with a Gleaner!!!

Off topic a little but do you guys have a lot of bird dammage to your flowersIJ I have never tried to raise them but our neighbor has some every year to sell for bird feed. He figures that the birds get over half of them before the combine does. I wish we had a good market for them around here. We need something differant to grow.

Well one field had alot of bird damage, but it was seriously because we didnt cut them when we should have. We were busy pickn corn and should have stopped to get the flowers first. Next year if we raise them we will get the flowers when they are ready. Where does your neighbor take themIJ I raised NuSuns on one field so they will go to an oil processor, and another field were just plain black oils. I think the birds like the Nusuns better though. lots of deer in there also

What model are you running meadow, we were using the 75 and wow it did a nice job. Just wish they would have yielded a lil bit more. Nice ldp though

So glad to hear you did so well! I love to hear about not only great combine performance, but as good a crop as well. Now, working around the big dinners and such, please get the two Gleaners back home and in their shed before the next snow flies! Gotta take care of them, too, you know. I'll see you on the other combine forum.

'01 R62 with 6-30 head. Way too much capacity, but you run what you got.

Oh by the way, I've found a new market. Had two gentlemen pull in the driveway one Sunday noon. They had been watching the flowers growing all summer. Took them over to the field. They wanted to buy a couple heads. Picked 3 big heads. They wanted to pay a buck apiece. I took $2. Still felt guilty. But that got me to thinking(very dangerous proposition). What if you shrink wrap the head and sold it like squirrel cornIJ If you were close to an urban area they would probably sell at a country fair.