What Is a Combine Tractor Used For?
A combine tractor is a specialized tractor used to harvest, thresh and clean grain crops. It is mainly used on crops such as corn, oats, wheat, rye and soybeans. Does this Spark an idea?
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History
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The combine was invented by Hiran Moore in 1838. The first combines were powered by teams of as many as 16 horses; later combines were powered by a steam engine.
Benefits
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The combine tractor harvests the crops and leaves behind the straw and leaf stems. This matter can be left as a mulch on the field or baled for animal feed.
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Features
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Combines have removable heads that can be changed to harvest specific crops. This makes the combine a valuable piece of equipment as the farmer can change out heads rather than buying a whole new piece of equipment.
Advancement
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Today's combines have improved significantly over the those used in days past. They are often equipped with luxuries such as a stereo system and air conditioning, and new technology like a continuously variable transmission which maintains a constant threshing speed.
Cost
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A combine tractor can cost more than $200,000; the crop specific heads run close to $30,000.
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