STURGIS — Farmer, inventor, sports enthusiast, and agricultural industry influencer, Tyler Peniuk of Sturgis has never been afraid of taking risks in building his business. The introduction of an innovation that has set the agricultural industry on fire has boosted his work.
His passion, resilience, adaptability and innovation drive fuels his mission to gap traditional farming and the digital world.
Yield Maximizer is a harvester drop pan system designed to be easier to install, cost-effective and more portable than traditional solutions. The innovative product helps farmers maximize their yields and reduce operational costs during the harvest season.
The Yield Maximizer is currently patent-pending and looking for partners to bring the product to the broader agricultural market.
“It all started when my dad, Gaye Peniuk, came up with the idea to use an old window pane that had the glass busted out and replaced the glass with fibreglass. At harvest time he would walk behind the combines to catch the screening, to see what needed to be adjusted to improve the amount of bushels he was getting. In the 1960’s it was a great invention but I wanted to improve it to perfect the bushels per acre we were getting. With the Yield Maximizer, we don’t need a scale or blowing device. It inserts into most makes of combines easily and conveniently slides out with the use of a remote control, either operated from the inside of the combine or on the ground."
It has been a huge challenge, he said. Peniuk has been working tirelessly, experiencing many frustrating evenings while getting everything perfected. The Maximizer itself is lightweight and the wiring harness is simple but was extremely challenging to create. Figuring out the proper ratio so it adapts to each type of combine has been the most challenging, Peniuk said.
In the world of agriculture, small innovations can lead to massive savings. Tyler Peniuk, a grain farmer and co-founder of the popular Farming Watch social media channels, has created a game-changing invention aimed at making harvest time more efficient and profitable for farmers. The Yield Maximizer is a combine drop pan system designed to reduce the hassle and cost associated with traditional drop pans.
As a farmer, Peniuk experienced firsthand the challenges of ensuring maximum efficiency during harvest season. After years of using traditional drop pans that were cumbersome, difficult to install, and often inaccurate, Tyler realized there was a better way. His solution, the Yield Maximizer, is an easy-to-install, lightweight drop pan that can be deployed quickly, even on the biggest and most advanced combines. Its design reduces the time spent on installations and increases accuracy, making it ideal for any farmer who wants to improve their operations.
The concept of the Yield Maximizer came to Tyler during his own harvest seasons when he found himself spending up to an hour every day managing his combines. Over time, he realized that this time spent on the combine drop pans was not just a small inconvenience but a major contributor to lost revenue. In fact, by dedicating just one hour a day to working with his combine drop pans, Tyler estimates that he saved up to $20,000 per day in wasted grain and operational inefficiencies. This realization sparked the creation of the Yield Maximizer.
“I’ve seen the results myself,” Tyler explains. “After using this simple but clever solution, I saved over $1 million on my own farm. This isn’t just an idea; it’s a proven way to maximize yield and reduce waste.”
One of the key factors that sets the Yield Maximizer apart from its competitors is its cost-effectiveness. Traditional drop pan systems can be costly, both in terms of installation and maintenance. Many competitors require farmers to spend significant time on the ground, often in less-than-ideal conditions, to install and manage their equipment. In contrast, the Yield Maximizer offers a lightweight and portable solution that can be installed quickly and easily, reducing the need for extra labour and increasing efficiency.
Unlike some of its competitors, the Yield Maximizer is also compatible with all makes and models of combines, including the new John Deere X9, which other systems fail to accommodate. This universal compatibility means farmers no longer have to worry about investing in a new system when upgrading or replacing their equipment.
A strong partnership for manufacturing
With his social media platform Farming Watch growing rapidly, Peniuk has used his success to help fund the development of the Yield Maximizer prototype. Now that the product is patent-pending, Peniuk is seeking to partner with manufacturers in the agriculture industry to bring the product to market.
Peniuk's journey from farm to prototype to patent has been marked by his commitment to solving real-world problems that farmers face daily. His mission is to get the Yield Maximizer into the hands of farmers worldwide, helping them save time and money while improving their harvests. Peniuk is actively looking for partners in agricultural manufacturing who are willing to collaborate on producing the product on a larger scale.
"Get after it," Peniuk says, quoting his mantra to motivate fellow farmers and innovators. "This is a chance for us to take control of the harvest season and ensure that we’re getting the most out of every single bushel."
