One of the drawbacks to early harvesting is that it requires more effort in drying, but the extra bushels recovered from the field balance this inconvenience. Gathering losses - losses that occur at the front of the combine, including missed ears and shelled kernels lost by ear snapping. Cylinder losses - kernels are not shelled when entering the combine cylinder. Separating losses - loose kernels are not recovered from the rear of the combine. Yield loss can also be curtailed by keeping combines in good working order.
Acceptable losses depend on the individual operation.
To reduce the moisture level in kernels, efficient drying techniques are necessary. High temperature drying - air is heated in the bin to high temperatures for fast drying. Time required for the grain-drying process varies depending on the initial moisture content of the grain and the drying method used. Fans are used to circulate the air through the grain. It is recommended to have airflow move from the bottom to the top of the grain, so that grain on the top is last to dry and is easiest to survey for moisture.