Abstract. Low-level mechanization is one of the main reasons for the high costs in selection and primary seed production. Crop breeders use transport and loading facilities for seed material transporting in an unsystematic manner. (Research purpose) Development of technology of transport support in selection and seed production, including all transport and loading processes of the delivery of grain seeds from selection combines to storage facilities using containers for seed collection, transportation, drying, and storage. (Materials and methods) The authors have described a container flowtransport technology of selection grain harvesting at the stage of primary reproduction and developed a machine complex technology and a database of harvesting and transport machines for seed collection, transportation, drying, and storage. (Results and discussion) The authors have determined the type of transport and loading means for the container method of seed harvesting, transportation and storage recommended for use in selection and seed production. There are four distinctive novelty positions of the presented type: the ability to transport containers in 2 rows; increased loading height from 2 m to 3 m; maximum operating radius reaches 3.8 m (vs. 2.7 m); increased cargo capacity – by 460 kg. (Conclusions) The authors suggest using the developed methodology to improve the technological process of harvesting, transportation and postharvest processing of seed grain, organize this process, as well as select machine parameters and technical equipment on the farms of the Central region of Russia. It has been suggested that test prototypes of containers and a loader with a container tilter should be designed and manufactured for use in primary crop processing.

To ensure harvesting and transportation of crops on soils with low bearing capacity, a number of designs of harvesting vehicles on caterpillar tracks have been developed. Currently, a large fleet of harvesting and transporting machines operates in the caterpillar drive in the Far East, the countries of the near abroad, the Baltic States, Central Asia, Cuba, Vietnam and China. The main distinguishing feature of this class of machines is the need to provide high cross-country ability with minimal destruction of the fertile soil layer. The most important requirements for caterpillar propulsors, presented by consumers, are requirements for ensuring performance on surfaced roads, reducing noise and vibration of parts, increasing transport and operating speeds, driving comfort, increasing of service life, reducing of negative impact on the soil. Agriculture of Russia bears great losses due to the lack of equipment for working on soils with low bearing capacity, which leads to the fact that harvesting of winter crops lasts more than 40 days, losses reach 42%. In a rainy year, the number of harvesting and transport equipment is increasing, the machines cannot enter the field and are idle. To increase the efficiency of agriculture, it is necessary to develop technological means for performing transportation and technological processes in adverse weather conditions. A number of agricultural crops, such as soy and rice, are grown using paddy fields, which makes it difficult to harvest crops from harvesters. During application of fertilizers, about 40% of the soil surface is compacted by wheels. Sealing of soil promotes formation of large and dense blocks during plowing, which worsen the conditions for normal plant growth. At present, none of commercially produced vehicles used in agriculture meets the requirements of GOST 26955-86.

In order to harvest and transport the crop on soils with low bearing capacity a number of designs of harvesting and transport vehicles on caterpillar track was developed. Currently, there is a large fleet of harvesting and transport vehicles operating on caterpillar drive in the Far East, CIS countries, Baltic countries, Central Asia, Cuba, Vietnam and China. The main feature of that class of vehicles is necessity to provide the high floatation with minimal destruction of topsoil. The most important customer requirements to the caterpillar drive are the ones for reduction of noise and parts vibration levels, for increase of travelling and operating speeds of vehicles, for driving comfort, for increase of service life and for reduction of negative impact on the soil. Russian agriculture suffers great losses because of the lack of machinery to work on soils with low bearing capacity, which leads to the fact that harvesting of winter crops lasts more than 40 days, and the losses are 42%. On a rainy year, the number of harvesting and transport machinery increases, but the machinery is unable to get on the field and stands idle. To improve the efficiency of agriculture, it is necessary to develop the technical means to carry out the transport and technological processes under adverse weather conditions. A number of crops like soybeans and rice is cultivated using paddy fields, which makes difficulties for crop transporting from harvesters. During fertilizer application, about 40% of the soil surface is compacted by wheels. Compaction of soil during plowing facilitates the formation of large and dense clots worsening the conditions of normal growth of plants. Currently, none of series-produced vehicles used in agriculture meets the requirements of 26955-86 state standard.