Advances in Combine Performance

According to John Deere’s company numbers, they have sold more than 1.1 million combines in the past 80 years. John Deere’s combines are not only among the most advanced in the world, but they are also targeted at the largest farmers with some of the highest capacities in the industry.One of the factors driving combine technology is that the agricultural world has experienced the same effects as the retail world and many other industries. Namely, bigger farms are swallowing up smaller farms forming mega agricultural farming corporations. With the increased size of the average U.S. farm from approximately 147 acres in 1900 to closer to 600 acres in 2014, combines still have to harvest row crops in the same 10 to 15 days as always.

Deere Adds to Industry Combine Harvester Power

Deere’s latest example of combine dominance is the S series. With up to 617 hp at its peak Deere’s S6 90 boasts the most power across all of its competitors. Though power is important, today’s operators also want all systems integration for being aware of what is going on in the combine while they are driving. Deere offers a system they call interactive combine adjustment or ICA. ICA  seeks to control the adjustments and optimizing operation of the combine so that you can optimize your harvest even if you are not an experienced operator.

Not only are these combines enormously powerful but they are adapted to the more difficult harvesting conditions for many of the crops in North America. There is currently a combination of dramatic droughts and overly wet conditions that add up to difficult harvesting for even the most advanced combine. Deere has met this challenge with the new 2014 S series combines that have a larger opening between each roll bar to handle the variety of difficult harvesting conditions from wetter crops to ones that have suffered from dry spells.

CLAAS Shows Off High Speed Combine Harvester

Besides the famous John Deere combines, there is a different approach to combine manufacturing from a lesser-known company called CLAAS. Instead of using the standard mega combine tires, CLAAS chose instead to use tracks much like you would see on a tank. The advantages for this kind of traction system include higher speeds up to 25 mph and less compaction on the soil because you arespreading the enormous weight of the combine over a much larger area. The main selling point for this kind of the combine is the high speeds it can reach why getting from field to field and leveling the load for precise harvesting.

Case Adds Operator Luxury and Precision Offloading to Combine Harvester

Case international harvester has taken their proven combine design and added a few bells and whistles for more accurate crop transfer. They now have a folding auger and a unique pivoting spout for making sure all of the crop an operator gathers goes directly into storage and not on the ground.

The peak horsepower of their range goes up to 571 hp for the 9230 model. On top of the transfer improvements, Case has also added features to their line with new operator comfort and technology. The idea is to provide the operator an office in the field so that today’s farmer can harvest their crop while conducting business either online or on the phone.  The net result of all of these changes is that Case’s latest combines will provide higher total crop yields through minimizing residue lost and optimizing operator efficiency both during the harvesting process and in the transfer process.

The specifics for Case include adjustments for the operator screen, fingertip controls, seat height adjustment, and a welcome deadening of outside noise through the addition of soundproofing. Adding the ability to fold the auger for transportation and to get an extra capacity auger of 10.4 m in length, Case has successfully stepped up combine performance from an already well respected line.

Not to be outdone by its competitors, Massey Ferguson brings several new features for both the operator comfort and performance of the combine harvesters. Most noticeable is the skyline cab with luxury car like interior, air conditioning and heating standard, and sound deadening protection. The large curved windscreen gives a perfect view of all operations the operator must watch. The well-known powerflow cutting operation for the Delta combines has been updated to 10.74 m for increasing capacity and harvesting range capabilities.

Besides these well-known combine manufacturers there are a few new entrants into the combine manufacturing business. Though these are not easily available yet, one of the combines has the ability to store more crop than any other combine currently, and turn tighter because of its articulating design. With these two capabilities, this newest combine is able to outrun any combine currently manufactured in production rate and efficiency. When this new harvesting combine becomes available, we will bring it to you in all its detail on tractorexport.com