Cob-Catcher Mounts On Back Of Combine

Cob-Catcher Mounts On Back Of Combine COMBINES Accessories 18-1-29 "We net $15 to $25 per acre for cobs. That's enough to make our combine payments," says Rick Hibbs, Conrad, Iowa, who mounted a "cob catcher" on the back of his Deere 9600 combine that lets him catch cobs at the back of the combine and blow them into a trailing wagon. Hibbs sells cobs to a nearby processor that turns them into a variety of products. He ..predicts many more markets will develop as more cobs become available. Key to success-of his cob-saving system is ahome•built finger gate that he installs at the back of the combine. Crop residue drops onto the grate as it comes off the sieves. Husks and other lightweight material slide backward on top of the-finger grate and eventually drop off onto the ground, while the heavier cobs fall down through the fingers into a 6-in. dia. auger mounted across the back of the combine. The auger carries cobs into a 24-in. Badger silo blower that blows them back into the trailing wagon. Another modification Hibbs makes is to cut holes in the straw walkers that allow cobs to drop down on to the chaffer sieve. Hibbs says the holes can be easily plugged when combining other crops and says the modification hasn't affected male of ma-chines. "We get about 60 percent of the cobs but it's cost effective because of the low up-front investment," says Hibbs, who's put together a packet of information and will consult with other farmers (for a $12& fee) to help them make the modifications them-selves. He says the idea works well with straw walkers and could be adapted to rotary combines, too. For more information, write (no phone calls, please): FARM SHOW Followup, Rick Hibbs, Cob King, P.O. Box 161, Conrad, Iowa 50621.

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