Skilled combine operators can capture additional profits of more than $150 per hour of harvest but field losses are commonly about 10 percent of yield, sometimes as high as 20 percent, due to careless harvest operation. With only 10 percent of combine operators checking their adjustments regularly to match field conditions, those losses could easily be reduced to 3 or 4 percent.Researchers and extension officers are urging farmers to pay close attention to reducing soybean harvest losses this fall. Typically more than 75 percent of soybean machine harvesting losses are gathering losses, so greatest attention should be given to proper header adjustment and operation. This includes maintaining ground speeds of 3 mph maximum, running the reel about 25 percent faster than ground speeds (increasing to 50 percent when beans have lodged), and positioning the reel axle 6 to 12 inches ahead of the cutter bar.