Headland (agriculture)

A Headland, in agriculture, is the area at each end of a planted field.

It is used for turning around with farm implements during field operations and is the first area to be harvested to minimize crop damage.

Yields are generally lower than in the field itself due to additional implement traffic and crop damage from implements turning on them, as well as compaction.

Soil fertility levels are frequently higher than in the main part of the field due to overlapping applications of fertilizer coupled with reduced yields.

There would usually be two engines, one on each headland, and they would winch the plough to and fro between them.