RATIONALE FOR USING CHASER BINS IN GRAIN HARVESTING LOGISTICS

Abstract

The article explores the problematic issues of increasing the efficiency of transport support for grain harvesting operations under conditions of production uncertainty, seasonal peak loads, and limited resources of Ukrainian agricultural enterprises. A contradiction has been identified between the necessity of ensuring continuous high-capacity operation of combine harvesters and the need to minimize costs associated with the formation and operation of the machine and transport fleet.
The purpose of the article is to provide technological, economic, and environmental substantiation for rational options of using chaser bins as a buffer link in the grain transportation system during harvesting.
An economic-mathematical model for optimizing the logistics system has been developed, taking into account combine productivity, grain hauling distance, fuel consumption, crop losses due to violations of agrotechnical deadlines, and the negative impact of soil compaction on future yields. A comparative analysis of three transportation schemes was conducted: direct flow (combine – truck), tractor-based, and the three-link system (combine – chaser bin – truck).
It was established that the use of a buffer link increases the field efficiency factor of combines to 0.94–0.96, reduces downtime by 15–20%, decreases specific fuel consumption by 12–18%, and preserves 7–10% of the yield by adhering to optimal harvest windows. The threshold distances for the economic feasibility of various transport types were determined, and the efficiency of dividing the logistics system into field and highway phases was substantiated. The results obtained can be utilized in forming a rational structure for machine and transport fleets and enhancing the competitiveness of agricultural enterprises.