Harvest efficiency has always been one of the biggest profit drivers on the farm—but it’s also been one of the hardest things to measure accurately.

In this What’s Working in Ag segment from Commodity Classic, we sat down with Marcel from Bushel Plus to talk about a simple idea that’s making a major impact: actually measuring grain loss instead of guessing.

For years, farmers relied on rough estimates—counting kernels on the ground, making visual judgments, or simply trusting experience. But as combines become more advanced with automation, sensors, and data systems, the need for accurate, real-world calibration has never been more important.

That’s where Bushel Plus comes in.

Their SmartPan system allows operators to safely and quickly measure exactly what’s coming out the back of the combine. With a remote-controlled drop pan, farmers can capture a sample during harvest, separate the grain from residue, and calculate true loss in just a few minutes. No guesswork. No unsafe methods. Just real numbers.

And those numbers matter.

Even a small amount of grain loss—just a couple bushels per acre—can add up to significant dollars across an operation. In many cases, farmers are surprised at how much they’re actually losing. Once they see it, they can’t unsee it—and more importantly, they can fix it.

The impact goes beyond just saving grain. Reducing loss also means fewer volunteer crops, less need for additional passes or herbicide, and better overall field management.

What makes this even more relevant today is the integration with modern combine technology. With John Deere’s recent partnership and endorsement, SmartPan is now being used to “ground truth” combine automation systems—helping machines calibrate properly and hit target loss levels more accurately.

Whether you’re running the latest high-tech combine or an older machine, the concept is the same: you can’t manage what you don’t measure.

And for many farmers, this tool pays for itself almost immediately—sometimes within the first few fields.

The bottom line: harvest is too important—and margins are too tight—to leave bushels in the field. Tools like this are helping farmers capture more of what they’ve already worked all season to grow.

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Today we’re diving into the latest advancements in hay equipment with a focus on round baler technology and how it’s helping farmers improve efficiency, consistency, and overall bale quality.

From automation to data tracking, hay production is evolving fast—and the newest innovations are designed to reduce operator fatigue while delivering more uniform, higher-quality bales.

One of the standout features is Weave Automation, which allows the baler to guide itself along the windrow. With a hitch that can swing side-to-side, the system automatically weaves across the windrow during bale formation. The result is more consistent bale shape and density, less need for constant steering, and a lower risk of pulling in dirt or debris.

Beyond automation, today’s balers are equipped with advanced sensors that measure moisture and weight in real time. Operators can monitor conditions directly from the cab, making better decisions on the go. This data can also be uploaded into the John Deere Operations Center, giving farmers the ability to track bale performance, monitor trends, and document field activity over time.

Moisture management continues to be a critical factor in hay quality, and baler-mounted testers now provide real-time readings during operation—helping reduce spoilage risk and improve storage outcomes.

Upstream from the baler, windrowing and mowing equipment are also becoming more advanced. Self-propelled windrowers, merger attachments, integrated cameras, and in-cab controls allow operators to fine-tune their process and create ideal windrows for baling. These systems, combined with data tracking, help optimize cutting schedules and improve dry-down timing.

All of this is connected through tools like JDLink and the John Deere Operations Center, where farmers can monitor machine performance, track field work, and make more informed decisions based on real data.

The bottom line: hay production is no longer just about getting across the field—it’s about precision, consistency, and using technology to maximize quality and efficiency every step of the way.

www.johndeere.com

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Instead of chasing scale, the Witte family leaned into trucking, building a nationwide refrigerated logistics company. Then in the mid-2000s, they made another shift—this time back to cattle, but with a completely different focus: quality over quantity.

Today, Witte Beef Co. is built around producing Prime-grade beef comparable to top steakhouses across the country—while maintaining control over nearly every input along the way.

In this episode, we cover:

• The history of the Witte family operation from the 1940s to today
• Lessons learned from scaling up—and scaling back
• Why they shifted from commodity cattle to premium beef production
• How feeding, genetics, and environment impact marbling and taste
• Their monoslope barn system and low-stress cattle philosophy
• Growing 90%+ of their own feed and controlling input costs
• The finishing vs. breeding program strategy
• How trucking and logistics tie into their overall business
• And what it takes to build a vertically integrated, quality-focused beef brand

This is a masterclass in adapting to markets, controlling your system, and building a premium product in agriculture.

www.johndeere.com

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Email address: Farm4profitllc@gmail.com

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