January 24, 2008 - New technology in planting, tilling and spraying crops leads to higher, denser yields per hectare. This creates new challenges in harvesting more hectares, while managing higher levels of crop residue. John Deere's solution is a new line of “bullet rotor” STS combines which deliver ultimate harvesting performance to meet the productivity requirements of today's growers.

There are four new 70 Series STS Combines in the line-up:

"These machines are the latest evolution in STS combine technology and are designed to provide customers with more capacity while managing the combine and harvest information in a simple, user-friendly environment," says Royce Bell, Tactical Segment Manager, John Deere Limited. "Large producers are always looking for more productivity, and these new machines cover more hectares in less time, deliver ultimate performance during harvest, and offer additional residue-management choices to the producer."

The 70 Series Combines are powered by field-proven, John Deere PowerTech Plus™ engines that are cleaner-burning, more fuel-efficient and factory-approved to use up to B5 biodiesel fuel.

"On our largest combine, the 9870 STS, we offer an industry exclusive Intelligent Power Management™ system," explains Bell. "The kilowatts on this combine are automatically increased to 358 kW (480 hp) when matched with the new 612C StalkMaster™ Chopping Corn Head. This system was designed to ensure that operators do not compromise productivity when chopping corn stalks during harvest. Customers with the 9870 STS and 612C StalkMaster™ package can maintain ground speed while chopping and sizing corn residue at the corn head. This balanced harvesting system is the ultimate harvesting and residue management package available in the marketplace today."

To complement the increased capacity of the 9870 STS Combine and the 612C StalkMaster™, a new CommandTouch™ Multi-Speed Feederhouse drive is available. This five-speed drive system delivers 45 percent more feederhouse-drive capacity to allow more productivity from the new 600C Corn Heads.

The 9870 STS Combine also features a new DynaFlo II™ cleaning system with Increased Cleaning Capacity (ICC). It is designed to deliver 15 percent more cleaning capacity generated by a longer sieve stroke and a new front-chaffer extension. This new design increases the cleaning capacity and ensures a cleaner crop in the grain tank even with higher-litre crops. Clean grain elevator capacities also have been increased on the 9670 STS, 9770 STS and 9870 STS models to enable more litres per hour while harvesting.

"Another enhancement to all 70 Series STS Combines is the ease of control and access to precise information for the operator while harvesting," says Bell. "The new CommandCenter™ display screen, mounted on the armrest, provides important harvesting information that is easily viewed in a user-friendly format. Operators can effortlessly customise important information when monitoring their harvest."

The CommandCenter™ display, standard equipment on all combines, provides clear and simple Harvest Monitor™ yield and moisture information. It also provides text messages from the combine to the operator regarding easy calibration, diagnostics and systems-alert information.

The operator's armrest control console features a state-of-the-art "set point" adjustment. Instead of continuously holding an adjustment switch for a particular setting, the operator is now able to rotate a selection knob to the desired setting which is viewable on the CommandCenter™ display. The system then automatically adjusts the combine precisely to that setting. This allows the operator to spend more time viewing what's going on in the field and less time fussing with adjustment settings.

"Customers told us they want to see important combine harvesting information at a glance. They don't want to view complicated displays and scroll through lots of information to find what they need. The CommandCenter™ delivers all of that and more," says Bell.

For example, HarvestSmart™ technology, available as an option on all 70 Series STS Combines, allows the operator to preset important harvesting capacities so that the machine can automatically adjust threshing and field speed for optimal harvesting performance, regardless of field conditions. The HarvestSmart™ settings and moment-by-moment status information are easily viewable on the new CommandCenter™ display.

"All the STS machines still feature 'bullet rotor' technology for enhanced threshing and separating," emphasizes Bell. "The Bullet Rotor™ design allows for easier crop flow through the threshing system, reduces rotor power requirements, and helps to deliver faster field speeds."

The rotor is designed with a streamlined bullet-nose profile, which provides more room up front, allowing high volumes of crop material to enter smoothly and to be distributed evenly. Rotor power requirements are reduced and material handling is improved by as much as 20 percent in tough, small-grain crop conditions. The smoother crop feeding also reduces rotor "growling" at high feed rates and allows longer harvesting hours in the field, even in damp conditions.

"Coupled with the higher kilowatts and the increased capacity of the grain handling and cleaning systems, the 9770 STS and 9870 STS deliver exceptional combine performance for today's large and extra-large producers," says Bell. "These machines can harvest more litres in less time reducing overall harvest costs for the producers. It's what ultimate harvesting is all about and we're confident these new machines will deliver in the field where it counts."

The 70 Series Combines also feature a new straw chopper design with a wide-spread tailboard that evenly distributes residue. This is critical to the producer who wants a consistent, even distribution of residue behind the machine for more effective residue control.

The new straw chopper is redesigned with new chopper blades that have a longer wear life and use up to 15 percent less kilowatts when engaged. The air flow through the chopper has been increased with air-scoop blades and an enhanced separator air-flow design.

"An improved PowerCast™ Tailboard also helps with residue distribution," explains Bell. "A new housing and impeller blade design increases residue spread for customers requiring 10 metres and greater. Since management of residue is important to a producer's subsequent tillage and seeding operation, we've increased the spreading capacity of the tailboard and made it easier to adjust spreading width with the combine header size. This also assures even distribution when chopping and spreading. A new optional straw spreader also distributes residue in widths up to 12 metres.

"With all the new features of the 70 Series STS Combines, the new engines, new cleaning and chopping systems, more precise command and control, and more overall capacity, we're delivering to our customers the ultimate in harvesting performance," concludes Bell. "We encourage producers to see the new machines at product events and visit with their local John Deere dealers."

For more information on the 70 Series STS Combine Harvesters visit our Web site at www.JohnDeere.com.au or FREECALL 1800 800 981 in Australia or 0800 303 100 in New Zealand to contact your local John Deere dealer.

John Deere (Deere & Company - NYSE: DE) is the world's leading provider of advanced products and services for agriculture and forestry and a major provider of advanced products and services for construction, lawn and turf care, landscaping and irrigation. John Deere also provides financial services worldwide and manufactures and markets engines used in heavy equipment. Since it was founded in 1837, the company has extended its heritage of integrity, quality, commitment and innovation around the globe.