Deere unveils “smarter” combine range

Building on the proven performance of the S600 Combines introduced in 2012, John Deere’s new S700 series has been designed to lift the bar even higher with its automated harvesting technology.

There are four models in the range - S760, S770, S780 and S790 offering up to 543hp and up to 14100-litre of harvesting capacity.

Alongside the S700 series, John Deere is also releasing the 700C/FC Series Corn Heads and 700D Drapers for more efficient grain harvesting.

According to Kevin Ripple, marketing manager for harvest at John Deere, many of the changes on the S700 series make operators’ lives easier by allowing the combine to make needed adjustments automatically, on the go.

"These new S700 Combines are a culmination of enhancements to our previous model that optimise and automate harvesting operations for coarse and small grains," he says.

"We've enhanced the overall intelligence of these combines by automating more adjustments and calibration tasks, and improved the lifetime durability and productivity of front-end equipment to create a high performance harvesting solution unlike any other on the market today."

In fact, the S700 series bagged the inaugural JB Davidson award for engineering excellence at the 2018 Commodity Classic in the US earlier this year. The award, presented by the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE) and Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM), recognises the best of the best in new agricultural technologies.

A highlight of the brand new S700 series is its Combine Advisor package, which incorporates seven technologies to help operators set, optimise and automate the combine for the most effective harvesting performance based on their crop and field conditions.

Auto Maintain is a function within Combine Advisor that is supported with John Deere’s ActiveVision cameras. The cameras not only give the operator a view into the tailings and clean grain elevators via the display, but also serve to analyse the information to maintain optimal threshing performance based on operator set targets.

Another addition to the S700 combines is Active Yield technology that automatically calibrates the mass flow sensor, eliminating the need for manual calibrations and ensuring the best data is collected.

In the cab

The S700 models have also been equipped with John Deere’s new state-of-the-art CommandCenter that are also present in Deere’s larger tractor and self-propelled sprayer lines.

The CommandCenter features a Gen-4 interface and monitor with 4600 processor; CommandArm and multi-function control lever with greater ergonomic design and customisable buttons; premium activation with AutoTrac, RowSense and HarvestDoc; and Extended Monitor and mobile device features.

More intuitive harvest run and setup screens also allow operators to set up and start up much quicker and easier, John Deere adds.

The new cabs come with either leather or cloth seats that swivel 7.5 degrees left and 15 degrees right for improved visibility; enhanced seat ventilation for greater comfort; improved seat cushion with optional leather seat; and additional grain tank mirrors for improved visibility of the grain tank.

New corn head & platform

Along with the S700 Combines, John Deere is introducing the 700C/FC (folding corn head) Series Corn Heads with the RowMax row unit. John Deere says the RowMax row unit provides up to a 50 per cent increase in the life of the row unit gathering chains and features solid-alloy bushings that reduce pin and bushing wear.

"We've also increased the life of the stalk rolls by up to 25 per cent by utilising a harder material and adding a new wear coating on the front and trailing edges of the blades for increased performance," says John Deere’s product manager for front-end equipment, Brittney Guidarelli.

"As a result, we've decreased the cost of operation by reducing how frequently wear parts need to be replaced.”

The 700C series Corn Heads are available in six to 18-row models, in 20, 22 and 30-inch row widths. The StalkMaster stalk-chopping option is available on all models.

Folding corn heads are available on eight and 12-row units, which make transporting easier for operators without the need to disconnect and reconnect after moving the machine from field to field.

For corn growers harvesting high moisture corn, there are several enhancements available specifically tailored to better handle this demanding crop, John Deere adds. High moisture corn enhancements on the corn head include an auger floor insert to ease crop handling and a lower auger height to minimise crop damage.

For small grains, Deere introduces the 700D Rigid Draper, which the company says provides a 20 per cent increase in capacity in tough harvesting conditions over the previous model. The 700D features a top crop auger that is 50 per cent larger in diameter (now 457mm) with heavy-duty drives, high-performance gauge wheels, and a new centre section seal kit that John Deere claims to reduce centre section grain losses by up to 45 per cent in canola.

The S700 combine range, 700C/FC Corn Heads and 700D Rigid Draper are now available across John Deere’s dealership network Australia-wide.

For more information, visit deere.com.au.