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Harvesting
Harvesting pea can be quite difficult and time-consuming. Two main points the producer must consider are: knowing when to harvest, and taking steps to ensure that the peas are the best quality possible to obtain a high grade.
Knowing When to Harvest: The pea crop is best harvested when the pea seeds are mature and contain 16 to 20% moisture. Pea swaths, being light and fluffy, are susceptible to wind damage.
To prevent the peas from splitting and cracking, many growers will combine pea when damp (18 to 20% moisture) and dry them down to 16% moisture in aeration bins. It is important, therefore, not to delay harvesting pea for too long. Pea should preferably be harvested early in the afternoon, while the days are still hot so that the vines will be as dry as possible. This is because the vines are wiry and tough if damp, and they may plug the combine. Harvesting in August will take half as long as harvesting in October.
Quality and Grade: The second point is to ensure that the peas are the best quality possible, and obtain a high grade.
It is also important to try to prevent earthtag. Earthtag is dirt attached onto the pea seeds which cannot be dislodged. It is a serious concern since peas graded as #1 cannot contain much earthtag. The best way to prevent earthtag is to reduce the amount of dirt that is moved through the machines. In addition, earthtag may be increased if green weeds are threshed with the peas since the juice helps stick dirt to the pea seeds. A specialized pickup on the combine may help. In addition, combines can be modified with a perforated clean elevator door trap.
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