Yield monitors are the first step for many producers into the age of precision farming. While their cost is reasonable, the commitment of time and resources required to effectively use this technology is a significant undertaking. The monitor measures and records such information as grain flow, grain moisture, area covered, and global location.
Grain flow is measured by a sensor usually located at the top of the clean grain elevator.
Mass of the grain thrown at the sensor by the grain elevator paddles is measured per unit of time. Regular intervals where a harvested weight has been obtained along with a GPS reading. A display of the weight translated to bushels per acre or yield produces a yield map. A spatially referenced, graphic representation of a crop yield component for a defined area. Yield monitors come with various technical designs and features.