Farmers are moving through the crops as they bring in this year's harvest.

Harvest can be a stressful time as farmers spend many long hours in the combine and trucks trying to get the crop in before a change in the weather.

Taking a break and getting out of the driver's seat, even walking around and checking the combine is key for your own mental health and the efficiency of the machine. 

Making sure the combine is clear of debris and running efficiently is important to prevent not only fires but also grain loss.

With the ongoing drought in many areas and the value of the crop, it's key that farmers do what they can to prevent loss by checking and calibrating the combine settings not just between crops but sometimes between field conditions. 

Provincial commodity groups have details on how to estimate harvest loss in specific crops.

The latest Canola Watch points to a  2019 study, that showed the average losses of canola at combining across Western Canada was three times higher than ideal, costing producers an average of $12.35/ac.

The Canola Council of Canada notes that onboard electronic loss monitors do not provide an accurate measurement of loss and encourages producers to check out the Harvest Loss Calculator and information on how to minimize grain loss during the harvest.