Abstract: A system for post-harvest or at-harvest determination of pre-harvest strength of a corn stalk wherein the system comprises a stalk stump cutter structured and operable to cut a discarded post-harvest stalk stump to provide a substantially flat and even cross-sectional surface of the stalk stump, an imaging device structured and operable to acquire image data of the stalk stump cross-section, and a computer based data processing system structured and operable to analyze the image data and determine a pre-harvest stalk strength of the corresponding stalk.

Abstract: A grain harvesting mechanism having a pair of parallel chains running in vertically spaced planes is used to remove the ears of grain from the stalks. The spacing of the planes create a deeper channel for the ears to be carried in, thus preventing some spillage. The chains also run at differing speeds for removal and delivery of the ears.

Abstract: A rotary crop processing unit for a combine is shown having a generally cylindrical rotor within a frusto-conical housing. The rotor is arranged in the housing with a generally constant gap between the rotor and the bottom of the housing along the housing length and with an increasing gap between the rotor and the top of the housing in the crop flow direction.