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New combine maintains output at reduced cost
Using one combine instead of two, and losing a 4.5m (15ft) cut with each pass in the process, presented a tough challenge for the first rotary machine bought by the AE Lenton Estate in 2008’s difficult season. However, this Lincolnshire estate’s new John Deere CTS 9780i combine not only managed to maintain the productivity of the two previous machines, but also reduced the operating costs of both harvesting and haulage.
The combine was bought in 2007 from local dealer Burdens in Boston, and harvested around 1050 acres in its first season last year. The machine was initially demonstrated to farm manager Oliver Shooter during the 2007 harvest; he was so impressed with the combine’s output and its performance in laid crops that he decided to replace two previous makes with the CTS for the 2008 harvest.
The 4500 acre estate at Friskney, near Boston, is split into two farms. Combinable crops include oilseed rape, winter and spring barley and winter wheat. The estate also grows 2000 acres of vegetables, including cauliflowers, cabbages, potatoes, onions, parsnips and peas for major retailers, and has its own in-field pack-house.
Equipped with a 7.6m (25ft) Premium Flow all-crop cutting platform, the CTS’ main task was to match the harvesting capacity of the two previous combines, which were each fitted with 6m (20ft) headers. Output was not at all compromised, as Oliver Shooter explains: “On a good day in the 2008 harvest we were cutting six acres an hour, with outputs of 65 acres a day being easily achievable. Harvesting conditions were far from ideal, but the CTS performed well in laid crops, particularly in oilseed rape.”
One of the biggest benefits Oliver found was how much easier it was to manage the grain trailers with just the one combine. “We were using only four trailers to keep the one combine operating instead of six the previous year to keep the two machines working,” he explains. Output was not been affected, but unloading took just two minutes from the massive 10,000 litre tank, which also reduced the number of trailers needed.
“Using fewer trailers not only keeps operating costs down, but also means the two spare drivers can help with the potato harvesting during this busy time of year. Moreover, changing fields is quicker as there is only one combine to move,” says Oliver.
Having had the AutoTrac hands-free steering system fitted on his John Deere tractors, Oliver Shooter also decided to have this feature fitted to the combine. “We have been using AutoTrac on our 8000 Series tractors for a number of field operations including ploughing, power harrowing and drilling, and we have been very impressed with the ease of use and accuracy of this system on all our machines. Having AutoTrac fitted to the combine mean we can swap the receiver and screen to other tractors when the combine is not in use.”
The i specification combine comes equipped with Field Doc, John Deere’s yield monitoring system that allows the operator to determine yield and moisture variations within a field. This information can be downloaded onto the office computer, creating yield maps, crop summaries and reports. “Yield monitoring is one area we are particularly keen on moving into,” says Oliver. “By knowing the different yields throughout the field, we can then link this data to our fertiliser spreaders and drills to alter fertiliser and seed rates. This obviously reduces input costs and makes best use of the differing yield potential within a field.”
The CTS 9780i develops 355hp from its Powertech six-cylinder engine, with an additional power boost increasing output to 373hp – very useful when harvesting in tough conditions such as thick, moist or weedy crops, and also when unloading the tank. “Even when harvesting at 22 per cent moisture, the John Deere combine had enough power to maintain output with no problems,” says Oliver.
“The twin rotor system not only allows a high output, but also provides a very clean grain sample. Roughly 50 per cent of our straw is baled on the farm, so it needs to be left in good condition, and this was a worry we had with having a rotary machine. However, in my opinion the CTS combine leaves the straw in as good a condition as a straw walker machine.”
Oliver expects to keep his new John Deere combine for up to eight years, depending on land availability, cereal prices and any extra contracting work the combine may undertake. In addition, he has been so impressed with the CTS 9780i combine that he is already looking at replacing the farm’s second machine with a new John Deere T Series model.
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