Attachment 2_Specifications_Plot Combine.pdf

Plot Combine

United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)

Grain Legume Genetics Physiology Research Unit (GLPR)

1.0 Introduction

1.1 The Agricultural Research Service (ARS) is the U.S. Department of Agriculture's chief scientific in-house research agency with the mission to deliver scientific solutions to national and global agricultural challenges. The ARS has been tasked to find solutions to agricultural problems that affect

Americans every day from field to table. The ARS delivers cutting-edge, scientific tools and innovative solutions for American farmers, producers, industry, and communities to support the nourishment and well-being of all people; sustain our nation’s agroecosystems and natural resources; and ensure the economic competitiveness and excellence of our agriculture.

1.2 The USDA, ARS Grain Legume Genetics Physiology Research Unit, located in Pullman, WA, has a requirement for a Plot Combine.

2.0 Objectives

2.1 The Grain Legume Genetics Physiology Research Unit (GLGP) has a requirement for a plot combine to facilitate the harvest and data collection of advanced legume breeding lines. This information will be used to develop improved legume varieties to ensure USA bred legumes remain competitive in a global market and US farmers receive the highest yields.

3.0 Technical Requirements

3.1 The objective is to acquire a plot combine capable of harvesting peas/lentils/chickpeas without splitting the seed with a cylinder speed range of 200-1,200 rpm and an onboard weighing system. The combine must weigh less than 8,300 lbs. The following specifications are required:

4.0 Specifications

4.1 Header

• Hydraulic vertically adjustable reel

• Hydraulically driven cutting knife with adjustable speed

• Underbody protection for entire width of header conveyor belt

• Auger in header needs to be one complete unsplit auger for even feeding of pea vines

• Hydraulic drive reel with variable speed adjustment

• Dividers on left and right side of header.

• Crop lifters for picking up downed crops such as peas and lentils

• Floating header with adjustable skid plates

• A header blow out system with additional air tank on header to ensure no header contamination

• Header width: 69inches (1.75m)

4.2 Cabin

• Air ride seat for driver and passenger

• Hydraulic steering

• 4 Cameras (1 rearview, 1 in the weighing system hopper, 1 in the cyclone, 1 in the sieve area) incl. a in cab monitor)

• Emergency Shut off

• Access to engine from inside the cabin for easy maintenance

• All controls, joystick and tablet integrated in arm rest for ergonomic daily use

• Adjustments for the treshing drum speed, wind speed and engine diagnostics

• Outside box/bin storage system on the machine must be included (boxes/bins filled inside cabin and slide outside),

• Must handle box/bin size of 30 ¾” long x 18 ¾” wide x 11 ¼” high inside the cabin.

4.3 Grain tank

• Minimum 23 bushel/800 liter

• Unloading height of minimum 8.5ft to facilitate unloading into current farm trucks

• Unfolding of unloading auger hydraulically

• Entire Grain Tank needs to tilt back for easy clean out between crop varieties.

• Stepladder and platform to inspect grain tank

• Grain tank fill/full level displayed in cab

4.4 Threshing drum

• Minimum diameter of 13.5 inches

• Minimum width of 30 inches

• Straw Beating drum must have smooth edges to decrease chances of seed damage

• electrically adjustable stepless threshing drum variator from 200RPM to 1200RPM

• Mechanical reverse of threshing drum including necessary key/wrench

4.5 Threshing concave

• Concave spacing between rods of 17mm to ensure harvesting with the same concave for peas, lentils, and chickpeas and does not require a concave change between those crops.

4.6 Engine

• Minimum 70hp (meets tier 4 (EPA) standards) to be able to navigate the steep hills of the Palouse region.

• Rotating dust separator at radiator to prevent overheating and keep crop chaff out of the radiator.

• no DEF (Diesel Exhaust fluid) needed

• Engine located in the center of the combine for machine stability and safety on the hilly terrain of the Palouse region.

• Platform for working on and around engine for minimum of two people.

4.7 Ground drive

• 4-wheel drive with hydraulic differential lock for climing hilly terrain.

• Hydrostatic drive with two-speed options,

• speed from 0 to at least 12 miles per hour

• Wide Tires (minimum width of 15” or more) for additional stability on hilly terrain.

4.8 Cleaning System

• 3 step cleaning system (including 1 shaker and 2 sieves)

• Shaker: 3-step surface shaker with minimum of 19 ft2 cleaning surface

• Sieves: double sieve system with minimum of 22 ft2 (combined)

• Sieve case height of minimum 30” to allow passage of heavy biomass winter peas

• Tool-Free removal of both sieves

• Middle sieve needs to be adjustable, bottom sieve as roundhole sieve (10mm and 12mm)

• Shaker needs to be easily removable for cleaning in between breeding varieties.

• Hydraulically driven cleaning fan with quick adjustment, RPM of 450 - 1800

• Pneumatic conveying system throughout entire combine

4.9 Crop Sample Weighing System

• System must be able to collect weight, test weight, and moisture

• Mirus Software is preferred as that is the software we currently use with our database software

• Weighing system must account for slope and motion for accurate weighing of plot samples

• Ability to collect samples and subsamples in cabin

• Must be able to manually empty weighing hopper in between each harvested plot to keep any seed contamination to an absolute minimum

• For ergonomic use, subsampling system must be close to bagging person, a bagging/subsampling system in the back wall of the cabin is not ergonomic and therefore not accepted

• Weighing System needs to slide out completely for calibration and ease of maintenance

• Volume Based Subsampling (time based sub-sampling not accepted)

• Volume adjustment of sample in cabin, up to 214 cu. inches

• Weigh scale calibration weight storage option next to weighing system

• Box storage system outside to reduce dust

• Activation/cycling of weighing system cycle after plot via joystick button

4.10 Transport Requirements

• 2 tie down rings on front wheels to able to secure machine for trailer transport

• 2 tie down rings on rear axle for trailer transport

• Combine needs to weigh less than 8,300lbs to be within weight restrictions of our trailers and GVCW of our towing vehicles.

• Capacity to transport samples/grain

• Length: Less than 200” to fit on our currently available trailers.

4.11 Maintenance

• All filters and fluids available locally

• Combine needs to have a minimum number of belts to reduce break downs and down time

• Local mechanics need to be able to do ALL repairs. Many of our off-station plots do not have any kind of cell/internet service. Machine needs to be simple “electric over hydraulic” hydraulic system.

4.12 Safety

• Must have OSHA Certification (certificate required)

4.13 Other

• A minimum of 2 day training by a technician of plot combine vendor

• A minimum of 1 day training by a technician of weighing system vendor

• On-Site inspection of machines at arrival with customer and plot combine vendor

• Offered price include set up and delivery to the USDA Spillman Agronomy Farm, 1452 Johnson Rd., Pullman, WA 99163

• Must include a minimum 24 month warranty

5.0 Deliverable/Schedule

5.1 Delivery must be FOB to the USDA Spillman Agronomy Farm, 1452 Johnson Rd., Pullman, WA 99163.

5.2 Delivery must be within 120 days after receipt of order (ARO).