John Deere updates flagship S-Series combines for 2020 season

To compensate for cross winds, and ultimately spread crop residues more evenly when chopping, 2020 S-Series combines can be specified with an automatic wind compensation system, altering the angle of spread.

Using GPS, the new Auto Swap system detects the combine’s direction of travel and automatically mirrors the broadcast pattern once the combine turns at the headland and moves in the opposite direction.

Counter knives can now also be adjusted from the cab, making adjustment and operation easier, says Deere. By checking the chop quality using the reversing camera, the firm says this allows the operator judge how the knives should be set.

Building on its Active Yield automatic yield sensor, introduced in 2017 with the last round of S700 updates, which removed the need for manual yield calibrations, JD has supplemented this with a more precise humidity sensor.

This is said to considerably improve data collection, especially for low and high grain moisture contents. Calibration intervals plus yield and humidity data is recorded along with other important information on the combine’s documentation software.

Data can be transferred wirelessly and exchanged between any mobile computers and smartphones, as well as the farm office via JDLink Connect. In addition, compatibility between the firm’s open platform MyJohnDeere.com website portal and other systems is being expanded, with data transfer in the ISO XML standard possible from next year.

John Deere will also be launching the new 700X variable length header for 2020. This maintains the existing unit’s 1,200mm table but with improvements made to crop flow, says the manufacturer.

The new headers feature a low-profile feeding design, resulting in a smoother transition to the auger, especially for short crops such as spring barley, says Deere. In addition, the slip clutch position has been moved directly to the auger to minimise wear, and further durability improvements have been made with 25 per cent thicker skid plates on all units.

With increasing restrictions on the use of herbicides and crop desiccation products, the ability to effectively combine swaths of oilseed rape, legumes and other crops is regaining importance, says the manufacturer.

To pick up swaths with as few losses as possible, John Deere will be offering the new 615P pick-up header. It has a working width of 4.5m and is equipped with air-sprung support wheels. Crop is picked up by tines before being transferred to a horizontal belt to minimise losses.

W- and T-Series combines can now be equipped with the new fourth generation 4640 Greenstar Display. While all combine settings are still regulated using the armrest display, all other functions can be controlled through the 4640 display.

These include guidance, documentation, data transmission and Machine Sync automatic steering of the tractor/trailer combination driving alongside. The universal 4640 display is removable and can also operate Section Control on a sprayer, for example.