Work out harvester capacity instantly with clear inputs, formula shown and shareable results.
A combine's area capacity is header width x speed / 10 x field efficiency, and multiplying by yield converts it to grain throughput in tonnes per hour. Throughput is the binding constraint: in a heavy crop the threshing and separating capacity forces the ground speed down long before the header runs out of width.
Harvester capacity
ha/h = header width (m) x speed (km/h) / 10 x field efficiency
Throughput
t/h = ha/h x yield (t/ha)
The combine can only process so many tonnes of material per hour. In a heavier crop the operator must slow down to keep grain loss and cracking within limits.
65-80% for combining. Grain tank unloading, blocked headers, lodged patches and turning on short runs all take time out of the hour.