A drop pan system for a harvester, comprising: a drop pan (14A, 14B) having a bottom floor and perimeter sidewalls (42, 44) defining an interior pan space with an open top end; at least one electro-permanent magnet switchable between a default de-energized state and an energized state, wherein, in the default de-energized state, the at least one electro-permanent magnet is electrically isolated from an electric power supply and emits an external magnetic field, and wherein, in the energized state, the least one electro-permanent magnet is electrically connected with the electric power supply cancelling the external magnetic field; characterized by: a support housing having a top wall and peripheral sidewalls (18, 20) which define an interior housing space with an open bottom end, the support housing mounted to the harvester above the ground surface with the open bottom end oriented toward the ground surface; wherein the at least one electro-permanent magnet is disposed within the interior housing space of the support housing; whereby the external magnetic field emitted by the at least one electro-permanent while in the default de-energized state magnetically supports the drop pan (14A, 14B) from the support housing with the open top end of the drop pan (14A, 14B) received within the open bottom end of the support housing; whereby when the at least one electro-permanent magnet is switched from the default de-energized state to the energized state, the drop pan (14A, 14B) drops from the support housing to the ground surface with the open top end of the drop pan (14A, 14B) oriented away from the ground surface. a drop pan (14A, 14B) having a bottom floor and perimeter sidewalls (42, 44) defining an interior pan space with an open top end; at least one electro-permanent magnet switchable between a default de-energized state and an energized state, wherein, in the default de-energized state, the at least one electro-permanent magnet is electrically isolated from an electric power supply and emits an external magnetic field, and wherein, in the energized state, the least one electro-permanent magnet is electrically connected with the electric power supply cancelling the external magnetic field; characterized by: a support housing having a top wall and peripheral sidewalls (18, 20) which define an interior housing space with an open bottom end, the support housing mounted to the harvester above the ground surface with the open bottom end oriented toward the ground surface; wherein the at least one electro-permanent magnet is disposed within the interior housing space of the support housing; whereby the external magnetic field emitted by the at least one electro-permanent while in the default de-energized state magnetically supports the drop pan (14A, 14B) from the support housing with the open top end of the drop pan (14A, 14B) received within the open bottom end of the support housing; whereby when the at least one electro-permanent magnet is switched from the default de-energized state to the energized state, the drop pan (14A, 14B) drops from the support housing to the ground surface with the open top end of the drop pan (14A, 14B) oriented away from the ground surface. a support housing having a top wall and peripheral sidewalls (18, 20) which define an interior housing space with an open bottom end, the support housing mounted to the harvester above the ground surface with the open bottom end oriented toward the ground surface; wherein the at least one electro-permanent magnet is disposed within the interior housing space of the support housing; whereby the external magnetic field emitted by the at least one electro-permanent while in the default de-energized state magnetically supports the drop pan (14A, 14B) from the support housing with the open top end of the drop pan (14A, 14B) received within the open bottom end of the support housing; whereby when the at least one electro-permanent magnet is switched from the default de-energized state to the energized state, the drop pan (14A, 14B) drops from the support housing to the ground surface with the open top end of the drop pan (14A, 14B) oriented away from the ground surface.