Combine harvester sales are up a staggering 47% compared to last year, according to the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) report released July 2013. While both 2WD and 4WD tractor sales were up roughly 11% and 13% each, the huge increase in combine sales shows that corn farmers have both the funds and a sound incentive for investing in one of the most expensive farm machines.

Combine Harvesters – Major Farm Equipment Investment

Depending on a wide range of engine sizes, classes, and features, a new combine can cost between $350,000 to over $500,000. A farm operator has to weigh the costs versus advantages of the new technology introduced by the major manufactures. John Deere, Case IH, and Agco all introduced major upgrades to their combines in recent years.

John Deere, CaseIH, and Agco Pushing Automatic Propulsion

Deere is focusing both on the controls and technology that guide drivers, along with new corn heads, as shown by the 2014 S-series. Case IH surveyed their customers about their operating needs for long hours in the combine cab. Based on input from farmers, Case added bluetooth for seamless phone connectivity, a laptop holder, more automatic propulsion controls, and the Axial Flow technology. Agco
is focusing on simplifying their combine designs throughout the Massey Ferguson, Valtra, and Challenger brands.

All of the manufacturers are responding to a few common themes from grain growers. Farmers are demanding mobile offices in their tractors and in their combines. Farmers also want the highest possible yield with the minimum waste and fuel cost. Deere has responded to this challenge by adding more automatic propulsion and global positioning system (GPS) control, so a combine operator can focus on monitoring the performance of the heads. The result is that the combine operator can dial in the harvesting heads to minimize waste left on the field, keep the combine running smoothly, while the computer keeps the wheels running in the right direction at the right speed.

Combine Harvester Reliability and Maintenance Key Feature

Maintenance issues with combines can be critical because of the short time span for harvesting. Case IH Axial Flow Combines have auto steer, plus they offer a higher level of quality from each harvest by promised reduced crop damage. All of these features have actually improved maintenance because electronics are proving more reliable than mechanical linkages. Additionally, they have gone the extra step to sound proof cabins because operators complained about hearing loss from long days in a noisy cab. Noise reduction often includes a vibration reduction, and that means a smoother operating combine.

The AEM statistics show that the larger farmers are spending more than the smaller farmers. Tractors over 100 hp are seeing a higher increase in sales at 27%, than tractors in the 40-100 hp range at 6.1%.
This suggests that large farms are investing in both larger, more advanced tractors, plus combine harvesters, in anticipation of continuing high grain prices. The new technology makes the investment decision pay for itself in efficiency, productivity, and perhaps most importantly, farming enjoyment.