John Deere introduces two-row cane harvesters

John Deere’s innovative CH9 series of two-row harvesters has undergone extensive testing on Australian soil for the past two harvests and is now ready for launch into the local market.

Launched in Brazil in 2020, the CH9 was recognised at the AE50 Awards in 2021 for its innovative integration of two independent front feed systems and basecutters that allows the machine to operate at a similar speed to a single-row unit, while maintaining the expected cane quality.

The CH9 series joins the CH570 in John Deere's cane harvester range and comes in a 1.4m to 1.5m row width in the CH950 and 1.7m or 1.9m with the CH960.

“We have worked with Australian growers over the past two harvests to receive fundamental feedback, and to prove the CH9 Series is designed to excel in the local environment,” said John Deere's Global Cane Business Manager, Jesse Lopez.

“As a company, we’re committed to providing customers with machinery and technology to be the most productive, profitable and sustainable in the world, and the CH9 Series is the perfect example of John Deere innovation meeting the needs of today’s farmer.”

John Deere Production System Manager, Ben Kelly, said the CH9 Series was designed to support growers’ desire to achieve lower production costs per tonne, with Controlled Traffic integration – for significant benefits to soil health.

“The two-row system has proven to achieve in excess of 1.5 times more harvesting productivity while reducing machine hours by 33 per cent,” he said.

“The CH9 Series also benefit from increased fuel efficiency, with the larger fuel tank meaning the new machines can potentially be fueled only once every 24 hours.

“In order to address the challenges of this increased harvest volume and uneven row height, John Deere engineers developed RowAdapt™ technology, allowing the base cutters to float independently. Cane from the two rows then merges in the machine right after the plant is cut.

“The RowAdapt system, coupled with a wider 10-blade chopper and redesigned primary and secondary extractor, reduces billet losses by up to 50 per cent.”

The CH9 Series also features a new 13.6-litre Tier 4 engine with 50 per cent larger displacement than the CH570 9L, and uses, on average, only 82 per cent of the maximum hp capacity, John Deere said.

Maintenance costs have also been reduced on the CH9 Series with new heavy-duty tracks and more wear-resistant components on the elevator.

The CH9 Series is also equipped with a range of precision ag technology including the new Gen 4 Monitor and 4600 CommandCenter™, providing the operator with more interaction and intuitive use.

As global demand grows for more sustainable and productive food and fibre, one of the most exciting developments of the new CH9 Series is its positive impact on soil compaction, Kelly  said.

“The rebalanced CH9 Series offers a wider base aligning the harvester's tracks directly in the centre of the rows, providing up to 60 per cent reduction in soil compaction as the machine only travels on every second interrow,” Kelly said.

“The reduced soil compaction and improved cut quality will also allow farmers to potentially increase the cane growth cycle from five to up to eight years.

“There are many benefits to extending the replanting cycle beyond just increased yields, including savings in input costs like planting and fuel, and the overall environmental impact of the production cycle.”

For more information, visit the John Deere website or contact your local John Deere dealer.

John Deere launches 9500 self-propelled forage harvester

Electric driverless Deere tractor to reach Aussie shores by 2026

John Deere HDR headers help producers capture more grain