A harvester (22, 222) with a grain unloader (50, 250), the grain unloader (50, 250) comprising a harvester grain unloading auger having auger flights within an unloader housing; and a discharge speed adjustment mechanism coupled to the unloader housing to receive grain from the grain unloading auger at a first speed, wherein the discharge speed adjustment mechanism is adapted to discharge the grain at a variable, second speed greater than the first speed; characterized in that a controller of the grain unloader (50, 250) is adapted to adjust a value of the second speed based upon at least one of the following inputs from at least one sensor (266, 268, 270, 272, 274, 276) connected to the controller: a signal from a sensor (266, 268) adapted to sense a grain pile being formed by grain discharged by the grain unloader (50, 250) within a grain carrier, such that the controller is adapted to adjust a value of the second speed based upon the sensed grain pile; a signal from a sensor adapted to sense a positioning of a grain carrier relative to a spout coupled to the unloader housing, such that the controller is adapted to adjust a value of the second speed based upon the sensed positioning of the grain carrier relative to the spout; a signal from a sensor adapted to sense a rate at which grain is supplied to the discharge speed adjustment mechanism, such that the controller is adapted to adjust a value of the second speed based upon the sensed rate at which grain is supplied to the speed adjustment mechanism; signals from a sensor indicating a characteristic of the grain to be discharged at a speed controlled by the speed adjustment mechanism, wherein the controller is adapted to activate the speed adjustment mechanism between different grain discharge velocities based upon the characteristic of the grain to be discharged; signals from a sensor (272, 274) adapted to sense an orientation of at least one of the harvester and a grain carrier to receive grain discharged from the harvester, such that the controller is adapted to adjust a value of the second speed based upon the sensed orientation of at least one of the harvester and the grain tank. a signal from a sensor (266, 268) adapted to sense a grain pile being formed by grain discharged by the grain unloader (50, 250) within a grain carrier, such that the controller is adapted to adjust a value of the second speed based upon the sensed grain pile; a signal from a sensor adapted to sense a positioning of a grain carrier relative to a spout coupled to the unloader housing, such that the controller is adapted to adjust a value of the second speed based upon the sensed positioning of the grain carrier relative to the spout; a signal from a sensor adapted to sense a rate at which grain is supplied to the discharge speed adjustment mechanism, such that the controller is adapted to adjust a value of the second speed based upon the sensed rate at which grain is supplied to the speed adjustment mechanism; signals from a sensor indicating a characteristic of the grain to be discharged at a speed controlled by the speed adjustment mechanism, wherein the controller is adapted to activate the speed adjustment mechanism between different grain discharge velocities based upon the characteristic of the grain to be discharged; signals from a sensor (272, 274) adapted to sense an orientation of at least one of the harvester and a grain carrier to receive grain discharged from the harvester, such that the controller is adapted to adjust a value of the second speed based upon the sensed orientation of at least one of the harvester and the grain tank.