Equipment manufacturers transported seven combines to the Commodity Classic at Houston, Texas last week. They came in all colours but the green machines created the biggest buzz as John Deere showcased two new S7 Series combines on the tradeshow floor.
RealAgriculture’s Bernard Tobin was on location to report on the S7 Series combine family rollout, which includes four models: S7 600, S7 700, S7 800 and S7 900 — ranging from 330 to 543 horsepower.
In this interview, John Deere’s go-to-market manager for harvesters, Bergen Nelson, says the S7 story really starts with the engine. The 600 and 700 combines will feature a new JD9 9L engine. The 800 and 900 will be powered by a JD14 13.6L engine, which is commonly found in Deere’s X9 combines.
“While we’ve made very visible updates to the cab and exterior styling, the real performance, efficiency and harvest-quality improvements come from the new engines, updated residue-handling, grain-handling and loss-sensing systems, new automation options and more,” says Nelson.
The S7 Series combines offer a new residue management system. Featuring straight knives, a mechanical tailboard drive, and the PowerCast tailboard, the S7 Series combines can more consistently size and spread fine- or extra-fine cut residue up to 45 feet, Nelson says.
There’s a new adjustable unloading spout to ensure crop goes into the cart and not on the ground. Nelson notes that after the grain tank is emptied, a new cross-auger shutoff feature completely empties the unloading system, reducing weight in the unloading auger and reducing wear on the associated belts. (Story continues after the video.)
The S7 Series also delivers better grain loss monitoring, says Nelson. “The new loss-sensing system detects grain loss at the rear of the cleaning shoes and the separator and is up to three times more accurate than the previous system,” he notes. “The loss rate is shown clearly on the in-cab display, so operators can quickly make any adjustments necessary.”
When operators climb in to the cab, they’ll experience what Deere is billing as “corner-office comfort.” The new operator’s station offers more storage space, cupholders and heat for the feet; there’s also a more comfortable seat and more glass for better visibility – all designed for the operator to remain alert and focused through long days of harvest, the company says.
In the video, Nelson provides a run-down of the technology operators will see in the cab, including a range of automated settings to control ground speed and harvest. The S7 Series combines will be available for model year 2025.
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