John Deere rolls out C650 air cart

Available in tow-behind or tow-between configurations, the C650 has Controlled Traffic Farming (CTF) capabilities and comes with a series of smarts to help increase productivity.

“This cart fills a need for producers and contractors who are looking for an air cart with a capacity of more than 550 bushel (12.5 tonnes), without having to make the leap up to our 850bu (19.3 tonnes) cart,” said John Deere Production and Precision Ag Tactical Segment Manager, Marko Koelln.

“The tow-between can also be configured for CTF 3m spacing, which we know is important to many Australian growers across key production zones.”

The C650 has a capacity of 650bu (14.7 tonnes), high-flotation tyres and fill rate of up to 100bu/min (2.2 tonnes/min), allowing customers to seed more hectares per day.

John Deere has also equipped the C650 with a range of technology designed to optimise seed to soil contact, maximise emergence and minimise input expenses.

“Key technologies include a durable, digital cart-side display to make filling and calibration push-button easy,” Koelln said.

“ActiveCal is an on-the-go feature that allows operators to automatically calibrate meters right from the Gen 4 Display in the cab, while an integrated wiring harness provides connections for five camera locations, one in each tank and a fifth that provides a rear-hitch view.”

SectionCommand manages seed and fertiliser application by minimising overlaps and skips for higher seeding accuracy, while AirPower 2 provides dual fans - one for seed and one for fertiliser with large, 7.6cm (3-inch) primaries. Deere said the fans are designed to accurately deliver product rates across the full width of the seeder bar for consistent product application.

The C650 also offers a liquid capable centre tank for growers who choose to incorporate liquid fertiliser into their seeding operations.

Additional features on the C650 that are also found on the larger John Deere C850 cart include hydraulic rear disc brakes, in-tank camera mounts, in-tank lights, LED working lights, conveyor weather cover and digital tank air pressure monitoring.

A tow behind model of John Deere’s C650 air cart has been put to work at the Lush family’s 3000ha farming operation near Barabba in South Australia, and has yielded substantial reductions in input costs, Deere said.

Three generations of Lush family members including Paul Lush, his father John and son Nicholas, grow wheat, canola, lentils and faba beans at the family’s farm. They do this across two closely located properties “Riverview” and “Adare” - where John has been since 1967.

Paul Lush said following the recent demo he was confident the C650 was ideally matched to his seeding requirements, with John Deere Section Control delivering outstanding cost-saving benefits.

He said the Section Control improved placement of agricultural inputs and reduced operator fatigue by automatically turning implement sections on and off.

“We had been using the John Deere 1910 tow-behind, however this new and larger offering just suits the size of our operation, while the technology in this machine is simply fantastic,” he said.

“Our calculations have shown us that we have reduced inputs by up to 10 per cent in some paddocks, and an average 5.5 per cent across the entire farm.

“When you add that up across seed, granular fertiliser and liquid inputs, that is a significant saving.”

Koelln said John Deere prioritises working with customers and the agricultural sector to monitor and respond to their needs to drive a more profitable, efficient and sustainable farm sector.

“We are excited to make the C650 available for order and encourage producers to contact their trusted local dealer to talk through the machine in more detail,” he said.

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