Optimizing harvests with Zemic load cells in Green Growth’s Yield Monitor

Farming has always relied on understanding the land, knowing which rows yield more and where inputs are needed most. Today, accurate yield data plays an even bigger role in helping farmers make these decisions more efficiently. Green Growth is an agritech company founded by engineers and data scientists with that same focus. With offices in the USA, Latvia and Spain, they develop smart agricultural equipment and retrofit yield‑monitoring solutions to bring greater precision to the harvest of crops such as potatoes, cereals and sugar beets. They serve contractors and large agri-holdings across Europe, the United States, Latin America, Africa and Asia.

Their platform allows farmers to harvest with precision by generating yield maps, linking data to exact field locations and ultimately reducing fertilizer and seed usage by optimizing distribution strategies season after season. Green Growth faced a challenge, as they needed a sensor that could withstand the harsh environments of harvesters and still fit into their Yield Monitoring kits. This case study will explain how Zemic advised Green Growth and which sensor was the perfect fit for this application.

How Zemic advised Green Growth

With the potential to reduce fertilizer use and lower seed and soil-sampling costs by up to 30%, Green Growth's yield monitoring system gives farmers a clear advantage during harvests. The system delivers up to 98% harvesting accuracy while working on existing machinery, avoiding the need for new equipment or complex installations.

Green Growth's solution demanded a robust sensor that could provide accurate measurements even in harsh environments such as dirt, water, dust and vibration. During the development of the yield monitoring system, Green Growth tested several load cell models and Zemic Europe stayed closely involved to find the perfect fit for this application. Green Growth valued the build quality, accessibility and availability of different Zemic sensors, which enabled them to experiment.

The Zemic B8Q shear beam load cell proved to be the best-suited sensor for this application. Its compact geometry, IP67 protection rating and reliable force measurements under load made it the only sensor that met all requirements.

The load cells are attached to compact rollers that are installed on the conveyor belt of a harvesting machine. The force measurements are analyzed and calibrated by Green Growth's software. This provides real-time cloud mapping to the farmers and gives beneficial insights for next year's harvest.

Key benefits for Green Growth:

• A load cell that fits onto the compact rollers
• Technical support and availability of sensors for testing
• Robust load cells for reliable force measurement

Which Zemic load cell is being used?

Green Growth uses the Zemic B8Q shear beam load cell, a stainless steel model with a compact design, suitable for different weighing and force measurement solutions.

The Green Growth team was direct about what they needed: a sensor that simply would not quit. “This load cell is designed for the harsh environment of harvesters, where our sensors are constantly immersed in dirt, water, and dust but must remain operational. Besides, it provides the most suitable geometry and capacity for our specific applications that include installing compact rollers on the conveyor belt.” - Green Growth

The B8Q load cell is widely used in different weighing solutions, including in the agricultural sector, for example in hopper, floor and other electronic scales. The load cell has a high accuracy, has a high build quality for harsh environments, easy installation and low profile for the perfect fit in many applications.

Key characteristics of the B8Q load cell:

• Stainless steel design
• Protection class: IP67 for reliable operation in harsh environments
• Low profile
• T-end loading hole option
• Current calibrated (SC-option)

Zemic has a specially equipped sensor department, our engineers are contiously working here on the design, sampling and production of custom made load cells and strain gauges. We enjoy the challenge of developing the best weighing solution for each project.

You can find more information about our load cells; like the different types and characteristics, here:

About the Yield Monitor System

On potato, tomato, onion and other vegetable harvesters, the central transport line is a moving conveyor belt running over multiple rollers. Green Growth replaces two rollers on each side of the belt with custom‑designed rollers containing the B8Q load cell.

As crops move across the belt, the load cell captures the weight in real time. Green Growth then applies advanced algorithms to filter, clean and calibrate the data, resulting in accurate yield measurements linked to precise GPS locations. This enables farmers to visualize productivity differences within the field and optimize fertilizer, seed and input distribution.

Today, Green Growth's system runs on multiple self-propelled harvesters and potato combines across Europe, quietly collecting data with every pass across the field.

By combining accurate sensor data with location‑based insights, the system offers a practical way for contractors and agri‑holdings to adopt more data‑driven harvesting without replacing existing machinery. For those looking to improve harvest efficiency with retrofit solutions, Green Growth provides a clear and accessible entry point into precision agriculture.

Your weighing expert is ready to help you

For all your questions about the integration of (custom-made) strain gauges, load cells and force sensors or miniature sensors, please feel free to contact our weighing expert:

Looking forward speaking to you!

• https://www.zemiceurope.com/en/contacts