A method and an apparatus for ascertaining the quantity of the tailings (39), output into a tailing augur (46) of a combine (1) and composed of grains (35) and non-grain components, in which the quantity of the tailings (39) is displayed by means of generating grain stream signals (X) and crop stream signals (Y, Z), and the quantity of the tailings (39) is detected in a cleaning system (18), assigned to the combine (1), or in a portion of the cleaning system (18), so that the quantity of the crop harvested (39) is relatively precisely ascertained and conclusively displayed in a simple way.