Reliability Testing of an On-Harvester Cotton Weight Measurement System

Harvested seed cotton weight information is needed to determine test plot yields for on-farm research and to calibrate yield monitors.  Additionally, frequent calibration of yield monitors is necessary to ensure yield map accuracy.  Seed cotton weight is usually measured using a set of portable scales but cost, availability, and logistical issues associated with their use often preclude many farmers from obtaining the required weight information.  In order to address these issues, a system was developed to measure seed cotton weight while the material is in the basket of a stripper type cotton harvester.  The system uses GPS position data to calculate harvested area.  The in-cab monitor displays basket weight, harvested area, and seed cotton yield for each load weighed.  The system was installed on four John Deere 7460 stripper harvesters and evaluated for accuracy and reliability during the 2015 harvest season.  This presentation reports on the system performance and producer feedback regarding the system during the 2015 harvest season.