Impact mass flow sensor for monitoring peanut harvest yields

A method for monitoring yield of a crop comprising:

• connecting a force sensor to an impact plate such that the force sensor and the impact plate are in mechanical communication with one another, the impact plate including a first side and an opposite second side and defining a series of apertures therethrough passing from the first side to the opposite second side;
• attaching the impact plate adjacent a wall of a pneumatic crop conveyance duct of a harvesting machine;
• pneumatically conveying crop through the duct of the harvesting machine, wherein air passes through the apertures during the conveyance and crop is deflected off of the impact plate during the conveyance;
• and
• monitoring the impact of the crop into the impact plate by use of the force sensor as the crop is conveyed through the duct to monitor yield of the crop.